Announcements

Effect of Mirror Hatch Incident on Open Use Observations of Subaru Telescope (Report 1)

February 25, 2016


During the scheduled maintenance work of the telescope and the enclosure of the Subaru Telescope on February 22, 2016 (Hawaii Time), a mirror hatch (Note) stopped working when a metal piece was caught while being opened. It was found that the wheel of the mirror hatch derailed and there are some damages to the mirror hatch.

There was no injury associated with this incident. There is no damage found on the telescope itself or the observation instruments.

At the Subaru Telescope, the safety has utmost priority, and, with sufficient security measures, the restoration work of the hatch is in progress. Since it takes time to carry out this delicate task, the open use observation scheduled on the night of February 26, 2016 is called off.

Updated information on the schedule will be posted as soon as the information becomes available.


Note: Mirror hatch is on the floor of the telescope that opens to let the 8.2 m primary mirror of the Subaru Telescope go downstairs when it receives fresh recoating.


Location of the mirror hatch inside the Subaru Telescope's enclosure

Figure 1: Location of the mirror hatch inside the Subaru Telescope's enclosure. (Credit: META Corporation Japan/NAOJ)

Mirror hatch

Figure 2: Mirror hatch (in normal operations). (Credit: NAOJ)

Mirror hatch is stuck

Figure 3: Mirror hatch operation was stopped. (Credit: NAOJ)

Metal piece and derailed roller

Figure 4: Metal piece and derailed wheel. (Credit: NAOJ)

 

 

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