APOLLO: the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation: Instrument Description and First Detections

T. W. Murphy, Jr.; E. G. Adelberger; J. B. R. Battat; L. N. Carey; C. D. Hoyle; P. LeBlanc; E. L. Michelsen; K. Nordtvedt; A. E. Orin; J. D. Strasburg; C. W. Stubbs; H. E. Swanson; E. Williams

doi:10.1086/526428

arXiv · 0710.0890

APOLLO: the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation: Instrument Description and First Detections

T. W. Murphy, Jr.·E. G. Adelberger·J. B. R. Battat·L. N. Carey·C. D. Hoyle·P. LeBlanc·E. L. Michelsen·K. Nordtvedt·A. E. Orin·J. D. Strasburg·C. W. Stubbs·H. E. Swanson·E. Williams

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Abstract

A next-generation lunar laser ranging apparatus using the 3.5 m telescope at the Apache Point Observatory in southern New Mexico has begun science operation. APOLLO (the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation) has achieved one-millimeter range precision to the moon which should lead to approximately one-order-of-magnitude improvements in the precision of several tests of fundamental properties of gravity. We briefly motivate the scientific goals, and then give a detailed discussion of the APOLLO instrumentation.

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T. W. Murphy, Jr., E. G. Adelberger, J. B. R. Battat, L. N. Carey, C. D. Hoyle, P. LeBlanc, E. L. Michelsen, K. Nordtvedt, A. E. Orin, J. D. Strasburg, C. W. Stubbs, H. E. Swanson, E. Williams. 2007-11-08. APOLLO: the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation: Instrument Description and First Detections. https://doi.org/10.1086/526428

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