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"We [science fiction writers] always wanted to believe in "private sector" space -- hucksters make better characters than a government does."
- Larry Niven
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| Liquid Metal Telescope (Solid) | ||
| A large LMT made solid. |
The Liquid Metal Telescope idea was suggested by Newton, and eventually built. It's a great idea! but it is sadly limited to being able to look directly above; the rotating pan of mercury must be perpendicular to the Earth's gravity to work.
If only it could be made solid...
| It was a meeting of the International Astronomical Society, gathered to discuss the results of the trial of the giant forty foot mercury reflector telescope which had recently been completed in the great Holton Observatory, situated high up among the South American Andes...
Why that thing is perfected as far as it lies within the power of mortal man to do it. But look at this plate — magnified enough, but as far as detail goes - Looks like a striped pancake to me. Vibrationless action, ha! You can't entirely eliminate vibration in any machine. [Finally, after ten years of development -] In the center of the room to which they were conducted, stood the massive mercury reflector, the subject of the torrid discussion of ten years before. But now it was strangely altered. No longer was it set immovably upon giant pivots, pointing unalterably, to a single spot in the heavens. Now it was fitted into a ponderous equatorial mounting as delicately balanced as a precious chronometer. And its shining surface no longer needed rapid rotation to maintain its perfect parabolical form. The liquid metal was now set as rigid as steel. The master hand of the physicist had given it eternal solidity. |
| Technovelgy from The Infinite Vision,
by Charles C. Winn. Published by Amazing Stories in 1926 Additional resources -
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Compare to Liquid Mirror Telescope on Mars from Old Faithful (1934) by Raymond Z. Gallun.
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