What I did this month

[Adanch]

I've had a few really good science weeks.

First I got to go here and got to see these 40ft in diam solar collectors at work. That was just a ton of fun. PLUS they let me wear a hard hat and steel toed boots. I did resist breaking out into song (YMCA) because it might not be quite professional. But getting to do some experiments with those collectors is just simply heaven for me.

Then I got to tour here while there were doing some metrology on the newest mirror for the Giant Magellan Telescope. That is the single largest piece of glass I personally have ever laid eyes on, I do believe, and to think that thing is incredibly precise AND huge is just amazing to me. This is another nice link. I was disappointed however to find out that a mechanical metrology technique was actually superior than an optical metrology technique. Of course they use both but I have my biases and I'm sticking to them!

Having previously worked on what then was termed the Next Generation Space Telescope but is now the James Webb Telescope, these large, segmented scopes hold a special place in my heart. And the segmented solar dishes are just their distance cousins really so it is all good.

Next month is going to be a real downer in comparison. Only Christmas to look forward to. Bah.

[fat mike]

i hate xmas

[Adanch]

I hate to say hate, but I pretty much do too. All the red and green in your face everywhere--BLEH.

[Sparkly Mary]

All I have to look forward to are some long, lonely months without you here.