It’s a simple idea – focus the sun’s energy on a small target to generate heat.
In the case of the world’s largest one, the Odeillo Solar Furnace near the commune of Font-Romeu-Odeillo-Via in the Pyrenees of southern France, it’s 10,000 mirrors focusing the sun’s energy onto an area roughly the size of a cooking pot, which reaches temperatures above 3,000 degrees Celsius (5,430 degrees Fahrenheit). Two sets of mirrors do this – in a structure built in 1970.
Those focusing in on the right spot before the hint:
- Paul Voestermans
- Phil Ower
- zorro the fox
- Martin de Bock
- hhgygy
- Andreas Meister
- Lighthouse
After the hint:
- Angie CF
- Garfield
- Graham Hedley
- Gillian B
- Robin
- Eloy Cano