Nasa put a set of these on the Moon for the purpose of sending a laser-beam back to its source, to accurately measure its distance from the Earth.
The same principle is used with reflectors, like on bumpers and lane-divider buttons on a highway.
Thanks.
2007-01-19 10:01:31 · 4 answers · asked by ? 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Oddly enough, it's basically called a hollow corner cube or hollow retroreflector:
http://www.plxinc.com/pages/hard-mounted-hollow-retroreflector-hmhr.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corner_reflector
2007-01-19 11:29:26 · answer #1 · answered by arbiter007 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's called a "laser ranging retroreflector".
Have a look at this site :
http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/ApolloLaser.html
2007-01-19 10:45:00 · answer #2 · answered by falzoon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mirror with 3 surfaces? Is that what it's called....Well, at least i took a guess...
2007-01-19 10:33:47 · answer #3 · answered by AD 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a retro reflector.
2007-01-20 00:44:03 · answer #4 · answered by Billy Butthead 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋