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

@article{Murphy2008TheAP,
  title={The Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation: Instrument Description and First Detections},
  author={T. W. Murphy and Jr. and Eric George Adelberger and James B. R. Battat and Larry N. Carey and Charles D. Hoyle and Philippe C. Leblanc and Eric L. Michelsen and Kenneth Nordtvedt and A. E. Orin and Jana D. Strasburg and Christopher W. Stubbs and H. Erik Swanson and E. Williams},
  journal={Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific},
  year={2008},
  volume={120},
  pages={20-37}
}
  • T. Murphy, Jr., E. Williams
  • Published 3 October 2007
  • Physics, Geology
  • Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
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. The Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation (APOLLO) has achieved 1m mrange precision to the moon, which should lead to ap- proximately 1 order-of-magnitude improvements in several tests of fundamental properties of gravity. We briefly outline the scientific goals, and then give a detailed discussion of the APOLLO… 
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