Catoptrics

Light path of a Newtonian (catoptric) telescope

Catoptrics deals with the phenomena of reflected light and image-forming optical systems using mirrors. From the Greek κατοπτρικός (specular).

The book Catoptrics attributed to Euclid covered the mathematical theory of mirrors, particularly the images formed by plane and spherical concave mirrors.

The first practical catoptric telescope (the "Newtonian reflector") was built by Isaac Newton as a solution to the problem of chromatic aberration exhibited in telescopes using lenses as objectives (dioptric telescopes).

See also

• Dioptrics
• Catadioptrics
• Optical telescope
• List of telescope types
• Image-forming optical system
• Fresnel lens
• Lighthouse lens