Segmented mirror

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A segmented mirror is an array of smaller mirrors designed to act as a single, larger mirrored surface, usually used in large telescopes. Because current monolithic mirrors cannot be constructed larger than about eight meters in diameter, the use of segmented mirrors is a key component of current large-aperture telescopes.

[edit] Current Segmented-Mirror Telescopes

These include, but are not limited to:

• The Hobby-Eberly Telescope
• The twin W. M. Keck Telescopes
• The Southern African Large Telescope

[edit] Proposed Segmented-Mirror Telescopes

These telescopes represent the next generation of segmented mirror telescopes; they are currently at least a decade from completion.

• TMT, the North American Thirty meter telescope
• OWL, the European Overwhelmingly Large Telescope