Latest News
Grant Williams Appointed New Director of MMT Observatory
Jan 05, 2011
Having served as the observatory’s associate director since 2007, Williams’ goal is to ensure the telescope remains a competitive tool over the next decade and beyond, serving the interests of both its parent institutions, the UA and the Smithsonian Institution. …
2010 Staff Photo
Dec 10, 2010
Every year we gather at the telescope for our annual staff photograph – unfortunately a good few of us were missing but those who did make it were smiling away! From left-to-right we have: Bryan, Dallan, Dusty, Morag, Ale, Tom …
MMT Telescope Operator featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered” 6/4/10
Nov 22, 2010
MMT operator Mike Alegria is featured in an “unusual job” segment on National Public Radio’s “All Things Considered” this afternoon.
Reporter Ted Robbins interviewed Mike at the telescope in late April during an adaptive optics engineering session with Michael Hart, …
2010 Aluminization Video
Nov 02, 2010
Here is the video from the camera mounted in the window of the vacuum bell jar during the ‘shoot’.
The Whereabouts of MMIRS & Megacam
Nov 02, 2010
It has been decided by the PIs of MMIRS and Megacam to leave both instruments at Magellan for the next several years as long as they are being scientifically productive there.
This will allow people to plan long term projects …
Official Statement on the Re-coating of the MMT Primary Mirror
Nov 02, 2010
The MMT was taken offline for an extended period during this year’s summer shutdown to re-coat the primary mirror.
The previous coating was applied during 2005 and with careful use, frequent CO2 cleaning and contact washing we have been able …
Kodak Interviews Marget Geller
Nov 02, 2010
Catch an interview of Dr. Margaret Geller of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory posted on the Kodak website.
You can also see an image taken at the MMT Observatory. Click on the link below to hear the interview.
http://1000words.kodak.com/post/?ID=8867244839063408549
MMT Primary Mirror Coating Removed for Re-aluminization
Nov 02, 2010
The 6.5-meter MMT primary mirror was stripped of its aluminum coating on July 23, 2010, in preparation for re-aluminization.
A video of the mirror stripping can be seen at:
Computing at the MMT
Oct 22, 2010
Site Computers
Located in the control room, the observer computer for MMT instruments such as Blue and Red Channel is pixel, a 27-inch iMac. It has all the software observers would use for observing as well as preliminary data reduction. …
Computing for Observers
Sep 07, 2010