Sign up to receive sale alerts, news about upcoming celestial events, and telescope tips from our experts! Optical and electronic engineers work closely with product managers and on-site manufacturing staff to produce groundbreaking new telescope technologies. He was searching for a telescope to introduce his sons to the wonders of stargazing.
Over time, he began constructing larger and more complex instruments. So, he founded Celestron-Pacific as an astro-optical division of Valor Electronics—for the sole purpose of building telescopes. Attendees loved his telescope, and many asked if he would make more. Next, Tom pivoted to the Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope SCT design, which incorporates features of both refractors and reflectors.
The SCT offered many advantages—it was compact, easy to maintain, and could be constructed in large apertures for bright, detailed views. Before Celestron-Pacific, SCTs existed, but they were rare and expensive, usually only used in scientific research. This was because each telescope had to be produced individually by master optical technicians who spent hours hand-figuring the Schmidt corrector lens.
Tom believed he could devise a method to mass-produce the SCT, making it more accessible and affordable. He achieved his goal by developing ultra-precise match plates, which he could use to shape optical glass into the complex figure of the Schmidt corrector lens at scale.
By , Celestron had expanded its line with an entire collection of Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes for observatories and serious amateurs. In the s, Celestron redefined the hobby of astronomy with its flagship Celestron 8, now with a new orange tube. Customers flocked to the C8 in droves, making the product an instant smash success.
