STScI

The Pinwheel Galaxy

It is May! The twilight phase is getting longer and longer: currently one waits already more than 2.5 hours after sunset until it is dark and the first photons can be captured. During my journey into the universe...

Heavy metal positioning

In order for a telescope to accurately correct for the Earth’s rotation and accurately track objects in the sky, its polar axis must be aligned exactly parallel to the Earth’s axis of rotation. To achieve...

Heavy metal in motion

The digital controller, its software and new encoders for our large telescope have now arrived from the USA. We will not only be able to control the telescope but also to completely compensate for structural mechanical...