UPGRADES AND IMPROVEMENTS
AT THE CSS SCHMIDT TELESCOPE
ON MT. BIGELOW DURING THE YEARS 2000-2003

The Catalina Schmidt after small trees were cut to minimize the fire threat from the Bullock fire in 2003.


The Mt. Lemmon 1.5-m after the addition of a declination gear and control computerization. This facility will be used for astrometric follow up and physical characterization observations.


Dismantling the telescope and removing the primary mirror May, 2000.


The tube loaded on the truck for the trip down the mountain mirror May, 2000, where the conical upper corrector mount was replaced by a cylindrical extension. May, 2000.


The modified tube being hoisted from the truck Nov. 2000.


The crew setting up their radios prior to maneuvering the modified tube into the dome slit (left to rt: Bruce Hille, Charlie Crouse, Jim Grantham, Eric Christensen). Nov. 2000.


Charlie easing the tube into the dome slit. Nov. 2000.


Easing the tube into the mount. Nov. 2000.


Bruce aligning the tube bearings to the mount trunions. Nov. 2000.


Lowering the new optics through the dome.


The re-mounted telescope with new declination drive and new corrector in place. May 2001.


View from the bottom end. May 2001.


The remounted telescope showing the signal and fluid lines that attach to the CCD at the Schmidt focus. May 2001.


The full-aperture (30") corrector being tested in Don Loomis' shop. A 31" collimator is in the foreground followed by a folding flat. The corrector is on the blue stand and the Schmidt primary sphere is beyond. A 36" flat on the mount to the left is used for alignment, and the polishing machine is on the back wall. May 2002.