In this Public Lecture to Cork Astronomy Club, renowned amateur astronomer Terry Moseley takes us on a whirlwind tour through the history of the astronomical telescope. Terry covers its origin in the early 17th century, through to the first large professional telescopes of the late 19th and early 20th century, to the space telescopes and ground-based behemoths of today. He also looks at the smaller instruments used by amateur astronomers. Terry outlines the various types of optical systems, from the archetypal but limited refracting telescope that use glass lenses, to the various designs of reflecting telescopes that produce the most cutting edge astronomical discoveries of today and tomorrow.

This lecture is available on Cork Astronomy Club’s YouTube Channel: Newts, Cats, Specs and OGs