Klinkerfues' water telescope experiment demonstrated the principles of refraction and its impact on astronomical observations. He aimed to test the effectiveness of using water as a medium for telescopes, concluding that water telescopes could enhance image clarity. Airy's follow-up experiments in 1871 and 1872 further validated Klinkerfues' findings, showing that the water telescope could produce clearer images than traditional telescopes under certain conditions. These experiments collectively advanced the understanding of optical physics in astronomy.
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https://adsabs.harvard.edu/full/1873GOAMM..33C..17ADevildog said:TL;DR Summary: Need summary of Klinkerfues water telescope experiment, and Airy's follow up experiments in 1871 and 1872.