HONU

Commercial Off-axis Telescope

There are no commercially available off-axis telescopes. A high quality 10cm-scale system will generate interest both as a demonstration of thin mirror technology and as a demonstration of a novel low-scattered light optical system. MO has designed, and is now assembling a prototype that uses diamond-turned and coated aluminum mirrors.

This precision optical system has stringent alignment requirements and MO has designed an optical support system that takes advantage of the natural rigidity of an off-axis  Gregorian telescope system. The figures below illustrates the precise optical mounting structure and an image of the prototype telescope in the MO lab.