
Isaac Newton’s reflecting telescope (replica)
- maker:
- Isaac Newton









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
- Materials:
- brass (copper, zinc alloy), metal (unknown) and wood (unidentified)
- Measurements:
-
overall: 160 mm x 275 mm x 295 mm, 1.5kg
overall as displayed): 265 mm x 280 mm x 150 mm,
- Identifier:
- 1924-209
- type:
- telescope - reflecting
- taxonomy:
-
- derivative object
- copy - derivative object
- reproduction
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- optical instrument
- telescope
- telescope - reflecting
- furnishing and equipment
- tools & equipment
- optical instrument
- telescope
- disciplines
- disciplines
- science
- natural sciences
- physical sciences