Re: Mount Wilson Observatory centennial noted by BBC

From: Glen Baker (Lens_at_nwc.edu)
Date: 12/21/04 

Date: Tue, 21 Dec 2004 23:11:13 -0000

Those are impressive specs for instruments made before laser
interferometry. How does Jupiter or Saturn look compared to a good 10" or
12" telescope?

Any idea on the accuracy of the 200" mirror?

Thanks

Glen
>
> Very. At the time of the 60" and 100" telescope's design and
> construction they were going well beyond what was well-known from
> previous telescope projects. The designs were probably overkill and
> the care in making the optics -- the first of the successful large
> reflectors -- was great. One astronomer did some tests on the
> accuracy of the optical trains of both scopes and told me they are 1/8
> and 1/4 wave total through three mirrors (folded Cass or coude) for
> the 60" and 100", respectively. I know nothing about his test or
> exactly what those figures represent, though. He is one of the key
> people working on the UV laser guide star adaptive optics system on
> the 100" (at coude).
>
> Mike Simmons

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