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T: Fachverband Teilchenphysik

T 84: Gamma Astronomy II

T 84.2: Talk

Thursday, March 19, 2026, 16:30–16:45, KS 00.005

Progress on the Medium-Sized Telescope Structure for the Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory — •Bastian Heß for the MST Project collaboration — Institut für Astronomie und Astrophysik, Tübingen, Germany

The Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory (CTAO) will consist of three different sizes of telescope categories: the small-sized telescopes (SSTs), medium-sized telescopes (MSTs), and large-sized telescopes (LSTs). Two MST pathfinder telescopes are currently in production and undergoing pre-assembly. They will be deployed at the CTAO southern site in Paranal, Chile. The MST reflector comprises 86 hexagonal mirror segments, each 1.2 m measured across flats. These mirrors are mounted to the optical support structure using high-precision motorized actuators that enable fine alignment to achieve and maintain optimal telescope optics. This contribution presents an overview of the manufacturing and testing progress of the MST structures, with particular emphasis on the performance and quality assurance of the active mirror control system and its components.

Keywords: CTAO; MST; IACT; Mirror Alignment; Telescope Structure