Telescopes

Basic Optics, Chapter 23

 2

Telescopes
Consider an optical system consisting of a single plus lens and an object at infinity:
Where will the rays from the tip of the object be focused?

All of these rays are from the same

point on the object at infinity, and
are all parallel (i.e., U = 0)

Object at
infinity N F2
 3

Telescopes
Consider an optical system consisting of a single plus lens and an object at infinity:
Where will the rays from the tip of the object be focused?

All of these rays are from the same
point on the object at infinity, and
are all parallel (i.e., U = 0)
Parallel rays are always focused
at the secondary focal plane.
The precise location can be
determined with ray tracing via
the nodal point.

Object at
infinity N F2

All of these rays will be focused

at this point on the secondary
focal plane of the lens
 4

Telescopes
Consider an optical system consisting of a single plus lens and an object at infinity:
Where will the rays from the tip of the object be focused?

All of these rays are from the same

point on the object at infinity, and
are all parallel (i.e., U = 0)


Object at 
infinity N F2
If we drop all the rays except
for the one passing through
the nodal point, we can
All of these rays will be focused
appreciate the angular size at this point on the secondary
focal plane of the lens
 5

Telescopes

Primary focal
point of minus lens

 N F1
Object at
infinity N F2
Secondary focal
point of plus lens

What would happen if we included a minus lens located

such that its primary focal point/plane coincided with the
secondary focal point/plane of the plus lens?
 6

Telescopes
Recall the relative
Primary focal point locations of the focal Secondary focal point
points for plus and
minus lenses

Primary focal
point of minus lens

 N F1
Object at
infinity N F2
Secondary focal
point of plus lens

What would happen if we included a minus lens located

such that its primary focal point/plane coincided with the
secondary focal point/plane of the plus lens?
 7

Telescopes

There will be a ray that will pass through the nodal

point of the minus lens on its way to the focal plane…

 N F1
Object at
infinity N F2

What would happen if we included a minus lens located

such that its primary focal point/plane coincided with the
secondary focal point/plane of the plus lens?
 8

Telescopes

There will be a ray that will pass through the nodal

point of the minus lens on its way to the focal plane…

 N F1
Object at
infinity N F2
(Note they no longer
form a focal point!)

…and all of the

other rays will be
bent to the same
What would happen if we included a minus lens located angle as the
such that its primary focal point/plane coincided with the nodal ray.
secondary focal point/plane of the plus lens?
 9

Telescopes

If we drop the other rays,

we can better appreciate
the increased angular size
(’) now subtended

 ’ N F1
Object at
infinity N F2

What would happen if we included a minus lens located

such that its primary focal point/plane coincided with the
secondary focal point/plane of the plus lens?
 10

Telescopes
Tip of image will appear to be here

If we extend this ray, we can determine the location of the virtual

image of the tip of the object
Image at infinity

 ’ N F1
Object at
infinity N F2
 11

Telescopes
Note that the system remains afocal
(ie, parallel rays entering and leaving)
Image at infinity

Parallel from
infinity
(U=0)

 ’ N F1
Object at
infinity N F2

Parallel to
infinity
(V=0)
 12

Telescopes
Despite no change in vergence, we have magnified the image:
Angular magnification = ’
Image at infinity

Parallel from
infinity
(U=0)

 ’ N F1
Object at
infinity N F2

Parallel to
infinity
(V=0)
 13

Telescopes
Despite no change in vergence, we have magnified the image:
Angular magnification = ’
Image at infinity

Parallel from
infinity
(U=0)

 ’ N F1
Object at
Eye
infinity N F2

This is the essence of a Low plus High minus Parallel to

Galilean telescope objective lens eyepiece lens infinity
(V=0)
Objective lens = lens Eyepiece lens = lens
nearest the object nearest your eye
 14

Telescopes

Parallel from Low plus objective

infinity
(U=0)

 N
Object at
infinity F2

What if, instead of inserting a minus lens into the system…

we inserted a plus lens, located so its primary focal point
coincides with the secondary focal point of the plus lens?
 15

Telescopes

Parallel from Low plus objective High plus eyepiece

infinity
(U=0)

N F1 N ’

Object at
infinity F2
Parallel to
infinity
(V=0)

What if, instead of inserting a minus lens into the system…

we inserted a plus lens, located so its primary focal point
coincides with the secondary focal point of the plus lens?
 16

Telescopes
Recall the relative
Primary focal point locations of the focal Secondary focal point
points for plus and
minus lenses

Parallel from Low plus objective High plus eyepiece

infinity
(U=0)

N F1 N ’

Object at
infinity F2
Parallel to
infinity
(V=0)

What if, instead of inserting a minus lens into the system…

we inserted a plus lens, located so its primary focal point
coincides with the secondary focal point of the plus lens?
 17

Telescopes

Parallel from Low plus objective High plus eyepiece

infinity
(U=0)

N F1 N ’

Object at
infinity F2
Parallel to
infinity
(V=0)
Image at infinity

What if, instead of inserting a minus lens into the system…

we inserted a plus lens, located so its primary focal point
coincides with the secondary focal point of the plus lens?

If we extend this ray, we can determine the location of the virtual

image of the tip of the object
Tip of image will appear to be here
 18

Telescopes

Parallel from Low plus objective High plus eyepiece

infinity
(U=0)

N F1 N ’

Object at
infinity F2
Parallel to
infinity
(V=0)
Image at infinity

Note that the image is

Inverted What if, instead of inserting a minus lens into the system…
we inserted a plus lens, located so its primary focal point
coincides with the secondary focal point of the plus lens?

If we extend this ray, we can determine the location of the virtual

image of the tip of the object
Tip of image will appear to be here
 19

Telescopes Again, note that the system remains afocal

(ie, parallel rays entering and leaving)

Parallel from Low plus objective High plus eyepiece

infinity
(U=0)

N F1 N ’

Object at
infinity F2
Parallel to
infinity
(V=0)
Image at infinity

What if, instead of inserting a minus lens into the system…

we inserted a plus lens, located so its primary focal point
coincides with the secondary focal point of the plus lens?

If we extend this ray, we can determine the location of the virtual

image of the tip of the object
Tip of image will appear to be here
 20

Telescopes
Despite no change in vergence, we have magnified the image:
Angular magnification = ’

Parallel from Low plus objective High plus eyepiece

infinity
(U=0)

N F1 N ’

Object at
infinity F2
Parallel to
infinity
(V=0)
Image at infinity

What if, instead of inserting a minus lens into the system…

we inserted a plus lens, located so its primary focal point
coincides with the secondary focal point of the plus lens?

Tip of image will appear to be here

 21

Telescopes
Despite no change in vergence, we have magnified the image:
Angular magnification = ’

Parallel from Low plus objective High plus eyepiece

infinity
(U=0)

N F1 N ’

Object at
infinity F2
Parallel to
infinity
(V=0)
Image at infinity

What if, instead of inserting a minus lens into the system…

we inserted a plus lens, located so its primary focal point
coincides with the secondary focal point of the plus lens?

This is the essence of an

Tip of image will appear to be here astronomical telescope
 22

Telescopes

To reiterate: Telescopes come in two basic flavors—those with a high plus eyepiece
lens, and those with a high minus eyepiece lens.

High-plus-eyepiece telescopes are called astronomical (or Keplerian) telescopes;

and
high-minus-eyepiece telescopes are called Galilean (or terrestrial) telescopes.
 23

Telescopes
Astronomical (Keplerian) telescope
Low plus lens
High plus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity F2 at infinity

To reiterate: Telescopes come in two basic flavors—those with a high plus eyepiece
lens, and those with a high minus eyepiece lens.

High-plus-eyepiece telescopes are called astronomical (or Keplerian) telescopes;

and
high-minus-eyepiece telescopes are called Galilean (or terrestrial) telescopes.
 24

Telescopes
Astronomical (Keplerian) telescope
Low plus lens
High plus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity F2 at infinity

To reiterate: Telescopes come in two basic flavors—those with a high plus eyepiece
lens, and those with a high minus eyepiece lens.

High-plus-eyepiece telescopes are called astronomical (or Keplerian) telescopes;

and
high-minus-eyepiece telescopes are called Galilean (or terrestrial) telescopes.

Galilean (terrestrial) telescope

Low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1
Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2
 25

Telescopes
Angular magnification = ’/is difficult to work with.
 26

Telescopes
Angular magnification = ’/is difficult to work with.
Fortunately, for reasonably small angles, this can be well approximated by:
 27

Telescopes
Angular magnification = ’/is difficult to work with.
Fortunately, for reasonably small angles, this can be well approximated by:

Angular magnification = Eyepiece lens

Objective lens
 28

Telescopes
Angular magnification = ’/is difficult to work with.
Fortunately, for reasonably small angles, this can be well approximated by:

Angular magnification = Eyepiece lens

Objective lens
Don’t forget this minus sign! It keeps the magnification
value consistent with our image orientation sign convention
 29

Telescopes
Angular magnification = ’/is difficult to work with.
Fortunately, for reasonably small angles, this can be well approximated by:

Angular magnification = Eyepiece lens

Objective lens
Don’t forget this minus sign! It keeps the magnification
value consistent with our image orientation sign convention

Angular = Eyepiece lens Plus

= = (-)
mag Objective lens Plus
Astronomical telescope
inverted
(image is inverted)
 30

Telescopes
Angular magnification = ’/is difficult to work with.
Fortunately, for reasonably small angles, this can be well approximated by:

Angular magnification = Eyepiece lens

Objective lens
Don’t forget this minus sign! It keeps the magnification
value consistent with our image orientation sign convention

Angular = Eyepiece lens Plus Angular = Eyepiece lens Minus

= = (-) = = (+)
mag Objective lens Plus mag Objective lens Plus
Astronomical telescope Galilean telescope
(image is upright)
inverted
(image is inverted)
 31

Telescopes

For a telescope to function, the primary

focal point of the eyepiece must overlap Recall the relative
Primary focal point locations of the focal Secondary focal point
the secondary focal point of the objective. points for plus and
This determines the separation between minus lenses
the two lenses.
 32

Telescopes
Astronomical (Keplerian) telescope
Low plus lens
High plus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity F2 at infinity

f2 of the objective
f1 of the
eyepiece
For a telescope to function, the primary
focal point of the eyepiece must overlap
the secondary focal point of the objective.
This determines the separation between
the two lenses.
 33

Telescopes
Astronomical (Keplerian) telescope
Low plus lens
High plus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity F2 at infinity

f2 of the objective
f1 of the
eyepiece
For a telescope to function, the primary
focal point of the eyepiece must overlap Separation = f2 + f1
the secondary focal point of the objective.
This determines the separation between
the two lenses.
 34

Telescopes
Astronomical (Keplerian) telescope
Low plus lens
High plus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity F2 at infinity

f2 of the objective
f1 of the
eyepiece
In an astronomical telescope, the
For a telescope to function, the primary separation is equal to the sum of
focal point of the eyepiece must overlap Separation = f2 + f1 the focal lengths.
the secondary focal point of the objective.
This determines the separation between
the two lenses.
 35

Telescopes
Astronomical (Keplerian) telescope
Low plus lens
High plus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity F2 at infinity

f2 of the objective
f1 of the
eyepiece
In an astronomical telescope, the
For a telescope to function, the primary separation is equal to the sum of
focal point of the eyepiece must overlap Separation = f2 + f1 the focal lengths.
the secondary focal point of the objective.
This determines the separation between
the two lenses.

Galilean (terrestrial) telescope

Low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1
Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2

f2 of the objective
In a Galilean telescope, the separation
is equal to the difference between the f1 of the
eyepiece
focal lengths.
Separation = f2 - f1
 36

Telescopes
Astronomical (Keplerian) telescope
Low plus lens
High plus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity F2 at infinity

f2 of the objective
f1 of the
eyepiece
In an astronomical telescope, the
For a telescope to function, the primary separation is equal to the sum of
focal point of the eyepiece must overlap Separation = f2 + f1 the focal lengths.
the secondary focal point of the objective.
This determines the separation between For this and other reasons,
the two lenses. Galilean scopes tend to be
smaller and lighter than
Galilean (terrestrial) telescope astronomical scopes.
Low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1
Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2

f2 of the objective
In a Galilean telescope, the separation
is equal to the difference between the f1 of the
eyepiece
focal lengths.
Separation = f2 - f1
 37

Telescopes
Astronomical (Keplerian) telescope
Low plus lens
High plus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity F2 at infinity

The main other reason

f2 of being that
the objective
f1 of the
astronomical telescopes require eyepiece
In an astronomical telescope, the
prisms
For a telescope to function, the to flip the inverted image
primary separation is equal to the sum of
into the upright
focal point of the eyepiece must overlap position, which
Separation = f2 + f1 add the focal lengths.
considerably
the secondary focal point of the objective.to their size and weight!
This determines the separation between For this and other reasons,
the two lenses. Galilean scopes tend to be
smaller and lighter than
Galilean (terrestrial) telescope astronomical scopes.
Low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1
Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2

f2 of the objective
In a Galilean telescope, the separation
is equal to the difference between the f1 of the
eyepiece
focal lengths.
Separation = f2 - f1
 38

Telescopes
Galilean (terrestrial) telescope
Low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1
Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2

f2 of the objective

f1 of the
eyepiece

Let’s compare two Galilean telescopes. Note the difference in focal lengths.

Galilean (terrestrial) telescope

Very low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2

f2 of the objective

f1 of the
eyepiece
 39

Telescopes
Galilean (terrestrial) telescope
Low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1
Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2

f2 of the objective
(Shorter focal length requires
f1 of the
a higher power objective lens) eyepiece

The greater lens separation below necessitates a decrease in power for the objective lens (and
vice versa). Will this increase, decrease or leave unaffected the overall power of the telescope?

Galilean (terrestrial) telescope

Very low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2

f2 of the objective

(Longer focal length requires f1 of the

eyepiece
a lower power objective lens)
 40

Telescopes
Galilean (terrestrial) telescope
Low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1
Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2
(Shorter focal length requires a higher power
f2 of the objective
objective lens)
f1 of the
eyepiece Eyepiece lens Eyepiece lens
=
Objective lens Higher number

Increase overall power. = Lower power

Galilean (terrestrial) telescope

Very low plus lens
High minus lens
Parallel rays F1 Parallel rays
from an object to an image
at infinity at infinity
F2
(Longer focal length requires a lower power
f2 of the objective objective lens)
f1 of the
eyepiece Eyepiece lens Eyepiece lens
=
Objective lens Lower number
= Higher power
 41

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)
 42

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)
 43

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)
 44

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)
 45

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)
 46

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)
 47

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)
 48

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)
 49

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)
 50

Telescopes

Compare and contrast the two basic telescope configurations

Field of Maximum Relative Image Relative

view practical size orientation cost
magnification

Galilean Smaller 4x Small/light Upright Cheap

Inverted
Astronomical Larger 10x Large/heavy (unless Expensive
prisms used)