Liquid Mirror -- from Eric Weisstein's World of Physics

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Optics "> Optical Components "> Mirrors v

Liquid Mirror

A mirror made out of a reflective liquid (such as mercury), which are shaped into a light-focusing paraboloid by rotation. Their greatest limitation is their restriction to small zenith angles Eric Weisstein's World of Astronomy, effectively rendering them transit instruments.

Mirror

References

Borra, E. F. "Liquid Mirrors." Sci. Amer. 270, 76-81, Feb. 1994.