Image Gallery: Telescope Photos

This is a collection of photographs of the SDSS site, telescope, equipment, and collaborators. SDSS images may be downloaded, linked to, or otherwise used for non-commercial purposes, provided proper credit is given and the use cannot be construed as an endorsement of any product or service. For more information on commercial and noncommercial usage, please see our image use policy.
Unless otherwise noted, images should be credited to Fermilab Visual Media Services. Click on any of the links below to download a larger version of the image thumbnails.

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Telescope bottom [ 72 dpi JPG (120.7 KB), 300 dpi JPG (1.4 MB) ]
This is the bottom of the 2.5-meter survey telescope, where the instrument package (either mosaic camera or spectrograph) is mounted.

Base of the survey telescope [ 72 dpi JPG (106.3 KB), 300 dpi JPG (1.4 MB) ]
Looking inside the base of the 2.5-meter survey telescope. The stack of rings sits just above the primary mirror and serves to shield the instruments below from stray light.

Telescope and mountains [ 72 dpi JPG (104.3 KB), 300 dpi JPG (1.3 MB) ]
The SDSS survey telescope stands out against the breaktaking backdrop of the Sacramento Mountains.

Enclosure and instrument room [ 72 dpi JPG (94.2 KB), 300 dpi JPG (1.2 MB) ]
The telescope enclosure building (above) and instrument room (below) jut out from the mountainside. The SDSS telescope facility was designed this way to provide the calmest and coldest possible air above and around the survey telescope.

Inside the 2.5-meter telescope [ 72 dpi JPG (97.0 KB), 300 dpi JPG (945.2 KB) ]
A look down inside the 2.5-meter survey telescope reveals the primary mirror (the reflective surface at the bottom) as well as the secondary mirror (center), all surrounded by the wind baffle.

SDSS telescope enclosure building [ 72 dpi JPG (72.9 KB), 300 dpi JPG (1.2 MB) ]
This photo shows the two-story enclosure building for the 2.5-meter telescope.

SDSS telescopes [ 72 dpi JPG (87.0 KB), 300 dpi JPG (1.5 MB) ]
In the foreground is the dome for the photometric telescope. The enclosure for the 2.5-meter survey telescope is in the background.

SDSS 2.5-meter primary mirror [ 72 dpi JPG (55.9 KB), 300 dpi JPG (750.5 KB) ]
The 2.5-meter diameter primary mirror of the SDSS telescope. This photo was taken with the telescope horizontally on its side, pointing into the trees.

SDSS 2.5-meter telescope [ 72 dpi JPG (84.0 KB), 300 dpi JPG (1.4 MB) ]
The SDSS 2.5-meter telescope.

Moonrise over SDSS [ 72 dpi JPG (156.6 KB), 300 dpi JPG (2.3 MB) ]
A half-moon (left) rises over the SDSS and APO telescopes in the Sacramento Mountains.

SDSS 2.5-m telescope enclosure building [ 72 dpi JPG (162.4 KB), 300 dpi JPG (2.0 MB) ]
This photo shows the two-story enclosure building for the 2.5-meter telescope. The staircase in the foreground leads to the photometric telescope.

SDSS 2.5-Meter telescope [ 72 dpi JPG (82.1 KB), 300 dpi JPG (2.9 MB) ]
The SDSS 2.5-meter telescope is shown here, framed by the staircase and support beams for the photometric telescope building.
(Image credit: Reidar Hahn, Fermilab)

John Peoples and the SDSS telescope [ 72 dpi JPG (67.8 KB), 300 dpi JPG (4.3 MB) ]
SDSS Project Director John Peoples with the 2.5-meter Survey telescope in the background.
(Image credit: Reidar Hahn, Fermilab)

John Peoples and the SDSS telescope [ 300 dpi JPG (2.9 MB) ]
SDSS Project Director John Peoples poses at sunset in front of the 2.5-meter Survey telescope, located at Apache Point Observatory in New Mexico.
(Image credit: Dan Long, Apache Point Observatory)

Connie Rockosi and the SDSS telescope [ 300 dpi JPG (2.2 MB) ]
Constance Rockosi, a graduate student at the University of Chicago and a member of the multi-institutional team that built the digital scanning camera for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, checks the status of the instrument during its first on-the-sky trial runs in May 1998.

The SDSS telescope [ 300 dpi JPG (3.0 MB) ]
The 2.5-meter reflecting telescope of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. The box-like structure protects the separately mounted telescope from being buffeted by the wind.

Apache Point Observatory [ 300 dpi JPG (2.1 MB) ]
Apache Point Observatory in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. The Sloan Digital Sky Survey's 2.5-meter telescope is on the left. White Sands National Monument is visible in the distance, above the telescope. The monitor telescope, used for calibrations, is inside the small dome to the right of center. Optical fibers for spectroscopy are pre-positioned each day in the building on the right (behind the trees). The building in the center rolls on rails to cover the 2.5-meter telescope when i t is not in use.

The SDSS telescope [ 300 dpi JPG (2.5 MB) ]
A photo of the 2.5-meter SDSS telescope, with its wind baffle.

Photometric telescope dome [ 300 dpi JPG (2.8 MB) ]
A view of the dome for the 0.6-meter photometric telescope.

Inside the SDSS telescope [ 300 dpi JPG (2.2 MB) ]
A view of the 2.5-meter telescope inside the wind baffle, looking up toward the secondary mirror.

Secondary mirror [ 60 dpi JPG (121.4 KB), 300 dpi JPG (2.0 MB) ]
The secondary mirror of the 2.5-meter telescope.

Connie Rockosi, examining the instrument package [ 300 dpi JPG (2.6 MB) ]
Connie Rockosi, examining the instrument package on the base of the 2.5-meter survey telescope.

Control room [ 300 dpi JPG (2.7 MB) ]
Inside the control room.

Bruce Gillespie [ 300 dpi JPG (2.5 MB) ]
Bruce Gillespie at the Apache Point Observatory.

First light banner [ 250 dpi JPG (1.0 MB) ]
Members of the SDSS collaboration from Fermilab unfurl the 30 foot image of the sky from the 2.5-meter telescope's first light.
(Image credit: Fred Ullrich, Fermilab)

Telescope mount [ 300 dpi JPG (1.1 MB) ]
The mount (left), for the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's 2.5-meter telescope at the Apache Point Observatory in the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico. The telescope will achieve first light in May 1998. The garage-like structure in the foreground rol ls forward to cover the telescope when it is not in use. At right is the Sky Survey's monitor telescope.

Rich Kron [ 300 dpi JPG (784.8 KB) ]
Astrophysicist Rich Kron, of the University of Chicago and Fermilab, inserts optical fibers into a pre-drilled "plug-plate," part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey's unique spectrographic system for determining the distances to stars, galaxies and qu asars.
(Image credit: Thomas Nash)

Plug plate [ 60 dpi TIFF (623.8 KB) ]
This is a view of a plug plate that's been drilled, fitted with optical fibers, and mounted on the spectograph assembly. This entire package will be flipped upside down and mounted to the underside of the 2.5-meter telescope at its focal plane.