An asteroid characterization and imaging system comprising at least one light collecting aperture positioned to collect intensity time history data and a data analysis unit configured to detect an occultation event and process said intensity time history data. Embodiments according to the present invention include a method of detecting, characterizing and imaging a near-Earth object comprising collecting intensity time history data by at least one light collecting aperture positioned to observe a star, detecting a stellar occultation event, recording said intensity time history data, processing said intensity time history data, predicting at least one of a set of object characteristics, and imaging said near-Earth celestial object.

Aspects of the present disclosure involve a system and method for suppressing a Poisson spot. A Poisson spot is a bright spot in the geometrical shadow of circular/spherical shapes. A broad class of telescopes that involve simultaneous transmit and receive require suppression of the reflected light from the secondary mirror on the detector. In one embodiment, coronagraphy petal-shaped masks are fabricated using photolithography and wire-EDM for the suppression of the Poisson spot. The petal-shaped masks can be designed and fabricated to operate at varying Fresnel numbers and petal tip radius-of-curvature (ROC).

This disclosure is directed to optical microscope calibration devices that can be used with optical microscopes to adjust the microscope imaging parameters so that images of samples can be obtained below the diffraction limit. The microscope calibration devices include at least one calibration target. Each calibration target includes a number of features with dimensions below the diffraction limit of a microscope objective. Separate color component diffraction limited images of one of the calibration targets are obtained for a particular magnification. The color component images can be combined and image processed to obtain a focused and non-distorted image of the calibration target. The parameters used to obtain the focused and non-distorted image of the calibration target can be used to obtain focused and non-distorted images of a sample for the same magnification by using the same parameters.

A telescopic sight has an objective lens system, an eyepiece lens system and an inversion system disposed in the optical path between the objective lens system and the eye piece lens system and pivotably supported by means of a height adjustment device, a lateral adjustment device, a reticle, and a projection means disposed at the end of the inversion system on the eyepiece side. The inversion system generates an image plane at the end on the eyepiece side having a perpendicular alignment relative to the inversion system optical axis. The projection means generates a projection in the field of view of the sight, which is located in a projection plane, wherein the projection plane is aligned perpendicularly relative to the optical axis and in the image plane of the inversion system. A display means assigned to the inversion system generates information and/or a target mark in the projection plane.

A method of producing a rifle scope having a body made in part of composite material. The method utilizes a composite material tubular housing element, having a rear and having an outer diameter and a metal eyepiece adapter in form of a tube having an inner diameter matching the outer diameter. In the method, the metal eyepiece adapter is adhered partially over the rear of the tubular housing element.

Provided is a reticle unit 40 that includes a reticle 41 with a sight line 410, and an optical fiber 42 that forms a dot by guiding light from a light source to a center 410a of the sight line 410, wherein a light incident portion 42a for receiving light is formed at one end of the optical fiber 42, a light-emitting portion 42b for emitting light is formed at the other end 42b of the optical fiber 42, the light incident portion 42a has a spherical surface having a diameter greater than that of the optical fiber 42, the light-emitting portion 42b has an inclined surface that reflects light passing through the optical fiber 42, and the optical fiber 42 is fixed along a part of the sight line 410 so that the light-emitting portion 42b is positioned at the center 410a of the sight line 410.

Provided is a reticle unit 40 that includes a reticle 41 with a sight line 410, and an optical fiber 42 that forms a dot by guiding light from a light source to a center 410a of the sight line 410, wherein a light incident portion 42a for receiving light is formed at one end of the optical fiber 42, a light-emitting portion 42b for emitting light is formed at the other end 42b of the optical fiber 42, the light incident portion 42a has a spherical surface having a diameter greater than that of the optical fiber 42, the light-emitting portion 42b has an inclined surface that reflects light passing through the optical fiber 42, and the optical fiber 42 is fixed along a part of the sight line 410 so that the light-emitting portion 42b is positioned at the center 410a of the sight line 410.

The invention concerns a reversing system for a sighting telescope, where the reversing system has at least two mutually displaceable lenses in a tube of the reversing system parallel to an optical axis of the reversing system, where displacement of the at least two displaceable lenses modifies the reproduction scale at which an image projected onto a first image plane of the reversing system is shown on a second image plane of the reversing system, where the at least two displaceable lenses are arranged in all positions between the first and the second image plane, where a surface of the inside of a tube facing the optical axis having at least one absorption area with absorption zones for absorbing incident light and with sliding surfaces located between neighbouring absorption zones for bearings of the at least two displaceable lenses, where the total area of the sliding surfaces is smaller than the total area of the absorption zones, where the at least one sliding surface is arranged at a different distance from the optical axis than the at least one absorption zone.

A kinematically engaged yoke system (KEYS) for multiple-order-diffraction engineered material may comprise a harness comprising a frame and a plurality of semi-kinematic keys disposed on the frame, wherein the semi-kinematic keys are configured based on a MOD-side mechanical profile of a plurality of segments of a multiple-order-diffraction engineered material, and wherein the MOD-side mechanical profile, when engaged with the semi-kinematic keys, functions as a fiducial that provides alignment between neighboring segments; and one or more shims disposed between one or more pairs of neighboring segments of the plurality of segments of the multiple-order-diffraction engineered material, wherein the one or more shims facilitate alignment of the one or more pairs of neighboring segments of the plurality of segments based on a translation across one or more surfaces of the one or more shims.

A zoom cell has a main zoom cell body having a central axis, at least two fingers extending from the main zoom cell body parallel to the central axis, and at least two grooves separating the at least two fingers. A zoom cell system has at least two zoom cells disposed in an erector tube, with the fingers of the at least two zoom cells pointed towards one another, with the at least two zoom cells positioned such that the fingers of a first of the at least two zoom cells align so as to correspond with at least one of the at least two grooves of the other of the at least two zoom cells.