Recoating the Mount Wilson Observatory’s 100” Optics
David Hasenauer | Published on 8/21/2024
Recoating the Mount Wilson Observatory’s 100” Optics
OSSC Past President and newly elevated Fellow, David Hasenauer, shares his experience with coating the mirrors for the Mount Wilson Observatory's famed 100" Hooker Telescope. Edwin Hubble used data from this telescope to quantify the expansion of the universe and to determine that the Andromeda Galaxy (then classified a nebula) was external to the Milky Way. Other discoveries made using the Hooker Telescope include early evidence of dark mater, two satellites of Jupiter, and two different types of Cepheid variable stars.
Removing the 4 1/2 ton mirror for coating with a layer of reflective aluminum is no easy task. Dave shares his experience and photos of the project via the link below. Coating the Mirrors for Mount Wilson Observatory's 100 Inch Telescope is also the topic of Dave Hasenauer's presentation at the Sept 11, 2024, meeting of the OSSC. - Robert Cartland
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