Telescopes:

MAGNIFYING MULTITUDES
Serena Chao
December 3rd, 2015

087630

Presentation Breakdown
1.
2.
3.
4.

Introduction
History
Applications
Telescope
Terminology

4.
5.
6.
7.

Three Main Types

Explaining the Physics
Telescopes Today
Conclusion

What is a telescope?

In Greek,

Tel +Scop
eInstrument for
e
Dist
ant
observing,
viewing,for
Instrument
detecting
magnifying
distant

Focus: Optical Telescopes

Collects Light Focuses Image

Three Main Types of Optical Telescopes:

- Refracting
- Reflecting
- Catadioptric
Other Types of Telescopes:
- Radio
- Infra-Red
- X-ray
- Gamma Ray

Magnifies Image

The History Behind the

Invention

Hans Lipperhey first refracting telescope

in 1608
Variations on the optical telescope

Galilean convex & concave lenses for 3x magnification

Gregorian two concave mirrors
Newtonian concave & flat mirror
Cassegrain convex mirror inside mirrors focal length
(most common in large reflecting)

Applications of Telescopes

Astronomical observations

Multiple Mirror Telescope (1997 completion)

Hubble Space Telescope (1990 launch)

Everyday Objects

Binoculars, Camera Lenses, Spyglasses

Telescope Terminology

Primary & Secondary

Aberrations
Focal Ratio systems of multiple mirrors
can be equivalent to a single mirror with
equivalent focal length

Three Types of Telescopes

Refractor Reflector Catadiop
tric
Lenses/Mir
rors

Converging &
Diverging
Lenses

Parabolic &
Flat Mirrors

Both

Aberration
s
Light
Losses
Number of
Surfaces

Chromatic +
Spherical

Spherical

Reduced

High

Low

Reduced

One

Two

Multiple

Explaining the Physics:

Refracting

Disadvantages Refracting

Physically long
Difficult to produce large optically
accurate lenses
Glass absorbs light
Chromatic Aberration

Explaining the Physics:

Reflecting

Conic surfaces (paraboloids, ellipsoids,

hyperboloids)
Reflection laws favoured over lens
formulas

Spherical Aberration

Explaining the Physics:

Catadioptric

Telescopes Today (I)

Recent Discovery Brown dwarf planets

more like giant planets than small stars

Telescopes Today (II)

New Development Worlds largest

optical/ Infrared telescope (E-ELT)

Telescopes Today (III)

Ongoing Exploration Optical SETI at

Harvard for the sole purpose of
searching for signs of extraterrestrial
intelligence

Telescopes Today (IV)

Future Project James Webb Space

Telescope

Conclusion

Magnification tool primarily used for

focusing distant objects
Reflector telescopes predominantly used
Vital to research initiatives especially in
astronomy

References
Dave Coverly, Speed Bump, 4 May 2014, http://www.cartoonistgroup.com/subject/The-Telescope-Comics-and-Cartoons.php (30
November 2015).
Peter Bond, Telescopes in History, Encyclopedia of Astronomy and Astrophysics, 2001,
http://www.astro.caltech.edu/~george/ay20/telescopes-history.pdf (30 November 2015).
Astronomical Society of Southern Africa, Choosing a Telescope, https://assa.saao.ac.za/how-to-observe/equipment/telescopes/ (30
November 2015).
Xkcd, Hubble, https://what-if.xkcd.com/32/ (30 November 2015).
Pierre Bely, The Design and Construction of Large Optical telescopes, (Springer Science & Business Media, 2003), p. 106-107.
South African Astronomical Observatory, I. Optics, Telescopes, http://www.saao.ac.za/~dod/tel-1-4.pdf (30 November 2015).
California Institute of Technology, Failed Stars Host Powerful Auroral Displays, Science News, 29 July 2015,
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150729142142.htm (30 November 2015).
European Southern Observatory ESO, Major Step Forward for the Worlds Largest Optical/Infrared Telescope, Science
News, 20 June 2014, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/06/140620102306.htm (30 November 2015).
The Planetary Society, Worlds First Dedicated Optical SETI Telescope Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence to Begin,
Science News, 5 April 2006, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/04/060404205141.htm (30 November 2015).
European Southern Observatory, Green Light for E-ELT Construction, ESO1440 Organisation Release, 4 December 2014,
https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso1440/ (30 November 2015).
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, About the James Webb Space Telescope, Explore James Webb Space
Telescope, http://jwst.nasa.gov/about.html (30 November 2015).