Apr 18 2005
Corning Incorporated announced today the delivery of a 1.8 meter ULE ® mirror blank to the Pan-STARRS project being coordinated by the University of Hawaii’s Institute for Astronomy (IFA). The IFA is leading the effort to design and implement an astronomical survey system to search for potential earth-impacting asteroids and comets. The United States Air Force Research Laboratory provides funding for this project.
The mirror blank will serve as the primary mirror for the Pan-STARRS PS-1 telescope. The PS-1 telescope will function as the pathfinder for the primary telescope system Pan- STARRS, which will require up to four telescopes with 1.8 meter aperture assembled into an array. These telescopes will have a giant field of view which will allow them, in a single exposure, to image an area 30-40 times that of the full moon. The ability of the system to rapidly survey large areas of the sky makes it particularly powerful for detecting objects such as supernovae and earth- threatening asteroids. The data provided by Pan-STARRS will be used to address many scientific questions, ranging from the origin of the Solar System to the properties of the Universe.
Jim Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials said, “We are excited to have the opportunity to provide the University of Hawaii with our ULE® material. It is also an honor to be a participant in scientific discoveries and observations that may impact our world.”
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