Paper 13094-220
Paper 13094-220
High-contrast imaging and spectroscopy by a low-scattering off-axis telescope PLANETS: current status of the development and future plan
On demand | Presented live 17 June 2024 
Abstract
We are carrying out a 1.8-m aperture off-axis telescope project PLANETS. The PLANETS telescope is characterized by using an off-axis mirror to enable us high-contrast imaging and spectroscopy with low-scattering in the optical system. Our major scientific goal is to observe faint emission around a bright body, such as gases surrounding planets and satellites in the solar system (e.g., Jovian satellite Europa’s water plume) as well as exoplanets. Using a new technology of mirror polishing with a robot arm and 3-point drag probe, we performed the polishing of the off-axis primary mirror. We also developed the whiffletree support with warping harness for the primary mirror support. We will assemble the whole PLANETS telescope system and conduct the first light of stars as technical demonstration in Japan within a year. We have begun coordinating with several high-altitude observatory sites in which the PLANETS telescope will be installed after the technical demonstration in Japan.
Presenter
Tohoku Univ. (Japan), PLANETS Foundation (United States)
Takeshi Sakanoi graduated from the Department of Geophysics, Tohoku University in 1991. Following the doctoral course at the geophysics of Tohoku University, he became a member of wintering party of the 37th Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition staying at the Syowa Station during the period from 1996-1997 and carried out high-resolution spectroscopic observation of auroral emission. He became an assistant professor attended to Onagawa Geomagnetic Observatory of Tohoku University in 1997. He is currently an associate professor of the Planetary Plasma and Atmospheric Research Center of Tohoku University and leads the PLANETS telescope projects as the president of the PLANETS Foundation. His interests are in the development and observation of imaging and spectroscopy of planetary atmospheric emissions in the visible and near-infrared ranges with the ground and satellite-borne instruments.