Lowell Discovery Telescope

Lowell Discovery Telescope
The dome of Discovery Channel Telescope
Alternative namesDCT Edit this at Wikidata
Named afterDiscovery Channel Edit this on Wikidata
Part ofLowell Observatory Edit this on Wikidata
Location(s)Arizona
Coordinates34°44′40″N 111°25′19″W / 34.7444°N 111.422°W / 34.7444; -111.422 Edit this at Wikidata
OrganizationLowell Observatory Edit this on Wikidata
Observatory code G37 Edit this on Wikidata
Altitude2,360 m (7,740 ft) Edit this at Wikidata
Built2006–2012 (2006–2012) Edit this at Wikidata
First lightApril 2012 Edit this on Wikidata
Telescope styleRitchey–Chrétien telescope Edit this on Wikidata
Diameter4.3 m (14 ft 1 in) Edit this at Wikidata
Secondary diameter1.4 m (4 ft 7 in) Edit this at Wikidata
Angular resolution0.03 arcsecond Edit this on Wikidata
Mountingaltazimuth mount Edit this on Wikidata
Enclosurespherical dome Edit this on Wikidata
Websitelowell.edu/research/research-facilities/4-3-meter-dct/ Edit this at Wikidata
Lowell Discovery Telescope is located in the United States
Lowell Discovery Telescope
Location of Lowell Discovery Telescope
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Discovery Channel Telescope

The Lowell Discovery Telescope (LDT), formerly the Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT), is a 4.3 m (170 in) aperture telescope owned and operated by Lowell Observatory.[1][2] The LDT was built at a dark sky site in the Coconino National Forest near Happy Jack, Arizona.[3] Happy Jack is located at an elevation of 2,360 m (7,740 ft) and is approximately 65 km (40 mi) south-south-east of Flagstaff. The project was initially a partnership between Discovery Communications and Lowell Observatory. The research partnerships have been extended to include Boston University, The University of Maryland, The University of Toledo, Northern Arizona University, and Yale University. The telescope cost $53 million. It significantly augments Lowell Observatory's observational capability and enables pioneering studies in a number of important research areas.

With its 4-meter class primary mirror, the Lowell Discovery Telescope is the fifth largest telescope in the continental United States (as of 2019).[4]

Final construction of the telescope was completed by February 2012 and first light images were taken in April 2012.[1]

  1. ^ a b "DCT Science: Status". Lowell Observatory. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  2. ^ Lowell Discovery Telescope home page, Retrieved February 22, 2020
  3. ^ Robinson, Walt (2005). "Discovery Channel Telescope". Reflector. LVII (4). The Astronomical League: 11.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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