3 Images

This the spectrograph shutter assembly from the original camera used on the Hale 200-inch telescope at the Cassegrain focus to proof test the split field concept design for the Wide Field/Planetary camera of the Hubble Space Telescope. The Museum collection holds the complete, working camera including split field optics and two of the original four CCD camera units that were used programmatically on the 200-inch for many years and featured in Richard Preston's "First Light" as a galaxy and quasar finder.

The California Institute of Technology donated the 4-shooter to the Smithsonian 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: 8.3 × 17.8cm, 2.3kg (3 1/4 × 7 in., 5lb.)
Storage (Aluminum pallet and frame with fabric dust cover): 123.2 × 124.5 × 119.4cm, 241.3kg (48 1/2 × 49 × 47 in., 532lb.)

Materials

Mixed metals

Inventory Number

A19990211009

Credit Line

Gift of the Palomar Observatory, California Institute of Technology

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply
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