GB1104297A - Improved reflecting telescope - Google Patents

Abstract

1,104,297. Reflecting objectives. A.H. HALE. Dec.2, 1964 [Dec.31, 1963 ], No.51265/63. Heading G2J. In a reflecting telescope having a concave primary reflector and a co-operating viewing means, the primary reflector is only a segment of that used in the corresponding primary reflector of a normal telescope. As shown applied to a Gregorian telescope, Fig. 2, the primary reflector is cut across a diameter and the two segments A, B are separated by a distance D s <SP>+</SP> which is slightly greater than the diameter of the secondary reflector. The latter is also cut across a diameter and each half a, b, is moved in the same direction, and by the same amount, as the primary segment with which it co-operates. Consequently the severed edges 11a, 12b of the secondary segments lie outside the uncut edges. The images formed at Fa' and Fb' may be combined for monocular viewing through an eyepiece, or separate eyepieces may be used so that binocular viewing is provided. The telescope is shielded from extraneous light by providing an enclosure having a central partition extending along the central plane of symmetry and sidewalls which extend between the cut surfaces 11 and 11a and between 12 and 12b respectively, with small apertures in the regions of the primary foci F A , F B . The telescope may consist of only one of the two systems A, B. As applied to a Newtonian system, Fig. 10 (not shown), the inclined viewing reflector may be made smaller than normal and placed nearer to the focus of the concave reflector so that obstruction of the incoming rays is avoided. A pair of such systems may be combined for monocular or binocular viewing. As applied to a Herschelian system, Fig. 15 (not shown), the inclination of the concave reflector may be less than normal so that distortion is less than when a full normal reflector is used.