Editing Reticle (section)

{{short description|Aim markings in optical devices, e.g. crosshairs}}
{{redirect|Crosshair|other uses|Crosshair (disambiguation)}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2009}}
{{Wiktionary|reticle}}
[[File:Reticles vector.svg|thumb|300px|A comparison of different reticles used in telescopic sights. The lower right represents a reticle found in the [[PSO-1]] scope of a Russian [[Dragunov sniper rifle|SVD]] [[designated marksman rifle]].]]
[[File:PocketComparator2.JPG|thumb|300px|Reticle of [[Bell & Howell]] [[Pocket comparator|Pocket Comparator]]]]
[[File:ПД-8 (ПД-8А).jpg|thumb|Reticle accessory (PD-8) used in sniper rifles]]

A '''reticle''' or '''reticule''',<ref>[https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198832485.001.0001/acref-9780198832485-e-5765?rskey=prV7Ax&result=1 A  Christopher Gorse, David Johnston, Martin Pritchard, Dictionary of Construction, Surveying and Civil Engineering (2 ed.), Oxford University Press, 2020] – reticule</ref><ref>[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/reticule?s=t dictionary.com – reticule]</ref> also known as a '''graticule''' or '''crosshair''', is a pattern of fine lines or markings built into the [[eyepiece]] of an [[optical device]] such as a [[telescopic sight]], [[spotting scope]], [[theodolite]], [[optical microscope]] or the [[electronic visual display|screen]] of an [[oscilloscope]], to provide [[frame of reference|measurement references]] during [[visual inspection]]s. Today, engraved lines or embedded fibers may be replaced by a [[digital image]] superimposed on a screen or eyepiece. Both terms may be used to describe any set of patterns used for aiding visual [[measurement]]s and [[calibration]]s, but in modern use ''reticle'' is most commonly used for [[weapon]] [[sight (device)|sights]], while ''graticule'' is more widely used for non-weapon [[measuring instrument]]s such as [[oscilloscope#Graticule|oscilloscope display]], [[astronomic telescope]]s, [[microscope]]s and [[microscope slide|slides]], [[surveying instrument]]s and other similar devices.

There are many variations of reticle pattern; this article concerns itself mainly with the most rudimentary reticle: the '''crosshair'''. Crosshairs are typically represented as a pair of [[perpendicular]]ly intersecting lines in the shape of a cross, "+", though many variations of additional features exist including dots, [[vertical bar|posts]], [[concentric]] [[circle]]s/[[horseshoe]]s, [[chevron (insignia)|chevrons]], [[graduation (scale)|graduated markings]], or a combination of above. Most commonly associated with telescopic sights for aiming [[firearm]]s, crosshairs are also common in optical instruments used for [[astronomy]] and [[surveying]], and are also popular in [[graphical user interface]]s as a precision [[cursor (computers)|pointer]]. The reticle is said to have been invented by [[Robert Hooke]], and dates to the 17th century.<ref>
{{cite book
|title= The Field & Stream Hunting Optics Handbook
|first= Thomas
|last= McIntyre
|page= 118
|publisher= Globe Pequot
|year= 2007
}}</ref> Another candidate as inventor is the amateur astronomer [[William Gascoigne (scientist)|William Gascoigne]], who predated Hooke.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sellers |first1=David |title=Serendipity and a Spider William Gascoigne (c.1612-44) and the Invention of the Telescope Micrometer |url=http://magavelda.co.uk/gascoigne/gascoigne1.htm |website=magavelda |access-date=4 November 2019}}</ref>

The term ''reticle'' comes from the Latin ''reticulum'', meaning small net.