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Old May 14th 06, 11:01 PM posted to sci.astro.amateur
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Default little flat mirrors

The mirrors of this instrument are more like household ones than precision
optics. They form a light bucket to feed a large photomultiplier tube, with
an aperture of at least a couple of inches. (At least, that was the sensor
used 30 years ago, if memory serves.)

Its optics are basically similar to those of a solar collector. It might be
suitable for burning holes in steel plates using sunlight, although it was
probably never used for that purpose.

It didn't actually detect gamma rays. It was intended to observe
visible-light flashes produced by gammas in the upper atmosphere.


Address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

"Dave Jessie" wrote in message
. ..
Dan Mckenna wrote:
Eric wrote:

(snip)
Take a look at this gamma ray telescope, it's 10 meters and not wood.

http://jelley.wustl.edu/Pages/images+hopkins.html


However (and it's a BIG however) is that each segment of the telescope
shown in the link are carefully figured parabolic mirrors in their own
right rather than 'small round sections' cut from household mirrors.
Boiling water or roasting chickens is about the limit of Eric's
configuration, I'm afraid - as an early reply suggested.

Clear Dark Steady Skies,
Dave Jessie