Primary Mirror


Daily events and images of the installation of the BBSO New Solar Telescope.

01 October 2003 The NST primary mirror undergoing rough grinding (shape generation) at Kodak.
July 2007 The primary mirror in its test jig at the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab.We also saw some of the M1 support actuators.
March 2008 The NST primary mirror undergoing figuring at the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab.
June 25, 2008 The NST primary mirror was aluminized at Kitt Peak in the tank built for the mirror of the 4-meter Mayall telescope. The mirror is moved using the special mirror handling tool, and is thoroughly washed before going into the tank.
June 25, 2008 The mirror is placed on the bottom of the aluminizing tank which then slides under the top.
June 25, 2008 The top of the tank is lowered and sealed to the bottom. The air is pumped out and electric filaments vaporize a small amount of aluminum onto the Zerodur surface. Now we truly have a mirror.
June 26, 2008 The NST primary mirror arrived at BBSO very late on June 25. The final tests of the mirror surface at the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab indicate the figure is within 1/20 wavelength (at 300nm) of the specifications. The mirror weighs about 1100 pounds, not including the box.


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© BBSO/NJIT - Last modified: June 26, 2008.