The Discovery Channel Telescope: early integration

The Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) is a 4.3-meter astronomical research telescope being built in northern Arizona as a partnership between Discovery Communications and Lowell Observatory. The telescope will be able to support substantial instrument payloads at Cassegrain, Nasmyth, and prime foci, and high observing cadences. The first-light configuration will be as an f/6.1 Ritchey-Chretien at Cassegrain with a 30 arc-minute field-of-view. Major facility work is complete, and the telescope is currently in the integration phase with first-light anticipated in 2011. We present an overview of the design and progress to date, and include plans for final integration, commissioning, and early science.