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Q&As since 1989


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Want to know how to aluminize a telescope mirror

Wants to know how to aluminize a telescope mirror

James Ruth
- TN
2003

Silvering telescope mirrors is performed by vacuum deposition, also known as "sputtering". The mirror is placed in a chamber, then all air is then pumped out of the chamber and a precisely controlled source of extreme high voltage is applied between the positively charged mirror and a negatively charged source of silver. The silver atoms are literally stripped away and accelerated towards the mirror where they bombard and are deposited upon its surface. The smoothness of the silver is extremely critical, being measured in wavelengths of light, i.e. in nanometers (one nanometer equals .000000001 meters!). If you feel that the quality of your telescope warrants restoration, I suggest you do a web search for amateur astronomy societies in your neck of the woods. They can and will be more than happy to direct you to the nearest facilty in your area that does sputtering. Happy stargazing!

Clement Alberts
- Santa Barbara, California
2003