Patent ID: 7605977

Claim:
An optical telescope, comprising: (a) a base assembly that is adapted to support a primary mirror, said primary mirror including a predetermined size and shape and an outer perimeter and a center aperture; (b) support means attached to said base assembly, said support means adapted to support a turret a predetermined distance away from said primary mirror, said turret adapted to pivot from a first position wherein a secondary mirror that is attached to said turret is disposed over said primary mirror and wherein said primary mirror and said secondary mirror are included in a primary optical path when said turret is in said first position, into a second position and wherein said secondary mirror is not in said primary optical path when said turret is in said second position, and wherein when said turret is in said first position said primary optical path is provided that includes said primary mirror and said secondary mirror and wherein when said turret is in said second position a second primary optical path is provided that does not include said primary mirror or said secondary mirror; and (c) a beam splitter disposed over at least a portion of said center aperture, and wherein when said turret is in said first position, said secondary mirror is adapted to receive light energy reflected off said primary mirror and redirect at least a portion of said light energy to said beam splitter along said primary optical path and wherein at least one frequency of light passes through said beam splitter and travels along a first secondary optical path and wherein a different frequency of light is reflected off said beam splitter and travels along a second secondary optical path that is different than said first secondary optical path.