Image Quality Considerations in ESO Telescope Projects

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Abstract
The European Southern Observatory (ESO) has immediate plans for the construction of a ‘New Technology Telescope’ (NTT) of about 3–3·5 m aperture and is studying a project for a ‘Very Large Telescope’ (VLT) of 16m equivalent aperture. Some characteristics of these telescopes are discussed, particularly the possibilities of greatly improved optical performance through active optics, closed-loop control. In this connection the problem is approached from the physical origins of the stable or quasi-stable optical aberration function which, apart from high frequency seeing, sets the limits of optical quality of telescopes in practice.

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