• more about #telescopes more comments →
    Chip Overclock: Here in the great state of Colorado it's trivial to get above 14,000 feet. (My suburban driveway is above 5000 feet.) And they're not kidding: stand u... more »
    Rybanis: That glass is melting down to become the objective mirror, not a lens. Telescopes of that size do not use lenses in that way. more »
    LittleDragon: I want to work there. more »
    Roklimber: One of the captions says: "Glass is spread over this vast mold, melted, and then slowly spun to create an even surface" Although having a smooth surf... more »
    kosai: Finally a use for those awful glass cubes in so many bathrooms more »
    ManchuCandidate: Cool engineering process. Easier to make it on the spot than ship it and cart it up a mountain. From what I learned about Palomar, it was a pain in ... more »
    Garrison Dean: R.O.A.C.H.: The Death Star called... it want's it laser back. Moff is pissed. more »
  • #spaceporn

    Bricks of Glass That Will Melt Into the World's Most Powerful Telescope

    What you are seeing are huge chunks of glass slowly being melted down to create a mirror for the Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham. It's going to be one of the biggest in the world. More »
  • #spacepornographers

    The Coolest-Looking Observatories On Earth

    We often marvel at the amazing deep-space images that observatories beam back to Earth - but those observatories are almost as gorgeous in their own right. looking like spaceships or temples. Here's a luscious gallery. More »
  • #spaceporn

    Nebula As Seen From Photographer's Back Yard

    Photographer Eric Africa obtained this image of the Garnet Star Nebula (IC 1396) by spending several nights in his "light-polluted backyard." Africa's images of IC 1396, the Rosette Nebula and M 31 are proof that an Earthbound photographer can score some amazing pics. His telescope, the Takahashi FSQ-106, is commercially available for around $4,000. Click through for a gallery. More »