97-02-27 OSU Joins Telescope Project

OHIO STATE JOINS LARGE BINOCULAR TELESCOPE PROJECT

     COLUMBUS -- Ohio State University's proposal to rejoin an 
effort to build one of the world's largest telescopes has been 
approved.

     An agreement forged last week in Germany finalized the 
university's partnership with the Large Binocular Telescope being 
built on Mount Graham in Arizona.  The agreement gives Ohio State 
a one-eighth, or 12.5 percent, share in the LBT project.

     This, along with a recent grant to the university from 
Research Corporation, another partner in the project, means that 
Ohio State faculty and students could have access to the 
instrument one-sixth, or 16.5 percent, of the available observing 
time on the telescope -- up to 55 nights each year.

     Other partners in the project include the University of 
Arizona, the Arcetri Astrophysical Observatory in Italy, Research 
Corporation, and a consortium of German astronomical research 
institutes.

     "This telescope will allow us to see the faintest objects 
observable from the Earth," said Patrick Osmer, professor and 
chair of astronomy at Ohio State.  "We'll be able to look deep 
into the regions of space where stars are forming, at galaxies 
and quasars and perhaps even detect planetary systems surrounding 
nearby stars."

     The LBT project involves building a giant twin-mirror 
reflecting telescope at the Mount Graham International 
Observatory in the Coronado National Forest near Safford, AZ.

     When used together, the two mirrors, each 8.4 meters (27.6 
feet) in diameter, would provide the light-gathering power of an 
11.8-meter (38.7 feet) telescope.

     The instrument will make use of a novel method of spin-
casting huge glass mirrors.  The first of the two planned mirrors 
was cast last month at the University of Arizona.

     The telescope is expected to view its first images in 2002 
with the installation of a single mirror.  The project should be 
completed by 2004.

     "We're very pleased to be associated with such prestigious 
institutions on a science project of such importance," explained 
Robert Gold, professor of mathematics and dean of the College of 
Mathematical and Physical Sciences.  "We look forward to it 
bringing major benefits to Ohio State for a long time to come."

     Ohio State proposed a three-part approach for its planned 
investment in the project.  About $3.2 million has already gone 
to the project.  An additional $6.4 million would be spent -- 
$3.2 million in cash payments to the LBT and $3.2 for instruments 
to be built by Ohio State for use on the telescope.

     In addition, Ohio State would pay a proportional share, 
about $500,000, for annual operating costs for the instrument.  
Almost all funds would be drawn from budgets within the 
university's astronomy department and the College of Mathematical 
and Physical Sciences.

     An external scientific committee which reviewed Ohio State's 
astronomy program last year reported that lack of access to a 
major telescope was the single greatest handicap university 
astronomers and students faced.

     In 1991, Ohio State withdrew from participation in the 
Columbus Project, predecessor to the LBT, for financial reasons.

                             #

Contact:  Patrick Osmer (6140 292-2022; Osmer.1@osu.edu
Written by Earle Holland (614) 292-8384; Holland.8@osu.edu


[Submitted by: Von Vargas  (vargas.12@osu.edu)
               
Thu, 27 Feb 1997 10:02:14 -0500 (EST)]
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