Active Optics - "Mirror Morphing"

Image of Mirror here

For many decades it was thought impossible to build a telescope as large as Gemini because the main (primary) mirror would have to be excessively thick and heavy to maintain its precise shape. Now, thanks to new technology, Gemini uses a relatively thin primary mirror that is able to hold its precise shape with a little help.

Mounted behind the mirror are 120 "actuators" that constantly nudge the mirror back into perfect form. These adjustments are typically only about 1/10,000 the thickness of a human hair and are enough to keep starlight precisely focused so astronomers can study the universe.

Using this technology Gemini should lead the way for a whole new generation of telescopes that will be larger than anything ever imagined by astronomers even a decade ago.

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Peter Michaud / pmichaud@gemini.edu / October 29, 1998