Ritchey–Chrétien reflector

E3352

A Ritchey–Chrétien reflector is a specialized type of reflecting telescope that uses hyperbolic primary and secondary mirrors to produce a wide, coma-free field of view ideal for professional astronomical imaging.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf Cassegrain telescope design
reflecting telescope
abbreviation RC telescope
advantageOverClassicalCassegrain better image quality over wide field
eliminates off-axis coma
canInclude corrector lenses at focus
field flattener optics
comparedTo classical Cassegrain telescope
designDate early 20th century
designedToCorrect coma
spherical aberration
fieldQuality coma-free over wide field
low astigmatism near optical axis
hasDesigners George Willis Ritchey
Henri Chrétien
hasFocalRatioRange approximately f/6 to f/10
hasMirrorShape concave hyperbolic primary mirror
convex hyperbolic secondary mirror
hasOpticalAxis shared by primary and secondary mirrors
hasOpticalConfiguration two-mirror system
hasSecondaryMirrorPosition Cassegrain focus
isCommonDesignFor large research telescopes
modern optical observatories
isSubtypeOf two-mirror anastigmatic telescope design
lightPath folded optical path through central hole in primary mirror
mayProvideFocus Cassegrain focus
Coudé focus
Nasmyth focus
optimizedFor astrophotography
professional astronomical imaging
primaryUseEnvironment ground-based observatories
space-based observatories
provides wide field of view
requires complex mirror figuring
precise alignment
supports large-format imaging detectors
typicalMounting altazimuth mount with field derotator
equatorial mount
typicalUseCase deep-sky imaging
space-based observation platforms
wide-field imaging surveys
usedBy advanced amateur astronomers
professional observatories
space telescopes
usesOpticalElement hyperbolic primary mirror
hyperbolic secondary mirror

Referenced by (21)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Baade Telescope
Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
European Extremely Large Telescope ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
Gemini North Observatory ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
Gemini South Observatory ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
MPG/ESO 2.2 m Telescope ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
Magellan I
Magellan Telescopes ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
Spitzer Space Telescope ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
Swope Telescope
telescopeType
George Willis Ritchey ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope optical system")
Henri Chrétien ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope design")
notableWork
NTT 3.58 m Telescope ("Ritchey–Chrétien design")
New Technology Telescope ("Ritchey–Chrétien")
primaryMirrorType
Henri Chrétien ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
coDeveloperOf
George Willis Ritchey ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
coInvented
Schwarzschild telescope ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
comparedTo
Cassegrain focus ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope design")
componentOf
Dall–Kirkham telescope design ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope design")
isComparedTo
Henri Chrétien ("Ritchey–Chrétien telescope")
knownFor
George Willis Ritchey ("Reflecting Telescope Optics and Construction (articles and reports)")
notablePublication

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