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0.9-m Mirror Support Improvements (1Sep95)
(from CTIO, NOAO Newsletter No. 43, September 1995)

The radial support system on the 0.9-m primary mirror has been a
source of problems for some time. This hydraulic system required
continual maintenance due to leaks and pressure changes (some
undoubtedly due to temperature changes). It is likely that this system
was responsible for much of the astigmatism seen in this telescope,
and possibly some of the focus and pointing problems over the sky.

Gabriel P‚rez designed a new mechanical system, similar that in use on
the 1-m telescope here. It was fabricated by our MACHO-funded
machinist, installed in mid-June by J. Briones, Oscar Saa, and G.
Pe‚rez, and the optical alignment checked by R. Gonz lez and J.
Filhaber. Initial results seem encouraging. Alistair Walker reports
that three nights in June consistently yielded images better than 1.2"
over the sky.

Bob Schommer

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