New Technology Telescope


New Technology Telescope

(NTT) The 3.5-meter reflecting telescope of the European Southern Observatory in Chile, which began regular operations in 1990. Its major feature is an active optics system whereby small corrections can be made continuously to the shape of the primary mirror, which is a fast (f/2.2) lightweight meniscus mirror made of Zerodur. In addition, it has an altazimuth mounting and is housed in an air-conditioned compact rotating building. As a result, it can produce very high resolution images of only 0.33 arcseconds.