THE HUNTING OF THE STREHL
by Tongue in Cheek
There is evidence that suggests that the mythical "Strehl" oft referred to in posts that adorn these literary precincts actually exists, but as so often happens when science is applied it is not in the form, or more correctly quantity, claimed by those most ardent of believers in its substance.
The phenomena of Constant Repetitive Apochromatic Proposition ( CRAP for short) may at last be supplanted by actual fact, God forbid. But of course mythology is a powerful state that resides well in the subterranean passages of the human psyche and consequently the resistance to any scientific reality can be expected to be expressed vociferously as always happens when human belief systems are challenged.
I first became aware of the "Strehl" in claims that emanated from a remote region east of Adelaide, South Australia. Not only did the Strehl exist but, according to the author of the claims, at a value of almost unity for an apochromatic lens. Incredible news indeed that was giving teeth to the legend of the Strehl, but something in the value disturbed me. If indeed the Strehl was proven to exist how could such a value be correct or even be possible? All scientific projections indicated that if the Strehl existed it would be at a value of a small fraction less than unity for clean air, and yet the introduction of an apochromatic lens, according to the claimant in question, was achieving almost the same value. (0.998 to be exact.)
The value of course had to be a nonsense and a product of the CRAP phenomena, and for a moment my mind rested easier, but not for long. False advertising were the words that jumped into my mind as I realised that many of the Amateur Astronomical Community would be misled unless the truth of the existence of the Strehl and its values was properly addressed and from a true scientific basis.
That of course is another story, but for the sake of science one that now needs to be told.
