Design of an 8192x8192 pixel CCD mosaic

We describe the design of an ultra-format, 8192 x 8192 pixel CCD mosaic imager under construction for the Mauna Kea Observatory. The mosaic will be built from a 4 x 2 array of 3-edge-buttable 2048 x 4096 15 micrometers pixel CCDs fabricated by Loral Fairchild. We outline the scientific justification for such a mosaic and the technical details of the 3-edge-buttable 2048 x 4096 CCD design. We also present our strategy for imager packaging and subsequent mosaic construction which will result in a mosaic with individual elements that can easily be installed and removed. This particular CCD mosaic is intended for two existing MKO telescopes: the UH 2.2 m and the CFHT 3.6m. In either configuration, the imager will offer an enormous field of view with excellent spatial sampling.