Dioptric telescope for high resolution imaging in visible and infrared bands

A cata-dioptric optical system, comprising:

• a concave primary mirror having a central aperture and a radius, the primary mirror having one of a parabolic, non-parabolic conical, or aspherical surface;
• a convex secondary mirror facing and receiving light rays from the primary mirror, the secondary mirror having an aspherical surface, wherein an optical axis extends from a vertex of the primary mirror to a vertex of the secondary mirror;
• at least one beam splitter configured to separate specific spectral ranges of light rays, wherein a first beam splitter receives light rays reflected by the secondary mirror;
• a first folding mirror receiving light rays from the first beam splitter;
• a first group of lenses for a visible imaging chain receiving rays from the first beam splitter, wherein the first group of lenses is positioned in parallel to the optical axis;
• a second group of lenses for an infrared imaging chain receiving rays from the first folding mirror, wherein the second group of lenses is positioned in parallel to the optical axis;
• and
• at least two image planes having one or more aggregated sensors, wherein a first image plane receives rays from the first group of lenses and a second image plane receives rays from the second group of lenses, wherein at least one image plane is positioned behind the primary mirror and at a radial distance from the optical axis that is no more than the radius of the primary mirror.