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Article: How it works: large binocular telescope: the world's most powerful optical telescope will soon to be peering at objects that date back to the dawn of time.(PM SPECIAL REPORT)
- Article from:
- Popular Mechanics
- Article date:
- May 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 Hearst Communications, reprinted with permission of Hearst. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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ESSENTIALLY A PAIR OF ENORMOUS TELESCOPES bolted together, the $120 million Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) combines the light from two mirrors to simulate a telescope with a single larger mirror. The LBT's components were crafted in the United States, Italy and Germany, and assembled at 10,400 ft. on southeastern Arizona's Mount Graham. In October 2005, LBT took its first image of space--what astronomers call "first light"--using only one primary mirror. Later this year, the second mirror will become operational. Says mechanical engineer Shawn Callahan, "It's a very exciting time to be working on top of this mountain."
1 PRIMARY MIRRORS deflect incoming Light to ...