The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer: a High-Sensitivity Imaging Array

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer (MROI) is a US federally funded project to construct the world's most ambitious optical/IR (0.6-2.4micron) imaging interferometer at a 10,500ft-altitude site in New Mexico. In its initial phase it will consist of 6 telescopes, each 1.4m in diameter, separated by distances ranging from 7.5m to 340m. A second phase will upgrade the interferometer to a 10-telescope configuration, allowing a "snapshot" imaging capability. The MROI will deliver images with sub-milliarcsecond angular resolutions while simultaneously providing images over 5-70 spectral sub-bands. A key feature is that the array will have sufficient sensitivity to image a wide range of targets, including extragalactic targets and, potentially, geosynchronous satellites. We report on the design and current status of the array.