The Hale telescope in 1948

[Nik271]

I came across this video describing in detail the making of the 200 inch Hale telescope. It even features Edwin Hubble taking a photograph.

I found the detalls of the making of the F3.3 pyrex mirror quite fascinating. It took 13 years apparently.

 

 

Edited September 18, 2022 by Nik271

[Mark at Beaufort]

Nik a remarkable video especially when you consider its been over 70 years. It was interesting to see the workers (a great deal of smokers) putting the mirror through its initial manufacturing before moving to Mount Palomar.

 

[Nik271]

I guess people did not even think about the adverse effect of smoking in these times. If their lungs can cope then so can a massive 10 ton chunk of glass. And it's recoated every few years anyway so no harm done to it. Not so with lungs 🙁

[tomato]

Great video, thanks for posting.

[markse68]

Really nice video of a bygone era- shame they didn't filter the noise a bit on the sound track but it'ss a really nicely made film. I love the dials for setting the scope coordinates- wonder if they're still in use?

Mark

[michael8554]

Remarkable combination of heavy engineering and micro engineering.

Did Michael Fish make the weather report ?

Good explanations for the layman of how telescopes work.

Yes, application of a simple audio noise filter would have been good.

Michael

[Mandy D]

2 hours ago, michael8554 said:

Remarkable combination of heavy engineering and micro engineering.

Did Michael Fish make the weather report ?

Good explanations for the layman of how telescopes work.

Yes, application of a simple audio noise filter would have been good.

Michael

Ah yes, the infamous Michael Fish fail!

Here is a photo of one of my favorite heavy engineering projects in telescope construction.

 

[Ceramus]

Great video, thanks for sharing.