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Ground-Based Telescope: Design Optimization Challenge
In attempting to optimize the performance of ground based telescopes, the following design drivers
were adopted and resulted in the LBT concept:
● Large total collecting area for sensitivity on faint objects.
● High imaging quality through passive, active and adaptive control of seeing
("seeing" is the term used by astronomers to describe the atmospheric
blurring of stellar images) and other aberrations.
● Clean, thermal infrared design to minimize background radiation.
● Versatile instrumentation and rapid interchange of optical configuration to
take maximum advantage
of specific observing conditions.
● High ultimate spatial resolution by providing a relatively long baseline.
● Low construction and operations costs.
LBT simulated PSF by Serge Correia