Who built the telescope?
The CSO 10.4m telescope was designed and assembled by a team led by Dr. Robert Leighton. Since radio astronomers built the telescope system, including the instruments and software, the CSO is one of the easiest telescopes to use for astronomical observations. It is worthy of note that there are no telescope operators at the observatory, because observers know enough to run the telescope to take their scientific data (one has to have some technical background to operate the telescope). Many key instruments are developed by graduate students and staff members at the observatory. Major construction and operational funding for the CSO is provided by the National Science Foundation.
