Patent ID: 7374294

Claim:
An apparatus for improving image quality in a reflector telescope having a mirror including a front concave reflecting surface, a backside, and a periphery thereof, the apparatus comprising: at least one supply nozzle disposed about a portion of the periphery of the mirror for directing a flow of air from the backside of the mirror across the concave reflecting surface of the mirror; at least one exhaust pick-up nozzle disposed about another portion of the periphery; an inflow fan operatively connected in communication with an inflow portion of the backside of the mirror and the at least one supply nozzle for providing a flow of air from the backside of the mirror, sequentially across the inflow portion of the backside of the mirror, around an inflow portion of the periphery of the mirror and out of the supply nozzle; an outflow fan operatively connected in communication with an outflow portion of the backside of the mirror and the at least one exhaust nozzle for generating a suction at the exhaust nozzle, for inducing a flow of air, sequentially across the concave reflecting face of the mirror; into the exhaust nozzle, around an outflow portion of the periphery of the mirror, across the outflow portion of the backside of the mirror, and out of the outflow fan; and a divider between the inflow and outflow fans for precluding short-circuiting of the air flow directly from the inflow to the outflow fan across the backside of the mirror without first traveling across the concave reflecting surface of the mirror.