Do you want to have your very own LST at home, or even build a whole array? Follow the instructions here to create your paper LST. This project was originally created by the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) and Liceo Mons. B. Mangino di Pagani (Italy), and has been adapted by CTAO.
MATERIAL
To build your own Large-Sized Telescope (LST) in paper, you need the following material:
- > Scissors
- > Glue or tape
- > And, of course, the LST paper model that you can download here:
Do you have everything ready? Then, let’s start building!
INSTRUCTIONS
- Cut out the element called “Mirror Dish,” fold the flaps along the structure and glue them together to create a closed hexagon.
Did you know… that the LST is the largest of the CTAO? Its mirror is made of 198 segments that together form a 23-metre-diameter reflector, equivalent to 400 m².
2. Cut out the element “Camera,” fold the flaps and glue them to form a flattened cube. You will notice that the camera has a front and a back: The side with small hexagons represents the front, where the photomultipliers (PMTs) or light detectors are located. The plain side corresponds to the back. When assembling the telescope, make sure the front with the hexagons faces the mirror.
Did you know… that the LST’s camera has 1,855 PMTs that capture Cherenkov light and convert it into digital signals for the study of gamma rays?
3. Cut out the “Camera Support Arch,” fold the smaller flaps (thinner edge) and glue them to the sides of the camera. Make sure the back of the camera remains visible together with the grey side of the Support Arch, so that the PMTs face inwards towards the mirror.
4. Cut out the element “Tubular Structure” and set it aside. This is a decorative element representing the tubular back structure of the telescopes.
5. Cut out the two “Lateral Supports” which will allow the telescope to stand upright. Fold the flaps and glue them to create two closed structures. The wider part, where you see “grass,” will rest directly on the surface.
6. Now that all the elements are ready, it’s time to assemble them! Take the “Camera Support Arch,” fold the remaining tabs and glue them to the sides of the mirror, creating an arch over it. If done correctly, the mirrors and the PMTs on the camera will be facing each other.
7. Take the “Tubular Structure,” fold the flap and glue it to the back of the mirror. To make it more visible, align it with the arch so that their edges are close to each other.
8. Take the “Lateral Supports” and glue them to the mirror structure. To ensure the telescope stands properly, place them facing each other on opposite sides of the mirror’s hexagon, each positioned just to the left of where the arch is attached.
All done! You now have your very own LST. If you had any difficulties with the steps, don’t worry – simply follow this video tutorial: