Hobby–Eberly Telescope
from class:
Intro to Astronomy
Definition
The Hobby–Eberly Telescope (HET) is a large optical telescope located at the McDonald Observatory in Texas. It is primarily used for spectroscopy and has a unique design that allows it to be more cost-effective than traditional telescopes.
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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
- The HET has an effective aperture of 9.2 meters, making it one of the largest optical telescopes in the world.
- It employs a fixed-elevation design, which means the primary mirror remains stationary while instruments and secondary mirrors adjust to track objects.
- The telescope was designed to optimize spectroscopic surveys, particularly for studying dark energy and galaxy evolution.
- The HET's location at the McDonald Observatory provides excellent viewing conditions due to its high altitude and low light pollution.
- It was completed in 1997 and named after Bill Hobby, former Lieutenant Governor of Texas, and Robert Eberly, a major donor.
Review Questions
- What is the effective aperture size of the Hobby–Eberly Telescope?
- How does the HET's fixed-elevation design differ from traditional telescopes?
- What are some key astronomical phenomena that the HET is optimized to study?
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