P. Seitzer Abstract

The Curtis Schmidt Telescope and CTIO

P. Seitzer (University of Michigan)

Wide field imaging on Cerro Tololo began with the arrival of the University of Michigan's Curtis-Schmidt telescope in 1966.  This began a rich and varied use of the telescope in both direct and objective prism mode.  I'll review the early history of the telescope in its original home near Ann Arbor, Michigan, and then the very significant studies of the Magellanic Clouds and the southern skies that followed from Chile.  National access to the Curtis-Schmidt ended in 2001, and the telescope reverted to exclusive use by Michigan. The telescope then became dedicated to orbital debris studies for NASA, a project which continues to the current day.