We are carrying out a 1.8-m aperture off-axis telescope project PLANETS. The PLANETS telescope is characterized by using an off-axis mirror to enable us high-contrast imaging and spectroscopy with low-scattering in the optical system. Our major scientific goal is to observe faint emission around a bright body, such as gases surrounding planets and satellites in the solar system (e.g., Jovian satellite Europa’s water plume) as well as exoplanets. Using a new technology of mirror polishing with a robot arm and 3-point drag probe, we performed the polishing of the off-axis primary mirror. We also developed the whiffletree support with warping harness for the primary mirror support. We will assemble the whole PLANETS telescope system and conduct the first light of stars as technical demonstration in Japan within a year. We have begun coordinating with several high-altitude observatory sites in which the PLANETS telescope will be installed after the technical demonstration in Japan.
PLANETS will be a 1.8-m off-axis telescope combined with contrast enhancement techniques, enabling us to observe faint emissions in the vicinity of bright objects. This “high dynamic-range” capability is largely dependent upon precision of telescope optics as well as atmospheric distortion. We present feasibility study of monitoring water plumes on Europa, neutral torus close to Enceladus, and ionosphere on Mars using PLANETS telescope. To test feasibility of high dynamic-range observation under actual conditions of wavefront error, we modeled propagation of light though the system based on Fraunhofer calculation taking into account for wavefront error made by atmospheric distortion and by primary mirror figure error. Then point spread function is calculated for several cases of figure errors under use of adaptive optics. The modeling result predicts that the moderate or high-precision primary mirror is mandatory to accomplish the high dynamic-range observation. We also present the latest design of PLANETS, especially focus on the support structures of primary mirror. We employ 36-point whiffletrees with 33 warping harnesses for axial support, and 24-point Schwesinger support for lateral support. The active support system is expected to reduce pre-polished RMS error from 1.51 μm to 0.66 μm corresponding to 70% reduction in total volume of final polish. The laboratory experiment using one third part of prototype whiffletrees shows supporting force RMS repeatability < 0.005 kgf, and drive hysteresis < 0.7% of load range, which are precise enough to control or to keep the primary mirror figure.
We report the current status of small-telescope activities and the 1.8-m aperture telescope PLANETS project at Haleakala dedicated to planetary and exoplanetary observations. Continuous monitoring is essential to understand the planetary atmospheric phenomena, and therefore, own facilities with even small- and medium sized telescopes and instruments are important. On the summit of Mt. Haleakala, Hawaii, we are operating a 40 cm (T40) and 60 cm (T60) telescopes for measuring faint atmospheric features such as Io torus, Mercury, and so on. It has uniquely provided long-term Io torus activities for more than ten years. T60 is now observing planetary atmospheres in visible and infrared ranges. The polarization imager DIPOL-2 is also installed to measure the weak polarization of exoplanetary light. In addition, we are carrying out a 1.8-m off-axis telescope project PLANETS at Haleakala. This project is managed by the PLANETS Foundation (www.planets.life) is an international collaboration of several institutes from Japan, USA, Germany, Brazil, and France. This off-axis optical system enables very low-stray light contamination and high-contrast in data, i.e., "high dynamic range". It will achieve unrivaled scientific capabilities on coronagraphy and polarimetry, aimed at detecting exoplanet reflected light and tenuous planetary exo-atmospheres in the Solar system. The main mirror is Clearceram ZHS with a diameter of 1850 mm, which is now on the final polishing process. We completed the telescope design and wind analysis of the mechanical support and tracking. The "split-ring" mount is so stiff that it has a first vibration mode above 50 Hz.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.