The 60 inch Reflector
Explanation:
On the night of December 13, 1908,
100 years ago today,
the
60-inch diameter
reflecting telescope of Mount Wilson Observatory was first
tested
on the stars.
It became the first successful large reflecting
telescope.
The 60-inch reflector demonstrated a scalable design that used a
mirror to gather faint starlight,
rather than a large and more difficult to support lens, becoming the
granddaddy of all, even larger, modern telescopes.
Now-famous astronomers, including
Harlow Shapley and
Edwin Hubble,
were able to use the 60-inch reflector to
embark on a new kind
of exploration of stars, distant galaxies, and
the nature
of the universe.
Still looking skyward
a century after its first light, the
historic
telescope is seen here pointing toward one of the
most recognizable
celestial events of 2008,
the remarkable conjunction of Moon, Venus, and Jupiter.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
