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| Paper: |
High-Resolution with Large Ground-Based Optical/IR Telescopes |
| Volume: |
340, Future Directions in High Resolution Astronomy: The 10th Anniversary of the VLBA |
| Page: |
626 |
| Authors: |
Wittkowski, M.; Glindemann, A.; Paresce, F. |
| Abstract: |
The Keck Interferometer on Mauna Kea and ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) on Cerro Paranal (2635 m) in Northern Chile both saw first fringes in 2001. In the meantime, MIDI, the mid-infrared science instrument of the VLTI, also had first fringes. Using the VLTI test siderostats and the VLTI near-infrared commissioning instrument VINCI, 300 hours of shared-risk science programs were executed. A few years from now, the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in Arizona will be the third large telescope interferometer, providing a large field of view by using a Fizeau beam combination. Here, we compare the general concepts of these three interferometers, and describe the VLTI in detail discussing the layout of the interferometer, its current status, and the general philosophy as a facility observatory. |
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