Dmitri Maksutov was a Russian optician and astronomer, best known for inventing the Maksutov telescope in the 1940s. This telescope design features a spherical mirror and a corrector lens, allowing for compact construction and high-quality images. It has become popular among amateur astronomers and professionals alike. Maksutov's work significantly contributed to the field of optics and telescope design. His innovations have influenced various astronomical instruments, including the Maksutov-Cassegrain telescope, which combines his design with the Cassegrain telescope system. This versatility has made Maksutov's designs widely used in both research and recreational astronomy.