Comments on: A telescope using a liquid mirror about to become operational https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/a-telescope-using-a-liquid-mirror-about-to-become-operational/ Fri, 24 Jun 2022 02:46:14 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/a-telescope-using-a-liquid-mirror-about-to-become-operational/#comment-1339507 Fri, 24 Jun 2022 02:46:14 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=85784#comment-1339507 In a vacuum the mercury would be fine.
In zero G it would be spun to the edge of its tray or container, It needs the gravity to pull it back down to the center to form a dish shape.

If it tilted in gravity the gravity would pull it down to the lower edge thus distorting the shape.

]]> By: Kelly Ambrose (Sr.) https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/a-telescope-using-a-liquid-mirror-about-to-become-operational/#comment-1339383 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 18:51:49 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=85784#comment-1339383 Is mercury too heavy for a vacuum or too weird for a magnet to enable tipping?

]]> By: William Hamblen https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/a-telescope-using-a-liquid-mirror-about-to-become-operational/#comment-1339278 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 12:01:42 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=85784#comment-1339278 This was first tried in 1908. H. C. King, The History of the Telescope. A very interesting book for all telescope fans.

]]> By: pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/a-telescope-using-a-liquid-mirror-about-to-become-operational/#comment-1339216 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 03:56:00 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=85784#comment-1339216 Some one tried making a mirror out of Mylar.

]]> By: Captain Emeritus https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/a-telescope-using-a-liquid-mirror-about-to-become-operational/#comment-1339147 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 20:50:13 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=85784#comment-1339147 I made liquid lens for years to pass vision acuity tests for the Feds.
Just yank a few hairs from a nostril, cause a tear to form, and squint…
you can read the bottom line without correction.

]]> By: Ray Van Dune https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/a-telescope-using-a-liquid-mirror-about-to-become-operational/#comment-1339127 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 18:35:07 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=85784#comment-1339127 Canada has been a pioneer in rotating mercury mirror technology – I recall reading about an experimental observatory using a rotating mercury mirror in southern British Columbia 20 years ago. They were pretty cagey about where it was located, since it was on park land and they were afraid of vandalism or other kinds of disturbance. IIRC at that observatory they experimented with a flat mirror to allow the scope to scan to a degree. But of course, that was an alt-azimuth scan since the mirror could not be tilted, which would rotate the image. In addition, every reflection reduces the light transmitted by some percent, so there was speculation that future such telescopes would forgo such a scanning mirror.

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