Large Binocular Telescope
The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) is an optical telescope for astronomy located on 10,700-foot (3,300 m) Mount Graham, in the Pinaleno Mountains of southeastern Arizona, United States. It is a part of the Mount Graham International Observatory.
| Alternative names | First Light |
|---|---|
| Part of | Mount Graham International Observatory Steward Observatory |
| Location(s) | Mount Graham, Graham County, Arizona |
| Coordinates | 32°42′05″N 109°53′21″W |
| Observatory code | G83 |
| Altitude | 3,221 m (10,568 ft) |
| Built | 1996–2002 |
| First light | 12 October 2005 |
| Telescope style | optical telescope double telescope |
| Diameter | 8.4 m (27 ft 7 in) |
| Collecting area | 111 m2 (1,190 sq ft) |
| Focal length | 9.6 m (31 ft 6 in) |
| Mounting | altazimuth mount |
| Website | www |
Location of Large Binocular Telescope | |
| Related media on Commons | |
When using both 8.4 m (330 inch) wide mirrors, with centres 14.4 m apart, the LBT has the same light-gathering ability as an 11.8 m (464 inch) wide single circular telescope and the resolution of a 22.8 m (897 inch) wide one.
The LBT mirrors individually are the joint second-largest optical telescope in continental North America, next to the Hobby–Eberly Telescope in West Texas. It has the largest monolithic, or non-segmented, mirror in an optical telescope.
Strehl ratios of 60–90% in the infrared H band and 95% in the infrared M band have been achieved by the LBT.