Technical Event
Lens Design Technical Event
5 August 2025 • 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM PDT | Marriott Marquis, Marriott Marquis, Coronado (Level 4, South Tower)
Session Chair: Kyle Fuerschbach
"Let's Give 'Em Something to Talk About!"
Lens designers! Join us for our annual gathering to meet and discuss…lens design! Let’s talk about what we’re designing, how we’re going about doing it (what materials, software, techniques, etc.), and which problems we’re encountering. We’ll also explore current technical and commercial trends in the marketplace.
This year's featured speaker, Dave Hasenauer, will present on “The Mount Wilson Observatory great reflectors: then and now.” The Mount Wilson Observatory 60” and 100” reflectors were the largest telescopes in the world spanning the years 1908 until 1949. They enabled some of the most important astronomical discoveries in the early 20th century, including the size of the Milky Way galaxy and our place in it, the fact the Milky Way was just one galaxy of billions, as well as the first observational evidence for the “Big Bang” cosmological theory of an expanding universe. The reflectors also represented a huge stride in instrument design geared towards research in the relatively new field (at that time) of astrophysics.
This presentation will cover a bit of the history of the Mount Wilson Observatory, the engineering aspects that made its reflectors so innovative and well suited to astrophysics research, as well as provide an overview of the process to recoat the optics to support the current MWO mission of public education and outreach.
Dave Hasenauer, now retired, was the CODE V Product Manager for the Optical Solutions Group of Synopsys, Inc., and previously was an optical design engineer for both Texas Instruments, Inc. and Optical Research Associates. His lifelong love of astronomy directly led to his retirement “gig” as a Mount Wilson Observatory volunteer, both as a tour docent and as “Session Director” for individuals or groups participating in nighttime observation through the 60” reflector. He is currently training to be a “Telescope Operator” for the 60”.
Part of the Current Developments in Lens Design and Optical Engineering XXVI conference.
Sponsored by:
SETUP: Classroom style seating.
"Let's Give 'Em Something to Talk About!"
Lens designers! Join us for our annual gathering to meet and discuss…lens design! Let’s talk about what we’re designing, how we’re going about doing it (what materials, software, techniques, etc.), and which problems we’re encountering. We’ll also explore current technical and commercial trends in the marketplace.
This year's featured speaker, Dave Hasenauer, will present on “The Mount Wilson Observatory great reflectors: then and now.” The Mount Wilson Observatory 60” and 100” reflectors were the largest telescopes in the world spanning the years 1908 until 1949. They enabled some of the most important astronomical discoveries in the early 20th century, including the size of the Milky Way galaxy and our place in it, the fact the Milky Way was just one galaxy of billions, as well as the first observational evidence for the “Big Bang” cosmological theory of an expanding universe. The reflectors also represented a huge stride in instrument design geared towards research in the relatively new field (at that time) of astrophysics.
This presentation will cover a bit of the history of the Mount Wilson Observatory, the engineering aspects that made its reflectors so innovative and well suited to astrophysics research, as well as provide an overview of the process to recoat the optics to support the current MWO mission of public education and outreach.
Dave Hasenauer, now retired, was the CODE V Product Manager for the Optical Solutions Group of Synopsys, Inc., and previously was an optical design engineer for both Texas Instruments, Inc. and Optical Research Associates. His lifelong love of astronomy directly led to his retirement “gig” as a Mount Wilson Observatory volunteer, both as a tour docent and as “Session Director” for individuals or groups participating in nighttime observation through the 60” reflector. He is currently training to be a “Telescope Operator” for the 60”.
Part of the Current Developments in Lens Design and Optical Engineering XXVI conference.
Sponsored by:
Event Details
FORMAT: General session with one featured speaker and live audience Q&A and general discussion.SETUP: Classroom style seating.