Image:NewtonsTelescopeReplica.jpg

A replica of Isaac Newton's telescope of 1672.

This was a new design of telescope - the Newtonian reflector. At 6 inches (150mm) long, and had the ability to magnify about 40 times, more than a 6 foot (2m) long refracting telescope of its day.^[1] Newton's work on optics and splitting white light, led him to believe that all refracting telescopes would suffer from chromatic aberration. His new design of reflecting telescope minimised this problem. However, due to problems with accurately grinding the mirror, Newton's telescope actually caused more image distortions than other contemporary telescope and more than a century passed before reflecting telescope became popular.

Newton presented the original telescope to the Royal Society in 1672 and was admitted as a fellow of the society in the same year.

This replica is in the Whipple Museum of the History of Science in Cambridge.

[edit] References

1. ↑ PBS/Nova: Newton's Dark Secrets

Photograph © Andrew Dunn, 5 November 2004.

Website: http://www.andrewdunnphoto.com/

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