This is the original camera body called the "4-Shooter" used on the Hale 200-inch telescope at the Cassegrain focus to proof-test the split field design for the Wide Field/Planetary camera of the Hubble Space Telescope. This body assembly contained the filter wheel, optical baffles, entrance aperture and shutter. The NASM collection holds the complete, working camera including split field optics and 2 of the original 4 CCD camera units that were used programmatically on the 200-inch for many years. It was featured in Richard Preston's "First Light" as a galaxy and quasar finder.
The California Institute of Technology donated the object to the Museum in September 1999.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
INSTRUMENTS-Scientific
Manufacturer
California Institute of Technology, Palomar Observatory
Dimensions
3-D (Camera): 116.8 × 89.5 × 144.8cm (46 × 35 1/4 × 57 in.)
Storage (Camera and Carrier): 137.8 × 104.1 × 174.6cm (54 1/4 × 41 × 68 3/4 in.)
Materials
Steel, Brass, Aluminum, Acrylic (Plexiglas), Glass, Plastic, Foam, Nylon, Velcro, Cork, Rubber (Silicone), Copper
Inventory Number
A19990211000
Credit Line
Gift of the Palomar Observatory, California Institute of Technology.
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.