Re: ATM Mirror support -- the ultimate?

["Bill T." <twentiethwave@hotmail.com>]

The Silent Observer wrote:
> I wonder, has anyone considered combining fan cooling of a very thin
> mirror with the ultimate multipoint floating support: an air cushion?

You can come pretty close with a very simple support made out of large
diameter bubble pack material.  But unless your scope lives in a temperature
controlled observatory, difficulty with cooling the back of the mirror is a
serious problem.  Of course you could pop every other bubble, etc. etc....

Bill Tondreau