List of largest optical refracting telescopes

$List of Largest Optical Refracting Telescopes$

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List of largest optical refracting telescopes

Here is a list of the largest optical refracting telescope

Refracting telescope

A refracting or refractor telescope is a Dioptrics telescope that uses a lens as its Objective to form an image. The refracting telescope design was originally used in telescope and astronomical telescopes but is also used in other devices such as binoculars and long or Telephoto lens camera lenses....
s sorted by lens diameter and focal length.

The largest practical functioning refracting telescope is the Yerkes Observatory

Yerkes Observatory

Yerkes Observatory, which calls itself "the birthplace of modern astrophysics,", is an Observatory#Astronomical_observatories operated by the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin....
40 inch (102 cm) refractor, used for astronomical and scientific observation for over a century.

The largest refractor constructed, was the Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900

Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900

The Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900, with an Objective of 1.25 m in diameter, was the largest refracting telescope ever constructed....
, which used a 78 inch (200 cm) Focault siderostat for aiming light into the Image-forming optical system

Image-forming optical system

In optics, an image-forming optical system is a system capable of being used for . The diameter of the aperture of the main objective is a common criteria for comparison among optical systems, such as large telescopes....
part of the telescope, with a 125 cm diameter lens.

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Here is a list of the largest optical refracting telescope

Refracting telescope

Yerkes Observatory

Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900

Image-forming optical system

Catadioptric

A catadioptric optical system is one where lens and curved mirrors are used to form the . Catadioptric systems are commonly used in telescopes and in lightweight, long focal length photographic lens for cameras....
telescopes which mix refractors and reflectors in the image-forming part of the telescope.

Name/Observatory	Location	Lens diameter	Focal length Focal length The focal length of an optics system is a measure of how strongly it converges or diverges light. A system with a shorter focal length has greater optical power than one with a long focal length....	Built	Comments
Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900 Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900 The Great Paris Exhibition Telescope of 1900, with an Objective of 1.25 m in diameter, was the largest refracting telescope ever constructed....	Paris 1900 Exposition	125 cm	57 m	1900	Fixed lens, total failure, scrapped. Aimed via a 2m reflecting siderostat
Yerkes Observatory Yerkes Observatory Yerkes Observatory, which calls itself "the birthplace of modern astrophysics,", is an Observatory#Astronomical_observatories operated by the University of Chicago in Williams Bay, Wisconsin....	Williams Bay, Wisconsin Williams Bay, Wisconsin Williams Bay is a village in Walworth County, Wisconsin, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 2,415 at the 2000 census.... , USA United States The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...	102 cm (40?)	19.4 m (62')	1897
Swedish Solar Telescope Swedish Solar Telescope The Swedish Solar Telescope is a 1 metre telescope at Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma in the Canary Islands. It is run by the Institute for Solar Physics of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences.... , ORM Roque de los Muchachos Observatory Roque de los Muchachos Observatory is an astronomical observatory located in the municipality of Garaf?a on the island of La Palma in the Canary Islands....	La Palma La Palma Isla de La Palma , is a Spain volcanic ocean island. It is one of the seven major Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off of the west coast of Africa.... , Spain Spain Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably....	100 cm	15 m	2002	Single element non-Achromatic lens Achromatic lens An achromatic lens or achromat is a lens that is designed to limit the effects of chromatic aberration and spherical aberration. Achromatic lenses are corrected to bring two wavelengths into focus in the same plane.... combined with reflective Adaptive optics Adaptive optics Adaptive optics is a technology used to improve the performance of optics by reducing the effects of rapidly changing optical distortion. It is used in astronomical telescopes and laser communication systems to remove the effects of atmospheric distortion, and in retinal imaging systems to reduce the impact of ocular aberrations.... .
James Lick telescope James Lick telescope The James Lick Telescope is an antique refracting telescope 36 inch telescope built in 1889 that can still be viewed through today. Also called the "Great Lick Refractor" or simply "Lick Refractor", it is the third-largest refracting telescope in the world, surpassed by the Yerkes Observatory 40-inch and the 1 meter Swedish Solar Telescope.... , Lick Observatory Lick Observatory The Lick Observatory is an astronomy observatory, owned and operated by the University of California. It is situated on the summit of Mount Hamilton , in the Diablo Range just east of San Jose, California, USA....	Mount Hamilton, California Mount Hamilton (California) Mount Hamilton is a mountain in California's Diablo Range. In 1861, while working for Josiah Whitney on the first California Geological Survey, William Henry Brewer invited local San Jose, California preacher Laurentine Hamilton to join his company on a trek to a nearby Topographical summit.... , USA United States The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...	91 cm (36?)	17.6 m	1888
Grande Lunette Paris Observatory Paris Observatory The Paris Observatory is the foremost astronomy observatory of France, and one of the largest astronomical centers in the world....	Meudon, France	83 cm + 62 cm	16.2 m	1891	Double telescope
Potsdam Refractor Astrophysical Observatory Potsdam	Potsdam Potsdam Potsdam is the capital city of the Germany States of Germany of Brandenburg and is part of the Metropolitan area of Berlin/Brandenburg. It is situated on the River Havel, some 25 kilometres southwest of the center of Berlin.... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....	80 cm + 50 cm	12.0 m	1899	Double telescope
Allegheny Observatory Allegheny Observatory The Allegheny Observatory is an United States astronomical research institution, a part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh....	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Pittsburgh is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania with a population of 312,819. The population of the seven-county metropolitan area is 2,462,571.... , USA United States The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...	76 cm	14.1 m	1914
Pulkovo observatory Pulkovo Observatory The Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory , the principal astronomical observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, located 19 kilometre south of Saint Petersburg on Pulkovo Heights ....	Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg is a types of inhabited localities in Russia and a federal subjects of Russia of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea.... , Russia Russia Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....	76 cm		1885	Destroyed during the WWII Siege of Leningrad The Siege of Leningrad, also known as The Leningrad Blockade... , only lens (made by Alvan Clark & Sons Alvan Clark & Sons Alvan Clark & Sons was an American maker of optics that became famous for crafting lenses for some of the largest refracting telescopes of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century centuries.... ) survives.
Lunette Biscoffscheim Biscoffscheim Observatory	Nice, France	74 cm (29 in)	17.9 m	1886
Royal Greenwich Observatory	Greenwich, London, United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....	71 cm	8.5 m	1894
Grosse Refractor Vienna Observatory Vienna Observatory Universit?ts-Sternwarte Wien is an astronomy observatory in Vienna, Austria. It is part of the University of Vienna. The first observatory was built in 1753/1754 on the roof of one of the university buildings....	Vienna, Austria	69 cm (26 in)	10.5 m	1880	Largest in 1880
Great Treptow Refractor Archenhold Observatory	Berlin Berlin Berlin is the Capital of Germany city and one of sixteen States of Germany of Germany. With a population of 3.4 million within its city limits, Berlin is the country's largest city.... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....	68 cm	21 m	1896
McCormick Observatory McCormick Observatory The McCormick Observatory is one of the astronomical observatories operated by the Astronomy Department of the University of Virginia and is situated just outside of Charlottesville, Virginia in Albemarle County, Virginia on the summit of Mount Jefferson ....	Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia Charlottesville is an independent city located within the confines of Albemarle County, Virginia in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of George III of the United Kingdom of the United Kingdom.... , USA United States The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...	67 cm	9.9 m	1883
U.S. Naval Observatory	Washington, DC, USA United States The United States of America is a Federal government constitutional republic comprising U.S. state and a federal district. The country is situated mostly in central North America, where its Contiguous United States and Washington, D.C., the Capital districts and territories, lie between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Oceans, Borders of the U...	66 cm	9.9 m	1873
Royal Greenwich Observatory	Herstmonceux, East Sussex, United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....	66 cm	6.8 m	1896
Yale Southern Station	Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Joburg, is the largest city in South Africa. Johannesburg is the province Capital of Gauteng the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa.... , South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa, also known by Official names of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa....	66 cm	10.8 m	1925	Yale-Columbia Refractor moved to Mount Stromlo Observatory Mount Stromlo Observatory File:The Astonomer.jpgMount Stromlo Observatory located just outside of Canberra, Australia, is part of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Australian National University .... in 1952, same telescope as following entry
Mount Stromlo Observatory Mount Stromlo Observatory File:The Astonomer.jpgMount Stromlo Observatory located just outside of Canberra, Australia, is part of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Australian National University ....	Mount Stromlo Mount Stromlo File:Mount Stromlo.jpgMount Stromlo is situated a short drive west of the centre of Canberra, Australia, near the district of Weston Creek. Its peak is at approximately 770m Australian Height Datum.... , Australia Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the southern hemisphere comprising the Australia of the world's smallest continent, the major island of Tasmania, and numerous list of islands of Australia in the Indian Ocean and Pacific Oceans....	66 cm	10.8 m	1925	Yale-Columbia Refractor - Previously located in South Africa South Africa The Republic of South Africa, also known by Official names of South Africa, is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa.... . Relocated to Australia in 1952. Destroyed by bush fire 2003 Canberra bushfires The Canberra bushfires of 2003 caused severe damage to the outskirts of Canberra, the Australian capital city. Almost 70% of the Australian Capital Territory?s pasture, forests and nature parks were severely damaged, and most of the renowned Mount Stromlo Observatory was destroyed.... on January 18, 2003.
Belgrade Observatory	Belgrade Belgrade Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. The city lies on international waterway, at the confluence of the Sava River and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkan Peninsula.... , Yugoslavia Yugoslavia File:LocationYugoslavia2.pngYugoslavia is a term that describes three political entities that existed successively on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century....	65 cm (26 in)	10.55 m		Same instrument as at the Berlin Observatory Berlin Observatory The Berlin Observatory has its origins in 1700 when Gottfried Leibniz initiated the Societ?t der Wissenschaften which would later become the Preu?ischen Akademie der Wissenschaften ....
Pulkovo observatory Pulkovo Observatory The Pulkovo Astronomical Observatory , the principal astronomical observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences, located 19 kilometre south of Saint Petersburg on Pulkovo Heights ....	Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg is a types of inhabited localities in Russia and a federal subjects of Russia of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea.... , Russia Russia Russia , or the Russian Federation , is a list of countries spanning more than one continent country extending over much of northern Eurasia....	65 cm (26 in)	10.413 m	1930s	In Pulkovo since 1954.
Llano del Hato Observatory	Llano del Hato, Venezuela Venezuela Venezuela , officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a country on the northern coast of South America.The country comprises a continental mainland and numerous islands located off the Venezuelan coastline in the Caribbean Sea....	65 cm (26 in)	10.5 m	1976
Berlin Observatory Berlin Observatory The Berlin Observatory has its origins in 1700 when Gottfried Leibniz initiated the Societ?t der Wissenschaften which would later become the Preu?ischen Akademie der Wissenschaften ....	Potsdam Potsdam Potsdam is the capital city of the Germany States of Germany of Brandenburg and is part of the Metropolitan area of Berlin/Brandenburg. It is situated on the River Havel, some 25 kilometres southwest of the center of Berlin.... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a country in Central Europe. It is bordered to the north by the North Sea, Denmark, and the Baltic Sea; to the east by Poland and the Czech Republic; to the south by Austria and Switzerland; and to the west by France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and the Netherlands....	65 cm (26 in)	10.12 m (33 ft)	1914	The Berlin Observatory Berlin Observatory The Berlin Observatory has its origins in 1700 when Gottfried Leibniz initiated the Societ?t der Wissenschaften which would later become the Preu?ischen Akademie der Wissenschaften .... moved in 1913 to Babelsberg Potsdam-Babelsberg Potsdam-Babelsberg or short Babelsberg is the largest district of the city of Potsdam, Germany. It is named after the small hill Babelsberg....
Lowell Observatory Lowell Observatory Lowell Observatory is an astronomy observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona. Lowell Observatory is among the oldest observatories in the United States, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965....	Arizona, USA	61 cm (24?)	6.7 m (22.6 ft)	1894	Alvan Clark & Sons Alvan Clark & Sons Alvan Clark & Sons was an American maker of optics that became famous for crafting lenses for some of the largest refracting telescopes of the nineteenth century and early twentieth century centuries.... telescope
Der Große Refraktor Hamburg Observatory	Bergedorf, Germany	60 cm (23.6?)	9 m
Halstead Observatory	Princeton, USA	58.4 cm (23?)	9.8 m (32 ft)	1881
Chamberlin Observatory	Colorado, USA	50 cm (20?)	8.5m (28 ft)	1891
Chabot Observatory	Oakland, California Oakland, California Oakland , founded in 1852, is the eighth-largest city in the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Alameda County, California. Oakland is approximately 8 miles east of San Francisco and the cities are separated by San Francisco Bay.... , USA	50 cm (20?)	8.5m (28 ft)	1914	"Rachael" Warner & Swazey Company (Optics John A Brashear Company) Refurb in 2000 and moved to present location.
Imperial Observatory	Straßburg, Germany	48.5 cm (19.1?)	7 m (23 ft)	1880
18½-in Dearborn Observatory Refractor	Chicago, USA	47 cm (18.5?)		1862
Flower Observatory	Philadelphia, USA	46 cm (18?)	6.7 m (22.6 ft)	1896
Royal Observatory	Cape of Good Hope, Africa	46 cm (18?)	6.7 m (22.6 ft)	1897
Harvard Great Refractor Harvard College Observatory Harvard College Observatory The Harvard College Observatory is an institution managing a complex of buildings and multiple instruments used for astronomy research by the Harvard University Department of Astronomy....	Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge, Massachusetts Cambridge is a city in the Greater Boston area of Massachusetts, United States. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England.... , USA	38 cm (15?)		1847	largest telescope in America for 20 years
Great Dorpat Refractor (Fraunhofer) Dorpat/Tartu Observatory Tartu Observatory The Tartu Observatory is the largest astronomy observatory in Estonia. It is located on T?ravere hill, about 20 km south-west of Tartu in N?o Parish, Tartu County....	Dorpat (Tartu), Estonia	24 cm (9.6?)	4 m (13.4')	1824	"..the first modern, achromatic, refracting telescope."

List of largest optical refracting telescopes

See also