The World's First Reflecting Telescope

This video presents a discussion between Robert and mirror-maker Terry Kubecki-Pearce. The subject under discussion is a replica of Isaac Newton's telescope that was presented to leading members of the Royal Society in 1671. Terry and Robert both collaborated on the manufacturing of the replicas in 2009, and one of the aims of the project was to explore the technologies and methods Newton would have used to make his world-changing instrument. As mirror-maker for the project, the discussion with Terry centres on the difficulties he had forming an accurate optical surface on the small metal blanks and the light this throws on Newton's efforts to produce the world's first reflecting telescope three hundred and fifty years ago.

Along with his life-long experience as a telescope mirror-maker, Terry is one of the brains behind Vacuum Coatings, a London-based company specialising in the deposition of evaporated metals on glass (for telescope mirrors) and other surfaces using a vacuum chamber.

Diary date: Terry will be appearing on the BBC's Sky at Night on Sun 12 Jan 2020 (at 22:00 GMT) where Maggie Aderin-Pocock goes back to her childhood telescope-making class, where she was one of Terry's pupils, to talk basic telescope essentials. One of the replica telescopes featured in this video may – if they haven't cut it – make a brief appearance in the programme.

Below is an index jump list that will take you to specific parts of this video.

0:01 Introduction to the replica of Isaac Newton's telescope presented to the Royal Society in 1671
3:42 Meeting Terry and chatting about personal history and our first meeting
11:52 The telescope discussion begins with a brief instrument overview
15:18 Looking in Terry's lunch box
17:13 Newton's polishing journey
24:56 The hand mechanics of the polishing method
29:38 If it's good enough for NASA
38:47 The provisional nature of Newton's specula and the 1671 telescope 'laboratory'
43:30 Concluding observations
46:25 Further reading and closing remarks

The monograph referred to at the end of the video:
Newton's Telescope an Examination of the Reflecting Telescope Attributed to Sir Isaac Newton in the possession of the Royal Society. By A.A. Mills and P.J. Turvey Vol. 33 No. 2 March 1979

The 'How to grind a mirror for a telescope' video that Terry refers to in the video can be seen by clicking the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0iyRgRhvLk

Presented by Robert J Dalby FRAS

Produced by DB Video Services for Astronomy and Nature TV

Видео The World's First Reflecting Telescope канала Astronomy and Nature TV