THE UNITED KINGDOM INFRARED TELESCOPE
ANNUAL REPORT
1995 AND 1996

6. UKIRT Upgrades

6.4. Bottom-End Systems

6.4.2. Crosshead

The new precision crosshead (manufactured by SKF in Germany) has been installed, and after a little tuning is providing the anticipated precision support of the sensor systems, which are now believed to be positioned with an accuracy equivalent to about 0.01 arcseconds on the sky. There have been some teething troubles with the control system and an overhaul and enhancement of the servo system is underway.

The crosshead has proved to be very stiff and is now invaluable for precise offsetting to faint sources, if not totally popular with astronomers who are simply unaccustomed to the rigorous astrometry required for its exploitation!