Name: Michelle Creech-Eakman
MRO Interferometer Project Scientist, New Mexico Tech

University of Washington

Astrolunch

Abstract:
I will present a brief overview of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI), being built at an altitude of 10,500 feet just outside of Socorro, NM. The planned architecture of the system will include 10 1.4-m class alt-alt telescopes, the most modern detectors operating over the 0.6-2.4 micron range, with relocatable telescopes capable of resolving sources with sizes in the range of 30-0.3 milliarcseconds. I will present a brief overview of the technique of optical interferometry and then demonstrate some of the science which has been done already with optical interferometers. I will introduce our key science mission for the MROI and demonstrate how the design for this array will provide unprecedented, model independent images for a wide variety of stellar and some extragalactic sources. The MROI is being built in collaboration by two principle institutions: New Mexico Tech and the University of Cambridge. We are following an aggressive schedule and anticipate first light on the first baseline in 2009.