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reflecting telescope

Also known as: reflector

Quick Summary

A reflecting telescope uses a concave mirror to gather and focus light, rather than a lens like a refracting telescope. This primary mirror, typically made of glass coated with metal like aluminum, reflects light to a focal point. This design avoids chromatic aberration, a distortion caused by lenses dispersing light by wavelength.1

Invented by Isaac Newton in 1668, reflecting telescopes have evolved with various designs like the Cassegrain and Newtonian. These instruments are crucial for observing the electromagnetic spectrum, including ultraviolet and infrared light, and have become the predominant type of large telescope used today.12

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