alt_f13 Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 I propose we make a new telescope in space that is 100m wide using mercury on a spinning plate as a reflector. How should we build it? Water proof fabric on telescopic poles? Divide the plate into sections and send them up in a shuttle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Holy Mol Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 However it is built, I think that it should be better than Hubble! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted December 23, 2004 Share Posted December 23, 2004 I propose we make a new telescope in space that is 100m wide using mercury on a spinning plate as a reflector. How should we build it? Water proof fabric on telescopic poles? Divide the plate into sections and send them up in a shuttle? How would spinning mercury make a mirror, in space? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alt_f13 Posted December 25, 2004 Author Share Posted December 25, 2004 However it is built, I think that it should be better[/b'] than Hubble! Look... you will never be cool until you learn to speak in michael jackson. How would spinning mercury make a mirror, in space? Well, mercury is reflective, and here on earth you can use centrifugal force to create a parabolic mirror which is perfectly smooth and very very large... however I overlooked one important detail in my plan: there is no gravity in space to hold the mercury down, so sploosh! The mercury flies everywhere. But I may have a solution. Is mercury not affected by magnetism? I'm just trying to come up with a way of making the best optical telescope possible, and I think a massive one up in space would do the trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now