| Construction Timeline |
| Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope |
| 1983 |
Site testing begins on Mount Graham (photo 1). |
Photo 1 |
| 1985 |
March: Spin-casting of 1.8-meter primary mirror in Steward Observatory
Mirror Lab (photo 2).; Vatican Observatory and Steward Observatory agree to use mirror in a joint
telescope. |
Photo 2 |
| 1986 |
September: Incorporation of Vatican Observatory Foundation as a nonprofit.
November: Design of telescope begins. |
|
| 1987 |
March: First fundraising campaign begins. |
| 1988 |
July: Contract for telescope mount with L&F Industries. November:
Arizona-Idaho Conservation Act authorizes construction on Mt. Graham. |
| 1989 |
January: Second fundraising campaign begins. Grand total raised: $6.5 million.
February: Design of astrophysics facility begins. May: Contract for secondary mirror with Space Optics Research Labs.
|
Photo 3 |
| 1990 |
February: Telescope mount delivered to test facility near Tucson.
October: Contract with T.L. Roof signed and site clearing for astrophysics facility on Mount
Graham begins (photo 3).
|
| 1991 |
November: Steward Observatory completes polishing of primary mirror. |
| 1992 |
April: Construction resumes on Mount Graham after weather delays
(photo 4). May: Polishing of secondary mirror completed. October: Telescope mount and dome installed on Mount Graham.
|
Photo 4 |
| 1993 |
A Milestone Year
March: VATT ready for installation of scientific equipment and primary mirror (photo 5).
15 September: First light with primary mirror in place and beginning of commissioning phase.
18 September: VATT dedication on Mt. Graham, attended by family members of principal benefactors,
Thomas J. Bannan and Fred A. Lennon. Photo 6: holding dedication plaque are, left, Karen Dalby,
granddaughter of Bannan; right, John Lennon and Catherine (Lennon) Lozick, son and daughter of Lennon.
|
Photo 5
Photo 6 |
| 1994 |
12 July: second light with secondary mirror in place. |
|
| 1995 |
January: Scientific observations begin (photo 7 Ó David A. Harvey 2004). |
Photo 7 |
| 1999 |
March: Kresge Science Initiative Grant starts; brings VATT close to planned
optical and mechanical performance and reliability. |
| 2002 |
December: In collaboration with University of Virginia,
installation of CorMASS (Cornell Massachusetts Slit Spectrograph) on the VATT. Usable in
bright of moon, this instrument nearly doubles available observing time. Initial
CorMASS/VATT observations produce an infrared spectrum of Saturn’s rings and disk
(photo 8, courtesy of J. Wilson and M. Skrutskie, U. of Virginia; J.D. Smith, U.
of Arizona; C. Henderson, Cornell University; and M. Nelson, Vatican Observatory).
|
Photo 8 |
| 2003 |
18 September: Tenth Anniversary of the VATT. |
