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Article: Taking the measure of the stars. (optical interferometry)
- Article from:
- Science News
- Article date:
- January 3, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1987 Science Service, Inc. 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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Taking the Measure of the Stars
The development of astronomicalequipment has been driven by desires for greater light-gathering capacity to see fainter objects and for greater resolution to see finer detail in the structure of those objects. Recently developed techniques for making larger mirrors and for making multiple mirrors works together are responding to the first need. Even more recent developments in interferometry, which increases resolution by combining signals received at widely spaced telescopes, now cater to the second need.
Indeed, recent developments in interferometrywith visible light are so promising that the designers of three large ...