Cassegrain

If you’re looking for a new and exciting way to view the stars, then you’ll love what Cassegrain optics can do for you. As one of the more popular forms of optics and telescopes, Cassegrain incorporates the use of two different convex mirrors to fold light, affording a more compact and lightweight design, making it a flexible choice for both field and home viewing—take it on the road with you or set it up permanently in your home or laboratory.

The Cassegrain design symmetrically aligns two convex mirrors along the tube of the telescope. The parabolic primary mirror is located at the rear of the telescope while the hyperbolic secondary mirror is located at the front. This secondary mirror is supported by a glass plat to help clear the lens of star-shaped distortions that tend to occur without it. The first mirror calls on its parabolic shape to collect the light, and then sends it to the second mirror which uses its hyperbolic shape to bounce it back through a very small opening which feeds it through the eyepiece.

And one of the most fun parts about this type of telescope is that you can still view part of its namesake today. Because although the originator of this telescope design, Laurent Cassegrain, hasn’t been around since the seventeenth century, you can view the lunar impact crater named after him. This crater is located on the far side of the moon. Once you locate this crater, you’ll notice that its floor features dark shading, a few scattered deposits, and a discreet shelf located beneath its rim.

Related Information

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