The largest of all telescopes existing and operating now are in so-called observatory Keka in Mauna Kea (Hawaii, the USA). The devices which are located at the height of 4145 meters over level the sea, two – "Kek I" and "Kek II".
Description of observatory
The Keka telescopes are devices of mirror type with a diameter of primary mirrors of 10 meters. And each of them, in addition, consists also of 36 various segments. "Kek I" and "Kek II" can work one by one and in common, forming the uniform astronomical interferometer.
The observatory is obliged by the emergence to fund of William Myron Kek which in 1985 allocated 70 million US dollars for financing then of the innovative project. Construction of the equipment was conducted long enough – construction of the first ended in 1993, and the second – in the 1996th.
The structure of operation of telescopes – Richie-Chrétien's system according to which each of primary mirrors consists of 36 corner correct segments united in uniform structure and made at the German plant of the Schott company. The weight of each of them – 500 kilograms, and thickness – 8 centimeters. Since 1996 the observatory was repeatedly improved and updated. In particular, in the 1999th it was equipped with adaptive optics which increased quality of work, having lowered the hindrances caused by atmospheric distortions. In 2001 in observatory installed the interferometer thanks to which both telescopes could work harmoniously and effectively together, being actually at distance in 85 meters. In a year 11 million US dollars from the government budget of the country are spent for service of Keka observatory. At the expense of it there is also an important employment of the population of the Hawaiian Islands: telescopes are served by about a third of local community.
Opening and scientific achievements of Keka observatory
The spectrometer of high resolution allowed workers of devices to open the number of exoplanets, greatest in the world. This term in astronomy call planets which rotate around stars outside the Solar system. Ordinary they are quite small and possess extremely dim light, in comparison with stars therefore and it is hard to find them. The closest exoplanet is in 4.22 light years from the Sun. For June 7, 2014 officially approved number of exoplanets in modern science is estimated in figure in 1795 in 1114 planetary systems. And the considerable role in it was played by Kek I and Kek II devices. Employees of the Hawaiian observatory could open also the youngest exoplanet which is only at a formation stage now – LkCa 15b. This opening is very valuable to world science as scientists can make idea of formation of Earth and the Solar system with all its processes.