Maksutov telescope. Like the Schmidt telescope, the Maksutov corrects for spherical aberration by placing a corrector lens in front of the primary mirror. However, where the Schmidt uses an aspheric corrector at the entrance pupil, Maksutov's telescope uses a deeply curved full diameter negative meniscus lens (a "meniscus corrector shell"). He published the design in 1944 in a paper entitled "Новые катадиоптрические менисковые системы" [New catadioptric meniscus systems]. This method was adopted not only by his own laboratory for many of the most important observatories in the Soviet Union, but also internationally. Several commercial telescope-making companies produce Maksutovs, including Celestron, Meade, and Questar. He created many objective lenses, mirrors, and prisms of various sizes and purposes. He also created a photo-gastrograph (used for photographing the stomach), a needle-microscope, shadow instruments for aerodynamic tubes, telescopic spectacles, and other instruments. Awards Stalin Prize (1941, 1946) two Orders of Lenin (1945,1958) Order The Badge of Honour (1943) Grand Prix at the Expo '58 in Brussels See also List of astronomical instrument makers Albert Bouwers – in 1940 independently invented a meniscus telescope similar to the Maksutov References External links Biography - on the website of Vavilov State Optical Institute Dmitri Maksutov: The Man and His Telescopes 1896 births 1964 deaths Scientists from Odesa People from Odessky Uyezd Russian untitled nobility 20th-century Russian astronomers Soviet astronomers 20th-century Russian inventors Optical engineers Soviet inventors Military Engineering-Technical University alumni Recipients of the Order of Lenin Stalin Prize winners