Astronomical observations : An optical telescope forms images of distant stars. They are built in 2 types:
- Refractor - Galileo first used a refracting telescope in 1897. Refracting telescopes use mirrors and range in size from 60 mm to 40 inches.
- Reflector - Newtonian telescopes originated by the British scientist Isaac Newton in 1668 instead use a lense to collect and focus starlight. They range in size from 76 mm (3 inches) to the largest 10.4 m ( 34 feet).