What maintenance task is required for reflecting telescopes to ensure they maintain sharp focus?
Answer
Collimation
Reflecting telescopes utilize a system of mirrors, typically a large primary mirror and a smaller secondary mirror, to direct light to the eyepiece. Over time, due to temperature changes, handling, or simply gravity, the precise spatial alignment of these mirrors can shift slightly. Collimation is the technical process required to correct this alignment, ensuring that the light rays reflected off the primary mirror strike the secondary mirror at the exact intended angle, and that the combined optical path correctly focuses the image through the eyepiece. Without periodic collimation, even a perfectly figured mirror system will produce significantly blurred or distorted views.
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