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There's a much simpler plan for a moon-based telescope: ship a big vat of mercury to the moon and spin it. The centrifugal force would curve the mercury perfect
by jballanc 9y ago
There's a much simpler plan for a moon-based telescope: ship a big vat of mercury to the moon and spin it. The centrifugal force would curve the mercury perfectly and elemental mercury is a really good mirror on its own.
- LifeLiverTransp 9y agoI found this- but no mention of mercury. https://www.space.com/5628-nasa-envisions-huge-lunar-telescope.html https://www.space.com/5628-nasa-envisions-huge-lunar-telesco... Diffrent solution entirely- dont build a mirror- build a fragment, and rotate it with a counterweight along a axis?
- gammarator 9y agoThere was one in Canada: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Zenith_Telescope https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Zenith_Telescope
- LifeLiverTransp 9y agoNow, if you had a perfect simulation of fluid dynamics of mercury- you could use piezo-pumps and image correcting software to angle it partially and compose a image at a angle. Actually- if you do know the fluid dynamics of mecury in openspace, and how to push it where you want it- you can do the same thing up there. Screw my rotor idea, all you need is a way to influence quecksilber in space, push it and take a series of images - that is recomposed into one giant hiRes picture. So, one needs a strong magnetic field to push the mercury into shape, a closed tube, able to withstand that magnetic force and a shielded camera. Or you spin the tube, while applying the magnetic force, thus getting the mercury to collect at the side. Also the mirror would be selfrepairing.. Wow, this would be how much weigth? Anyone with a engineering degree and a calculator nearby?