Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Seventeenth-century telescope optics of Torricelli, Divini, and Campani

2002; Optica Publishing Group; Volume: 41; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1364/ao.41.000644

0003-6935

Mara Miniati, Albert Van Helden, Vincenzo Greco, Giuseppe Molesini,

Historical Astronomy and Related Studies

Optics of telescope makers Torricelli, Divini, and Campani dating back to the 17th century have been tested interferometrically. It was found that the optical polishing technology had progressed to thorough control over the surface figure and finish, while the nearly paraxial conditions of the aperture remained constant. The instruments that were examined exemplify the knowledge of optics of that time, particularly with respect to the early use of erector units in terrestrial telescopes.