Re: ATM: More Newbie questions

[astillma@nit.AirTouch.COM (Anthony Stillman)]

Michael,

An RFT (Richest Field Telescope) is ideally designed to have the lowest 
magnifacation allowed given the diameter of the iris.  That is, your iris
diameter is the same as the exit pupil.  Hence magifacation times exit pupil
diameter equals objective diameter.  If the focal length of the objective is
made longer, the focal length of the eyepiece must also be made longer to
maintain the RFT condition.  You could build a 6" f/10 RFT but then you would
need a 2" focal length eyepiece, and the telescope would be rather long.

Optical Stuff,
Well I am currently using a demo version of VOB (OVB) and OMT off the net.
Its windows based and runs as well as any demo can run under the microbrain
OS.  It has limits.  There is a for sale copy also.  I don't know of any ray
tracing (for optics design) software for UNIX that is avalible at low cost.
I've toyed with the idea of writing one and putting it out under GNU, but 
the more I learn about optical design, the more I realise I don'e know enough.

Anthony