The 220 Mirrors of CRTF
Explanation:
Even the largest of
modern optical telescopes are small when
compared with the light gathering power of the
Central Receiver Test Facility (CRTF) located in
New Mexico, USA.
CRTF has 220 mirrors each over 7-meters
in diameter all focused on a single tower.
CRTF's main use is to investigate methods of collecting and using
solar power.
CRTF does not create focussed sky images like a
normal astronomical telescope,
but collects light from a much larger area.
Recently, astronomers with the
STACEE project have begun using CRTF to collect
secondary light emitted when
high-energy gamma rays strike the Earth's atmosphere.
Photons in
this range might allow
further exploration of enigmatic
gamma ray burst explosions, and
might be emitted when
cosmic rays from
supernovae impact
gas clouds in the
interstellar medium.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
