Technical feasibility of the reconfiguration of 8-m class telescopes
Proceedings of the European Interferometry Initiative Workshop organized in the context of the 20005 Joint European and National Astronomy Meeting "Distant Worlds"?
Abstract
Transportation of large telescopes is required for array reconfiguration of next generation optical interferometers. Loads of 1000 tons or more can be reliably handled with available industrial transport technologies. The design of current large telescopes needs to be modified only in some less critical areas to be adopted for relocation. A strawman design on the basis of the VLT telescopes shows a possible architecture of movable large telescopes.