The ISI Interferometer
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The Infrared Spatial Interferometer (ISI) is operated by the University of California at Berkeley and presently consists of two 65-inch telescopes mounted in semi-trailers. A third telescope is under construction and will be moved to the Observatory in 1998.
The ISI telescopes operate at mid-infrared wavelengths and combine the starlight received in the individual telescopes spaced up to 85 meters, in order to synthesize high-resolution images of red-giant and Mira variable stars. High-precision measurements of positions of stars in the mid-infrared will be instrumental to establish more precise astronomical reference frames, for example for navigation and high-precision tracking of interplanetary spacecraft equipped with infrared lasers.
Scientists on the ISI team also participated in observations of Jupiter during the Comet Shoemaker-Levy impact and obtained spectroscopic data on ammonia gas thrown up into the higher atmosphere of the giant planet as a consequence of the impact.
The ISI system has been in operation at Mount Wilson Observatory since January 1988.
East of the ISI site is Echo Point from which several trails continue into the San Gabriel Mountains. To the South is the Kapteyn Cottage.
The tour continues along the east ridge to the NRL Mark III Interferometer.
Topics
Kapteyn Cottage
Echo Point
UCB Infrared Spatial Interferometer
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