St. Louis Astronomical Society Meeting - The Steps of Making a Mirror or Why I Do It the Way I Do It
Mirror making of the 21st Century has advanced to the point that mirrors are larger but more compact than ever before. To accomplish this, modern professional mirror makers are using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment to shape the concave surface of the mirrors. They achieve accuracies not possible for amateur or commercial telescope makers. Michael Lockwood will discuss some of the equipment and techniques he uses to make some of the best telescope mirrors ever produced for the amateur and professional astronomer.
Michael Lockwood worked as a research engineer at the Beckman Institute of the University of Illinois from 2000 until 2009. He founded Lockwood Custom Optics in 2006, specializing in making custom telescope mirrors. In 2009, he left his engineering position to become a full-time professional optician. Mike has been involved with building tens of telescopes, up to 50" in aperture. He has taught telescope making and mirror making classes and written articles for Sky & Telescope and Amateur Astronomy Magazine.
The St. Louis Astronomical Society is an organization for individuals interested in astronomy and telescopes. The public is invited to attend its meetings, telescope observing sessions, and special events. For more information about Astronomical Society events, please visit www.slasonline.org or call 314- 962-9231. The event, cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium at Washington University, is open to the public free of charge.
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