Gemini Telescopes Mirror Covers ~ NOAO

Gemini Observatory/NOAO/AURA/NSF

 

Scientific American magazine featured a story in their April 1999 issue on the Gemini Telescopes, two of the world's largest optical telescopes. The 8-meter diameter mirrors are each protected by an accordion-fold cover made of aluminum honeycomb panels fabricated by Paneltec Corporation. These sets of hinged panels, 15 inches wide and nearly 28 feet long were shipped to Hilo, Hawaii, in May of 1997 and one pair is now in use at the top of Mauna Kea; the other pair has been installed in Chile.

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