ESOcast 63: Flexible Giants — The Evolution of Telescope Mirrors

The clear night sky offers one of the most beautiful views in nature. The eye adapts to the dark and the pupil widens to collect more light and thus allow fainter stars to become visible. But the light-collecting area of the human eye is tiny. To peer much deeper into the night sky astronomers need telescopes with enormous primary mirrors to do a much better job.

Credit:

ESO
Visual design and editing: Martin Kornmesser and Luis Calçada.
Editing: Herbert Zodet.
Web and technical support: Mathias André and Raquel Yumi Shida.
Written by: Phillip Keane and Herbert Zodet.
Presented by: Joe Liske (Dr. J).
Narration: Sara Mendes da Costa.
Music: Schmitz & Niebuhr-Orgelqualität
(http://www.derkleinegruenewuerfel.de), CC-BY-NC.
Footage and photos: ESO, Luis Calçada, Martin Kornmesser, Simon Lowery,
Christoph Malin (christophmalin.com), Gerd Hüdepohl (atacamaphoto.com),
Dave Jones and José Francisco Salgado (josefrancisco.org).
Directed by: Herbert Zodet.
Executive producer: Lars Lindberg Christensen.