Harlan J. Smith Telescope

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Harlan J. Smith Telescope
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Harlan J. Smith Telescope

The Harlan J. Smith Telescope is a 2.7m (107-in.) telescope located at the McDonald Observatory (30.681° N 104.015° W). This telescope is one of several research telescopes that are part of the University of Texas System observatory perched atop Mount Locke in the Davis Mountains of west Texas. The telescope was completed in 1968 with substantial NASA assistance, and is named after Harlan James Smith.

[edit] Trivia

The Harlan J. Smith Telescope was a victim of a handgun assault in February 1970. A frustrated observeratory employee fired 3 shots from a handgun into the telescope's primary mirror. The fused silica of the mirror did not shatter because the mirror was about a meter thick and the material is more resilient than ordinary glass. Technicians simply ground the holes to avoid further cracking and the telescope only lost 2 percent of its effectiveness.[1]

[edit] References

  1.   Encyclopedia of Astrobiology, Astronomy & Spaceflight home page - Accessed 28 March 2006
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