Analysis of the optics of the 2.5-m telescope of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute

Abstract

The results of alignment and acceptance tests of the optics system of the 2.5-m telescope installed at the Caucausus Mountain Observatory of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute in 2013–2015 are reported. The optical elements of the Ritchey–Chrétien system of the telescope were manufactured by REOSC (France). Measurements of aberrations were carried out using a specially manufactured Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensor. Adjustment of the load-distribution mechanisms of the primary mirror and automatic correction for bending of the structure have made it possible to achieve the target image quality at all operational positions of the telescope, corresponding to 80% of the energy being concentrated in a circle 0.3″ in diameter. Factory interferograms of the mirrors and methods for measuring their abberation using stellar images are presented.