The work to install a new telescope at AlbaNova University Centre just started. The telescope has a diameter of 80 cm and will be used for public shows, education, and for research in quantum optics. On Wednesday the 10th of September the new telescope was moved into place by a large crane.
The new telescope was lifted up to the roof of AlbaNova by a big crane. Photo: Stuart West
The Department of Astronomy and the Quantum Information and Quantum Optics research group at Fysikum bought a new telescope together that replaces the old telescope, which has been out of service for a couple of years. The new telescope will be used for education (by astronomy students, but primarily for the general public in telescope shows). The telescope will also be used for research in quantum communication, where it will observe and track satellites as part of an experiment (within the framework of the National Quantum Communication Infrastructure in Sweden).
– With the new telescope in place we can start up our popular telescope shows again. It’s also very exciting that it will be used for research in a completely unrelated field, says Alexis Brandeker, associate professor of astronomy and project manager for the telescope installation.
The new telescope arrives at the dome on the roof of AlbaNova. Photo: Alexis Brandeker.
The Department of astronomy ran public telescope shows for many years at AlbaNova. In these shows a viewing of the telescope and the night sky was combined with a short astronomy lecture. Because of problems with the tracking system of the old telescope these shows have not been possible to do the last few years.
On Wednesday the 10th of September the telescope was moved into place on the roof of AlbaNoba with a huge crane. The telescope is a heavy structure and needs to placed with precision, which is a relatively complicated procedure, but this was done without any complications. Finishing the installation of the telescope, and the camera that will be attached to it, will be done during the autumn and it is expected to be ready for observing at the end of the year.
– We should be able to start up the telescope shows again next year. The task to show the general public how a telescope can be used to study planets, stars, and galaxies is both important and fun, says Garrelt Mellema, head of the Department of astronomy.
The first night with the new telescope was spent on calibration observations, making sure that the control system for the pointing of the telescope works. Photo: Alexis Brandeker.
Our research is focused on the field of quantum optics and quantum information. This include tests of quantum theory foundations, quantum communication, quantum encryption, quantum sensing, photonic-based quantum processor, and topological photonics.
