RC Optical Systems

A Historical Perspective of the Ritchey-Chretien...

The Man Behind the Design, George Willis Ritchey.

George Willis Ritchey George Willis Ritchey was born into a family rich with craftsmanship and pride. As a third generation woodworker his eye for details and tenacious drive lead him to master his craft. His interest in astronomy took root when he obtained part-time work at the University of Cincinnati Observatory while a student.

Being familiar with form and function, Ritchey naturally became interested in astronomical equipment. Drawing from his unyielding quest to understand and perfect he became an accomplished optician. In 1890, Ritchey was discovered by George Ellery Hale. The two embarked on a relationship that would ultimately lead to Ritchey's rise and fall.

Hale realized Ritchey's potential and took Ritchey with him from project to project. In 1897 Ritchey was hired by the University of Chicago at the Yerkes Observatory. The match of Ritchey's practical abilities and Hale's theoretical genius resulted in a remarkably capable team. In 1905, when Hale left Yerkes to work on another observatory at Mount Wilson, Ritchey followed. The observatory at Mount Wilson proved to be Ritchey's undoing.

Ritchey's work at Mount Wilson would result in grinding both a 60 and 100 inch mirror. During his work on the 60 inch mirror Ritchey jointly developed a new optical design with French optical designer Henri Chretien. The Ritchey-Chretien design was developed to produce better images over a large photographic field. Much to Ritchey's dismay Hale refused to consider this new design for the 100 inch mirror. As grinding of the 100 inch mirror reached completion friction between the two lead Hale to fire Ritchey.

Banished from American astronomy, Ritchey turned unsuccessfully to farming. When all seemed without hope Ritchey was approached by the French to work on his optical designs. In 1930 he was successful in landing a commission with the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, D.C. to build a telescope.

George Willis Ritchey died in 1945. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the success of his design. Today the Ritchey-Chretien is the choice of nearly every professional observatory. In fact nearly every large telescope built or designed since Hale's 200 inch has used the Ritchey-Chretien design.

Notable Ritchey-Chretien Installations:

Ritchey's Final Telescope
U.S.N.O. Flagstaff Station

WIYN Telescope
Kitt Peak National Observatory

Hubble Space Telescope
Space Telescope Science Institute

W.M. Keck Observatory
Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
La Serena, Chile

Contact Us | Policies and Warranties | Site Map | Customer Area

RC Optical Systems, Inc. An Arizona Corporation
1650 South Plaza Way, Suite 101, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, 928-526-5380
Monday through Thursday, 7am - 5pm, Friday 7am - 12 noon