11-12-2019, 12:33 PM
Trying to compare the mercury that is locked into the amalgam of dental fillings to liquid mercury that may have been used to coat a mirror*, imo, seems like a long stretch. Maybe a bit too long to be creditable. But hey, what do I know, other than even the toxicity of the amalgam in oral fillings is still in question with most falling on the side of it is not. Though as per my personal dentist's concerns I had all mine removed.
I sense the argument itself isn't as valid as maybe it was in some bygone days but I am not the one to ask. Though, I suspect, there are safer metals to use these days. I do remember a time when the Gemini guys announced a successful coating of their mirror with silver, but am not hip to what the state of the art is at present.
Straight Mercury is mean stuff.. but even if some spilled at one of the telescope facilities I doubt it would get to the outside world.
As to Liquid Mirrors. I think that technology is very limited (the mirror has to remain horizontal I believe) and not applicable to the scopes on MK.
*Im assuming the original question has to do with mercury being used to coat a mirror. Is there another application of mercury on MK?
I sense the argument itself isn't as valid as maybe it was in some bygone days but I am not the one to ask. Though, I suspect, there are safer metals to use these days. I do remember a time when the Gemini guys announced a successful coating of their mirror with silver, but am not hip to what the state of the art is at present.
Straight Mercury is mean stuff.. but even if some spilled at one of the telescope facilities I doubt it would get to the outside world.
As to Liquid Mirrors. I think that technology is very limited (the mirror has to remain horizontal I believe) and not applicable to the scopes on MK.
*Im assuming the original question has to do with mercury being used to coat a mirror. Is there another application of mercury on MK?