What characteristic of the 10-m Keck telescope makes it fundamentally different from older telescopes,such as the one on Mt.Palomar?
A) It is located in Earth orbit, away from all the distortions of Earth's atmosphere.
B) It is actually four closely spaced telescopes that can be operated together, as if they were a single telescope.
C) Its primary mirror is a large, very thin piece of glass that can be deformed rapidly to compensate for seeing.
D) Its primary mirror is made up of 36 separate mirror segments.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Keck telescope's primary mirror is made up of 36 separate mirror segments, which allows for greater flexibility in adjusting and compensating for distortions in the incoming light. This is a major technological advance from older telescopes, such as the one on Mt. Palomar, which typically had a single, solid primary mirror.

What Characteristic of the 10-M Keck Telescope Makes It Fundamentally