Full start for TAO telescope construction!

The construction budget for the TAO 6.5 m telescope was recognized by the government, the TAO project has set up a new structure as below and finally started in earnest for construction. Based on the strengthening of the organization of TAO and the start of the technical meeting, we held a review meeting with experts on the TAO telescope and received useful comments and ale. From now on, we will reflect the comments to designs and specifications, and will work together as a team to advance the construction of TAO Telescope and contract matters of main mirror, dome etc. at a rapid pace.

Construction of promotion group

We have set up a new system as below centered on 16 full-time staff of the University of Tokyo, and 4 project assistant professors and postdoctoral fellows. Along with the budget of the TAO telescope, as the number of contract items has increased, we are setting up a new "in-campus negotiation / contract department". The person in charge has been sent to the administrative department of the Graduate School of Science, and pursuing the business related to the contract while having meetings at Hongo campus.

Regular holding of Technical Meeting

In addition to the TAO Promotion Council which has been held once a month since 2009, we hold technical meetings that focuse on the construction of the TAO telescope at a weekly pace. We are discussing telescope optics, telescope cradle, summit facility / dome, vapor deposition facility, infrastructure, software and so on in detail.

Participants of a technical meeting

An examination example at a technical meeting

Expert opinion review on the TAO telescope body

The overview designs of the TAO telescope have gradually started to full scale. On July 3, we held a review that gathered experts who had experience in telescope making and received their opinions on the outline of the TAO telescope. The following experts participated in this review.

• Hiroyasu Ando (Professor emeritus at NAOJ, former director of Subaru Telescope)
• Hideki Takami (Professor at NAOJ, TMT Project Office and Chief of Engineering Division)
• Takuya Yamashita (Professor at NAOJ, TMT Project Office)
• Mikio Kurita (Associate Professor at Department of Astronomy, Graduate of Science, Kyoto University) ※Participated via TV conference
• Masaru Kino (Guest Associate Professor at Department of Astronomy, Graduate of Science, Kyoto University) ※Participated via TV conference
• Michitoshi Yoshida (Professor at Hiroshima University, Director of Hiroshima Astrophysical Science Center) ※Participated via TV conference

In the review, there were many questions, comments and opinions by the participants, with aspects from their experience of the telescope fabrications. It was important information for the TAO telescope, since the detailed discussion occurred not only from technical aspects but also over contracts and international aspects as well. We will reflect the comments to improve the design and specifications of the TAO telescope.

Participants in expert opinion review	Participants via the TV conference

Regarding the contract matter concerning the construction of the TAO telescope, all the members will work together diligently to complete the contract in order, from summer to autumn this year; Main mirror / Secondary mirror / Tertiary mirror, Telescope body, Dome, mirror deposition system in addition to Handling mechanisms of the instruments.