ComCam
The Commissioning Camera for the Giant Magellan Telescope
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The Commissioning Camera (ComCam) will be the first instrument to collect light from the Giant Magellan Telescope.
Before the GMT can begin its full scientific mission, all technical functions will be fine-tuned and verified, ensuring accurate pointing, tracking, and focusing. ComCam will provide the on-axis, seeing-limited images necessary to complete this telescope commissioning. ComCam will then be used to validate the Ground Layer Adaptive Optics (GLAO) performance of the GMT facility Adaptive Optics System. Finally, ComCam will be used to evaluate the performance of the telescope's wide field correcter and atmospheric dispersion compensator.
ComCam will then produce beautiful images suitable for public outreach and enable a range of unique, imaging-based scientific research for the GMT community.
ComCam is in the final design phase, having passed its preliminary design review on August 28, 2025.
ComCam will be built at Carnegie Observatories in Pasadena, CA in collaboration with the Steiner Institute and other academic and industrial partners. ComCam has benefited from generous funding by The Ahmanson Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, GMTO, and Carnegie Science.
ComCam will be built at Carnegie Observatories in Pasadena, CA in collaboration with the Steiner Institute and other academic and industrial partners. ComCam has benefited from generous funding by The Ahmanson Foundation, The Ambrose Monell Foundation, GMTO, and Carnegie Science.
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