The Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope (MCT or "Mak") is one of the most popular catadioptric telescopes (CT) today. While it was previously a rather rare scope, priced outside of the typical amateur astronomer's range, it has recently become more commercially available due to overseas production. Models have become more varied and the prices, more towards the hobbyist. The result has been an increase in Maksutov-Cassegrains at star parties and a rise in popularity that places it just behind the Schmidt-Cassegrain for CTs.
Design-wise, the Maksutov-Cassegrain is named after Russian optician Dmitri Maksutov, who is credited with the invention (1941; though it was independently invented that same year by A. Bouwers of Amsterdam, Holland). Like all catadioptric scopes, the basic design combines a mirror and lens. In its case, a spherical primary mirror is used to capture the light, a secondary mirror to reflect it back (lending to the compact Cassegrain design), and a Maksutov corrector plate to correct spherical aberration.
The model's slow focal ratio covers a smaller view of the sky, making it ideal for lunar and planetary imaging, including double-star observing. Consequently, the Mak is not a strong choice for wide-field viewing or deep astrophotography.
Similar in design to the Schmidt-Cassegrain, the main difference is the "meniscus corrector shell," a more deeply curved (and thick) corrector plate. While this easy-to-produce lens has proved to be effective, there are some limitations. One is that it's very heavy and thus does not lend to very large apertures, since the weight cannot be easily supported by the Cassegrain compact design. Naturally, the larger the lens, the more expensive it will be too. As a result, commercial Maksutov scopes usually have an aperture below 7". When the market began to sell the overseas models, apertures were between 3.5" and 5".
Another consequence of the meniscus corrector shell's thickness is that it requires longer cool-down periods. For instance, a 7" model would take several hours before its temperature equilibrates. This remains a characteristic of all Maksutov telescopes. Its rise in popularity however doesn't seem to have been affected much by this quirk, though the Cassegrain's compact size is surely a big factor in why consumers find the scope so appealing now that it's available.
terranz said:
tae!!!
Friday January 18, 2008, 10:29 AM
Yourname... said:
ããã£ãã
Wednesday September 24, 2008, 08:46 AM
jane b said:
I received one of the m-c telescopes as a gift which is lovely but I have great difficulty in focusing it. I only have one lense so far which may be the problem. What range of lenses should I get?
Tuesday March 10, 2009, 08:46 AM
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