The lightweight, rigid reference optic for the new deformable secondary mirror at ESO's VLT

This view of a newly completed reference optic for the new deformable secondary mirror system at ESO’s VLT shows the remarkable sculpted structure that makes the new element both very light and very rigid. When the new mirror is complete, 1170 actuators working with this reference optic will act on a thin mirror shell to change the shape of its reflecting optical surface to correct for starlight wobbles produced by the Earth’s atmosphere.

Credit:

ESO/SESO

About the Image

Id:ann1056a
Type:Photographic
Release date:7 September 2010, 14:00
Related announcements:ann1056
Size:2816 x 2112 px

About the Object

Name:Very Large Telescope
Type:Unspecified : Technology : Observatory : Telescope
Category:Paranal

Image Formats

Large JPEG
1.7 MB
Screensize JPEG
263.9 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
342.9 KB
1280x1024
548.3 KB
1600x1200
762.6 KB
1920x1200
883.2 KB
2048x1536
1.1 MB