Scotch tape approach could enable larger, cheaper telescope mirrors
« Back to Article
The Orion Nebula in visible light (Image: Hubble Space Telescope/NASA)
The Orion Nebula in infrared light (Image: ESO)
The Orion Nebula imaged in X-ray (Image: Chandra X-ray telescope/NASA)
The Chandra X-ray Observatory is performing remarkable observations, but its relatively small mirror impairs its performance (Image: NASA)
NASA researchers are trying a "scotch tape" design to build larger, more affordable X-ray telescope mirrors (Image: NASA/D. McCallum)
The Orion nebula is imaged, from left to right, using visible light, infrared, and X-ray (Images: Hubble; ESO; Chandra X-ray telescope)
Some X-ray telescopes, like NASA's recently launched NuSTAR, are sensitive to hard X-rays but lack in resolution (Image: NASA)
Article Summary
A team led by NASA's Maxim Markevitch is investigating the possibility of building bigger X-ray telescope mirrors – up to thirty times as large as today's – using a plastic tape coated with a reflective material and then, just like a roll of Scotch tape, tightly rolled on itself. By studying cosmic rays and distant galaxy clusters, such large and significantly cheaper mirrors would allow us to learn more about the birth and evolution of the universe.
« Back to Scotch tape approach could enable larger, cheaper telescope mirrors
Other Images from this Gallery
Related Articles
-
The anti-mirror... and more
3rd March, 2009
-
Light Tape: bending light... and other applications
30th June, 2009
-
Voice Recording Tape Measure
14th May, 2008
-
iTapemeasure - a go-everywhere digital tape measure iPhone case
1st May, 2012
-
Cost-effective solar power module could also serve as an eco-friendly furnace
11th July, 2012
-
NASA launches Interstellar Boundary Explorer
20th October, 2008
