Abstract: Dunn

Prof. Christina (Reynolds) Dunn ’97 – Bennington College

Title: “Creating the Giant: Fabricating the Mirrors of the European Extremely Large Telescope”

Abstract: A new generation of astronomical telescopes is taking shape, giants three or four times larger than the world’s current largest telescopes. Bringing these massive designs from theoretical possibility to reality will require a revolution in optical fabrication techniques and technologies, combining the craft traditions of master opticians with the cutting edge in robotic machinery. In this talk, we will address the challenges of creating a telescope mirror wider than the wingspan of a Boeing 737 aircraft, and the solutions that have been devised to meet those challenges.