Cassegrain reflector

noun

A combination of a primary concave mirror and a secondary convex mirror, often used in optical telescopes and radio antennas, the main characteristic being that the optical path folds back onto itself, relative to the optical system's primary mirror entrance aperture.

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Meanings

nounCassegrain reflector (plural Cassegrain reflectors)

plural Cassegrain reflectors

  1. A combination of a primary concave mirror and a secondary convex mirror, often used in optical telescopes and radio antennas, the main characteristic being that the optical path folds back onto itself, relative to the optical system's primary mirror entrance aperture.

Origin

Named after Laurent Cassegrain, its probable inventor.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Cassegrain reflector. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cassegrain%20reflector

MLA

“Cassegrain reflector.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cassegrain%20reflector. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Cassegrain reflector,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cassegrain%20reflector.

Source: Cassegrain reflector on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.