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A New Concept For Tilted-Component Telescopes: by Erwin Herrig
A New Concept For Tilted-Component Telescopes: by Erwin Herrig
By Erwin Herrig
he majority of observers
using Newtonian or SchmidtCassegrain reflectors are familiar with the optical problems
posed by the placement of the secondary
mirror. Sitting squarely in the middle of
the incoming light beam, this obstruction
obviously cuts down the light-gathering
power of the primary mirror. It also ruffles the inbound wavefronts of light
through the effect of diffraction, lowering
the contrast of subtle details like those on
the disk of a planet. Whats more, in a
Newtonian or Cassegrain reflector the secondarys spider support adds spikes to
bright stars. The larger the secondary obstruction, the more pronounced are its
detrimental effects.
The obvious solution is either to bypass
the central obstruction or to eliminate it
completely. In 1784 the German-born
English astronomer William Herschel did
just that. He experimented with the centuries-old idea of tilting a telescopes mirror to put the focal point to one side, out
of the way of incoming starlight. According to Herschel the image through his
long-focus 18-inch speculum-metal reflector was as good as at the side [Newtonian focus]; the light is incomparably
more brilliant. . . .
Since then telescope makers have developed a great variety of configurations
Erwin Herrig with the prototype of his 140-millimeter (512 -inch) f/9.3 tilted-component telescope. Featuring an all-spherical, two-mirror
design (plus a final, right-angle reflection at
the eyepiece for the observers comfort), the
telescope was exhibited for the first time during the International Vogelsberg Star Party in
Stumpertenrod, Germany, last May. All photographs in the article are courtesy E. Herrig.
Sky & Telescope November 1997
113
Herrig Three-Mirror,
Tilted-Component Telescope
Herrig Two-Mirror,
Tilted-Component Telescope
Focus
Focus
Spherical
concave
tertiary
Spherical
convex
primary
Parabolic
concave
secondary
Spherical
convex
primary
Spherical
concave
secondary
Optical layout for the authors two TCT designs. The color scheme
is only for showing the sequence of mirror reflections.
4 arcsec
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Three-Mirror System
145
1,400
f/9.7
Primary mirror
Figure
Diameter
Radius of curvature
Tilt angle*
convex sphere
205
9,100
10.0
convex sphere
200
25,000
14.5
Secondary mirror
Figure
Diameter
Radius of curvature
Tilt angle*
Distance from primary
concave sphere
185
2,900
3.5
614
concave paraboloid
150
3,400
3.5
515
Tertiary mirror
Figure
Diameter
Radius of curvature
Tilt angle*
Distance from primary
concave sphere
100
4,200
9.3
525
Clear aperture
Focal length
Focal ratio
4 arcsec
The TCT designs introduced in this article are protected by patents. Nevertheless, I encourage amateurs to make systems like them for their own observing
needs and pleasure.
A retired electrical engineer, author Erwin
Herrig has presented several unusual telescopes
at German star parties. He can be reached at
Geibelstrae 135, D-09127, Chemnitz, Germany; herrig@geocities.com.
*With respect to the first reflection at each surface. The actual ray deflection is twice the tilt angle given.
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116