Talk:Michelson stellar interferometer

Looking at the picture, the Hooker was used as the *pointing device* for the interferometer, which was mounted on it, but the 100 inch *mirror* is NOT part of the interferometer. In a large number of places on the web, it's stated that the mirror was part of the interferometer.

Can someone clarify this? hugh@alcor.org68.110.169.4 (talk) 07:39, 2 June 2010 (UTC)


 * Who says it's not?
 * Earlier interferometers used a telescope's aperture, but only could handle objects with large angular size (planets/moons.) I originally heard the story as involving "outrigger mirrors" added to the Hooker's beam-path in order to extend its reach (and to act as the two separated apertures.)  The four extra mirrors preserve the parallel paths as shown in the diagram.  The telescope main lens (actually a mirror) then creates a common focus as shown in the diagram. WBEATY 128.95.172.173 (talk) 00:37, 29 September 2011 (UTC)
 * Earlier interferometers used a telescope's aperture, but only could handle objects with large angular size (planets/moons.) I originally heard the story as involving "outrigger mirrors" added to the Hooker's beam-path in order to extend its reach (and to act as the two separated apertures.)  The four extra mirrors preserve the parallel paths as shown in the diagram.  The telescope main lens (actually a mirror) then creates a common focus as shown in the diagram. WBEATY 128.95.172.173 (talk) 00:37, 29 September 2011 (UTC)