Astrotales

Why Newton invented the reflecting telescope and why he died of mercury poisoning

Astronomers remember Newton for inventing the Newtonian telescope. The Newtonian telescope is a reflecting telescope that utilizes a mirror instead of lens to collect light and focus it to a point whereby a second mirror can direct the concentrated beam of light toward an eyepiece for magnification and viewing by an observer or instrument. When Newton built his telescope it was because he thought he could get a more accurate fugue and focus. But that is not why modern day astronomers are grateful. A reflecting telescope has a mirror that is supported from behind.

The refracting telescope has a lens which must support itself by the structural integrity of it's glass. This means that there is a practical limit to the size of a refracting telescope since the larger a the lens at the front gets, the more the likelihood of the lens distorting do to it sagging from gravity distorting it's shape (or figure). There is no limit to how large a reflecting mirror can be since it's shape or figure is supported from behind against the distortions of its weight from gravity. Therefore the largest refractor every built is the 40" at Yerkes, whereas modern reflecting telescopes have exceeded 200 inches.

I wish we could say that the greatest modern scientist of all time died of mercury poisoning as a result of chemical experiments. But those experiments were actually alchemical experiments. After his incredible scientific career Newton took a very profitable position as head of the English mint. Perhaps he was trying to turn lead into gold, but when his body was moved after burial it was discovered that Newton had massive amounts of mercury in his body.

It was Isaac Newton who is most credited with dividing astronomy from astrology since for the first time his laws of gravitation and motion could be applied to the study of the Universe. Despite all this Newton felt compelled to dabble in the mystical and esoteric study of alchemy to the point that it probably brought on an early demise.