Catoptrics

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Catoptrics deals with the phenomena of reflected light and image-forming optical systems using mirrors. From the Greek κατοπτρικός (specular)^[1].

The book Catoptrics attributed to Euclid^[2] covered the mathematical theory of mirrors, particularly the images formed by plane and spherical concave mirrors.

The first practical catoptric telescope (the "Newtonian reflector") was built by Isaac Newton as a solution to the problem of chromatic aberration exhibited in telescopes using lenses as objectives (dioptric telescopes).

[edit] References

1. ^ A Concise Dictionary of the English and Modern Greek Languages by Antonius Nicholas Jannaris, 1895 J. Murray
2. ^ Reading Euclid by J. B. Calvert, 2000 Duke U. accessed 23 October 2007

[edit] See also

• Dioptrics
• Catadioptrics
• Optical telescope
• List of telescope types
• Image-forming optical system
• Fresnel lens
• Lighthouse lens