The Reflector Optical System - Meade LightBridge Plus Instruction Manual

THE REFLECTOR OPTICAL SYSTEM

Reflector telescopes, also referred to as Newtonian Reflectors, crediting Isaac Newton
for the invention of this telescope type, uses a concave primary mirror to gather light to a
point of focus. All LightBridge Plus Newtonian reflectors use a parabolic-figured mirror,
which corrects for spherical aberration inherent in other more standard reflector types that
use a spherical mirror. The secondary mirror is a flat optical surface that directs the focal
point to the side of the optical tube where the focuser and eyepiece are located. The design
is simple, efficient, and often the most economic choice for larger aperture instruments.
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