This tour will provide visitors with a behind the scenes look at how we manufacture the world’s largest mirrors to produce the sharpest images for giant telescopes. These mirrors are used in mountaintop observatories to explore the edges of the universe, to study planetary systems in formation, and to seek out near earth asteroids that may someday pose a threat to life on Earth.
We show how the spinning furnace melts glass in structured molds to make lightweight mirrors, which have more easily controlled internal temperatures. In a second laboratory, technicians use the grinding and polishing instruments to shape mirror surfaces to a fraction of a millionth of an inch. Renown for its honeycomb mirrors, the lab also is building on its expertise to work on solar electricity generation.
Admission: $15 per person; students $5
Audience: All, Small (1-50)
Mirror Lab
Cathi Duncan
Steward Observatory
520-626-8792
mirrorlab@as.arizona.edu
http://www.mirrorlab.as.arizona.edu
