Europe's Quest for the Universe - Laboratoires de Recherche

40 Europe’s quest for the Universe
place these at Calar Alto in Spain and on the Gamsberg in South West Africa
(Namibia). Because of political problems with the latter site, the 3.5-m and
one of the 2.2-m telescopes had been placed at Calar Alto, while the remaining
2.2-m was stored awaiting better days. However, the political situation
remained unchanged and having an expensive telescope lying about unused
and ageing became an embarrassment. Hence an approach from the President
of the MPG to discuss the possibility of placing it at La Silla. Since the attitudes
of the MPIA and ESO at the time were rather different, it seemed clear
that this could only work if ESO would gain full control of the telescope and
its modernization. After some difficult negotiations an agreement was reached
under which ESO would receive the telescope on long term loan and have
the exclusive responsibility for its upgrading and operation. In return the
MPIA would receive 25% of the observing time. This provided an excellent
2.2-m telescope at La Silla, suitable for programs that did not require the
3.6-m, but for which the 1.5-m Danish was inadequate. After the telescope
began to function successfully the relationship with the MPIA became smooth
and cordial.
Other European 4-m Class Telescope Projects
In 1961 the UK had definitely abandoned participation in ESO and
decided to have a joint project with Australia for a 3.9-m telescope. The
telescope was to be as much as possible a copy of the Kitt Peak (Arizona)
150-inch national US telescope. It was finally completed in 1974 and placed
on the Siding Springs site near Coonabarabran (NSW) which belonged to the
Australian National University. While this site was free from the light
pollution that had plagued the ANU observatory at Mt. Stromlo near
Canberra, it was only moderately suitable because of its low altitude.
However, the excellent quality of the telescope, and especially of its computer
control system, made up for this drawback, and it has been very productive.
Now that the UK has joined ESO, it is expected that its participation in the
AAT will diminish.
The UK – later joined by the Netherlands with 20% participation –
also developed major facilities on La Palma in the Canary Islands, where it
now operates 4.5-m and 2.5-m telescopes. The site is excellent for optical
telescopes, but was considered not optimal for the infrared. So, a 3.8-m IR
telescope was also built, the UKIRT, at 4200 m on Mauna Kea (Hawaii). It
is now also part of the UK – NL cooperation. Due to the high altitude atmospheric
transmission is very favorable and excellent results were obtained even
in the 300 µm window.
Also the French were anxious to construct a national telescope. Site
tests in France and southern Spain gave unsatisfactory results. So they joined
(initially at 42.5%) the Canadians and the University of Hawaii in the