Argunov–Cassegrain telescope

The Argunov–Cassegrain telescope is a catadioptric telescope design first introduced in 1972 by P. P. Argunov.^[1][2] All optics are spherical, and the classical Cassegrain secondary mirror is replaced by a sub-aperture secondary corrector group consisting of three air-spaced elements, two lenses and a Mangin mirror (the element furthest from the primary mirror).

Light path in an Argunov–Cassegrain telescope

Discussion

Argunov systems only employ spherical surfaces and avoid the practical difficulties of making and testing aspheres. However, this benefit is marginal, as it is almost as difficult to make a true zone-free sphere of precise radius of curvature as it is to make an aspheric surface with comparable precision.^{[citation needed]} Furthermore, since multiple surfaces are involved, creating a design with good aberration correction can become very complicated.^[3]

See also

• Klevtsov–Cassegrain telescope
• List of telescope types