Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society · 1979 · 31 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesAstronomyPhysicsHeat TransferOptical AstronomyOpticsAtmospheric Effects On ObservationsAtmospheric OpticsTelescope OpticsConvectionDegradationRadiographic Image QualitySurface TemperatureSurface Temperature AnalysisTelescopesThermal Deformation CompensationThermal Effects On Optics
The convection disturbances caused by a telescope mirror being warmer than the surrounding air can cause serious degradation of the telescope image. An evaluation of this effect is derived, and it is shown that a flow of air across the mirror surface will improve the image quality, by eliminating the convection cells and by lowering the surface temperature.