Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica)

Made:
1668; 1924 in Cambridge and London
maker:
Isaac Newton
SMG00183408 Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica) Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica) Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica) Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica) Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica) Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica) Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica) Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica)

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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SMG00183408
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

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

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.

Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1924-209
Materials:
wood (unidentified), metal (unknown) and brass (copper, zinc alloy)
Measurements:
overall: 160 mm x 275 mm x 295 mm, 1.5kg
overall as displayed): 265 mm x 280 mm x 150 mm,
type:
telescope - newtonian, telescope - reflecting and replica
credit:
Purchased

Parts

Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica)

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

More

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
Knob and Bar for Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica)

Knob and Bar for Isaac Newton’s Reflecting Telescope (replica)

Wooden knob and bar for replica of Newton's first reflecting telescope made in 1668, replica made for the Science Museum in 1924 by Mr F.L. Agate.

Materials:
wood (unidentified)
Object Number:
1924-209/2
type:
components
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum