NAVY PROTOTYPE OPTICAL INTERFEROMETER

A cooperative project of the U. S. Naval Observatory, Naval Research Laboratory, and Lowell Observatory

Why use an interferometer? Some artists concepts. Development of the project. Interesting scientific results. What's New?

This is an aerial picture looking toward the center of the array. The four astrometric huts are visible to the left of center in the photo. The inner parts of all three arms and the perimeter road may be seen. The beam-combining laboratory is the large building visible above and to the right of center. Newly-installed long-delay-line vacuum pipes are seen to the right of the laboratory.