36 Foot Telescope Prime Focus, September 1967

Following NSF final approval in February 1965 and 2.5 years of construction on Kitt Peak AZ, NRAO's 36 foot telescope began formal operation in January 1968. This photo, taken in September 1967, late in the construction process, shows the prime focus at the end of the bipod receiver mount, with the stabilizing guy wires visible. The pipe carried cooling air to the receiver, which was bolted to the adjustable Stirling mount. And yes, the man on the left really is standing on top of the electrical boxes! Why? Is he holding a tape measure or a plumb line? Is he indicating a measuring point or a direction to shift?

Records of the NRAO

NRAO/AUI/NSF

Still Image

GB67-04098-36ft-prime-focus-sept1967.jpg

B&W negative

1967-09-00

NRAO/AUI/NSF

GB67-04098

Photographs Series

36 Foot Telescope Unit