Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica)
Replica of Newton's first reflecting telescope made in 1668 and now in the possession of the Royal Society of London. Made for the Science Museum in 1924 by Mr F.L. Agate
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This is a replica of the first reflecting telescope made by Sir Isaac Newton and shown to the Royal Society, London in 1668. In Newton's telescope he used a concave mirror to gather light instead of a simple lens that produces false colour due to the dispersion of light. To use the telescope, the viewer looks through an eyepiece on the side of the tube. The light path is reflected off both the primary mirror and a flat secondary one at the entrance to the tube near the top. Made in 1924 this facsimile is a faithful copy of the original that still resides with Royal Society after more than three hundred years.
- Measurements:
-
overall: 160 mm x 275 mm x 295 mm, 1.5 kg
- Materials:
- wood (unidentified) , metal (unknown) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
- Object Number:
- 1924-209/1
- type:
- telescope - newtonian , telescope - reflecting and replica
- Image ©
- The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum