Circle of least confusion of a spherical reflector

A simple, tractable equation is provided for determining the size and location of the circle of least confusion of a concave spherical reflector. This method is exact for the object at infinity and with wave effects neglected. Designers of large radius Arecibo-like telescopes, both radio and optical, with symmetrical, spherical primaries should find the method useful. The mathematical results are valid for apertures with an angle of incidence up to 45 degrees. Comparisons of the location of the disk of least confusion with longitudinal spherical aberration and the radius of the disk with transverse spherical aberration are presented. (c) 2007 Optical Society of America.