105The finished glass doesn’t really
sparkle until team members apply
a whisper-thin coating of reflec-
tive aluminum at the telescope
site at Las Campanas Observa-
tory in Chile. That final step
happens on location to avoid
damaging the surface in transit.
Before the structure leaves the
lab, though, every one takes a mo-
ment to celebrate the completion
of yet another key component.
Then it’s on to the next mirror.
“You’ve still got plenty of work to
do,” optical engineer Buddy Martin
says. Five cast, only two to go.
TOP COAT