What was the first thing you saw at birth?
Korand In 1935, the ethologist Lorenz found that the chicks treated as his mother at first be disabled to see at birth. This phenomenon is called imprinting and is present in almost all vertebrates.
Today at 17.00, while Mexico, El Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) One of the largest eyes built by humans, will the steel shell to look first night from his nest on the island of La Palma in the Canary archipelago. His imprint will be produced by light emitted 431 years ago by the North Star, guide of sailors for centuries, on clear nights as possible to determine the position of true north of our planet.
The GTC is the optical telescope - the world's largest infrared. The project is a English initiative, led by the IAC (Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias), which also involved Mexico, through the IA-UNAM (Institute of Astronomy, National Autonomous University of Mexico) and INAOE (National Institute for Astrophysics , Optics and Electronics), and the United States through the University of Florida.
The primary mirror, responsible for collecting the light from the stars, is 10.4 meters in diameter. It is composed of 36 hexagonal segments that can move as a single surface via a complex system of sensors and motors. "Are 100 g of aluminum that require a 400-ton to keep the mirrors in the shape and position correct." Explains Dr. Pedro Alvarez, director of GRANTECAN, the project company.
optics systems GTC active to align, warp and move the primary mirror segments, as well as move and align the secondary mirror, all in order to maintain a precise position, regardless of external conditions (weather, temperature, gravity, manufacturing defects, etc.) so as not to affect the image.
The IAC said on its website that the GTC can "see" the most distant objects and the weakest of our Universe. With the images captured by this huge telescope will be distinguished planetary systems stars around us, knowing the dark matter, uncover hidden behind dense molecular clouds, the "birth" of stars, "see" the most distant galaxies and quasars, further study the characteristics of some black holes and their evolution, or to know what chemical compounds were created after the Big Bang. " Finding Earth-like planets around other stars is one of the GTC's goals.
Don Felipe de Borbon y Grecia, Honor Astrophysics Astrophysics Institute of the Canary Islands and Prince of Asturias, will be responsible for activating the system for the eye to wake up and look for the first time the sky over the Atlantic. In addition to members of the English Government and the Canary Islands one of the guests of honor will be Brian May, Queen guitarist, who performed part of his doctorate in astrophysics in the IAC. The ceremony will be broadcast worldwide via the Web site www.telefonica.es / gtcprimeraluz .
Like any newborn, the Great Canary Telescope will have to accustom their eyes to the universe around him, so after the First Light, will spend a year in phase adjustments and calibrations, both the telescope and its instruments scientists. Once this phase, the telescope will be open to the scientific community to start making cutting-edge science through regular use of the telescope.
Korand In 1935, the ethologist Lorenz found that the chicks treated as his mother at first be disabled to see at birth. This phenomenon is called imprinting and is present in almost all vertebrates.
Today at 17.00, while Mexico, El Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) One of the largest eyes built by humans, will the steel shell to look first night from his nest on the island of La Palma in the Canary archipelago. His imprint will be produced by light emitted 431 years ago by the North Star, guide of sailors for centuries, on clear nights as possible to determine the position of true north of our planet.
The GTC is the optical telescope - the world's largest infrared. The project is a English initiative, led by the IAC (Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias), which also involved Mexico, through the IA-UNAM (Institute of Astronomy, National Autonomous University of Mexico) and INAOE (National Institute for Astrophysics , Optics and Electronics), and the United States through the University of Florida.
The primary mirror, responsible for collecting the light from the stars, is 10.4 meters in diameter. It is composed of 36 hexagonal segments that can move as a single surface via a complex system of sensors and motors. "Are 100 g of aluminum that require a 400-ton to keep the mirrors in the shape and position correct." Explains Dr. Pedro Alvarez, director of GRANTECAN, the project company.
optics systems GTC active to align, warp and move the primary mirror segments, as well as move and align the secondary mirror, all in order to maintain a precise position, regardless of external conditions (weather, temperature, gravity, manufacturing defects, etc.) so as not to affect the image.
The IAC said on its website that the GTC can "see" the most distant objects and the weakest of our Universe. With the images captured by this huge telescope will be distinguished planetary systems stars around us, knowing the dark matter, uncover hidden behind dense molecular clouds, the "birth" of stars, "see" the most distant galaxies and quasars, further study the characteristics of some black holes and their evolution, or to know what chemical compounds were created after the Big Bang. " Finding Earth-like planets around other stars is one of the GTC's goals.
Don Felipe de Borbon y Grecia, Honor Astrophysics Astrophysics Institute of the Canary Islands and Prince of Asturias, will be responsible for activating the system for the eye to wake up and look for the first time the sky over the Atlantic. In addition to members of the English Government and the Canary Islands one of the guests of honor will be Brian May, Queen guitarist, who performed part of his doctorate in astrophysics in the IAC. The ceremony will be broadcast worldwide via the Web site www.telefonica.es / gtcprimeraluz .
Like any newborn, the Great Canary Telescope will have to accustom their eyes to the universe around him, so after the First Light, will spend a year in phase adjustments and calibrations, both the telescope and its instruments scientists. Once this phase, the telescope will be open to the scientific community to start making cutting-edge science through regular use of the telescope.
To learn more about the Very Large Telescope de Canarias visit www.iac.es
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