And on Monday, July 27, it will travel over Interstate-19 from Tucson to Amado, Ariz., at speeds of more than 50 mph, taking up the entire road. Two Department of Public Safety vehicles, several commercial vehicles and others will escort. It is the MMT mirror cell. Ariz. After trucking the mirror cell about 50 miles to the Whipple Observatory Base Camp on Monday, and in early August up the twisting 12-mile road to Hopkins' peak, milestones to MMT completion can be counted on one hand, said MMTO Director Craig B. Foltz. First light, when the new telescope is first pointed on the sky, also in December.
Astronomical observations begin early next spring.
The perfectly polished mirror has been in the mirror cell since October, during which time technicians and engineers integrated critical support and thermal systems. The 55,000-pound mirror cell is covered, boxed and secured on a flatbed truck. It will leave the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab between 9 and 10 a.m. It will leave Interstate-19 at Exit 56, the Canoa Road Exit, and continue 3 miles south to Elephant Head Road. From this turn, it's 7 miles to the Whipple Observatory Visitor Center and Base Camp.