Renegade Telescopes
“Step up to a telescope you don't have to step up to.” The Renegade's innovative low-profile design puts the eyepiece around 60″ at the zenith — so you observe seated, comfortably, all night.
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Precision optics since 2005 · Chandler, Arizona
Telescope Mirrors
Polished to Perfection
Hand-figured precision mirrors and the innovative Renegade telescope — built for serious observers who want tight stars, high contrast, and a calm, clean image at the eyepiece.
★ Astronomy Magazine 2015 Star Product ● Mirrors 6″ – 38.5″ ● 3M+ YouTube views
6″–38.5″
Mirror diameters
f/3 & faster
Short focal-length specialists
50+
How-to videos
3M+
YouTube views worldwide
What we make
Two ways to reach the night sky
Premium Mirrors
The heart of a world-class telescope is its glass. Hand-figured parabolic mirrors from 6″ to 38.5″, including fast focal ratios for compact systems — for astronomy, science and industry.
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In stock now
Hand-Figured 12″ F/4.91 — from my turntable to your telescope
Finished in our Chandler, AZ shop and taken all the way to a smooth, high-accuracy figure: exceptional peak-to-valley performance and a high Strehl ratio, confirming the smoothness and precision serious observers value most.
Crafted by hand
Precision optics for astronomy, industry & science
Waite Research, founded by Gordon Waite, designs and fabricates premium telescope mirrors and custom optical components — every optic figured and tested to exacting specifications, optimized for demanding environments.
- ✓Hand-figured and individually tested for figure & smoothness
- ✓Specialists in fast, short focal-length designs
- ✓Borosilicate and quartz substrates, 6″ to 38.5″
- ✓Custom optics for scientific & industrial instruments
Decades of expertise, shared on video
Gordon Waite on YouTube
Over 50 in-depth videos on mirror making and telescope building — a trusted, hands-on resource for astronomers at every level, with more than 3 million views worldwide.
Visit the YouTube channel ↗ ★ Astronomy Magazine — 2015 Star Product
Premium optics for your new build?
Tell us about your project — a finished mirror, a custom optic, or a complete Renegade telescope. We'd love to hear from you.