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What does the name "nayuta" mean? |
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"Nayuta" means "infinitely large number" in the ancient Indian language Sanskrit. In Japan, it is written in ideographic characters, and refers to a numeral equal to 10 to the 60th power. The term was selected as the name of the telescope from among numerous entries submitted by the public. Click here for more details. |
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When was NAYUTA completed? |
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NAYUTA was opened to the general public on November 8, 2004, after a construction period of more than three years. Prior to that, following design revisions, parts procurement, and overall construction, it achieved engineering First Light in March, 2004. Click here to learn about the creation of NAYUTA. |
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How large is NAYUTA's primary mirror? |
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NAYUTA's primary mirror is two meters in diameter. It is the largest in Japan, and the world's largest on a telescope open to the public. The base glass for the mirror was made in Germany, surface-polished in France, surface-coated in Spain, then transported to Japan. Click here to learn more. |
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How many observation points does NAYUTA have? |
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Light gathered by NAYUTA's primary mirror is guided to two Nasmyth foci and a Cassegrain focus via the secondary and third mirrors, making observation possible from three sources. The appropriate focus is used in accordance with the observation instrument. Click here for more information. |
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How many types of observation instruments are used with NAYUTA? |
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Five types: a visual telescopic instrument that allows direct visual observation; a high-sensitivity high-vision camera capable of capturing high-resolution moving images; a visible light spectrograph for examining light according to wavelengths (spectral analysis); a cooled visible CCD camera which can capture still pictures with high sensitivity and low noise; and a triple wavelength near-infrared camera for detecting infrared light. Click here for more details. |
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How is NAYUTA controlled? |
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In conventional large-scale telescopes, operation is complex and requires much time and effort. NAYUTA, however, was specifically designed for easy operation and reduced manpower. An integrated control system has simplified operational procedures and made it possible for a single person to operate the telescope alone. Click here for details. |
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Can I see photos of celestial objects taken by NAYUTA? |
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This website contains numerous images captured by NAYUTA when it achieved engineering First Light. Click here to view the images. |
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What are the size, weight, and other specifications of NAYUTA? |
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NAYUTA is about 9.3 meters high, measures approximately 8.2 meters at its widest point, and weighs as much as 39 tons. Click here for details. |
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