Simply put, you are looking up the tube, not to the side as in the reflector. Refractors, on the other hand, have an achromatic lens at one end of the tube and an eyepiece array at the other. The smallest, practical reflector mirror telescope is 15cm. Reflectors are an ideal all-rounder telescope to glimpse faint objects like nebulas and galaxies, and view the Moon and planets when they present themselves. Like a window in the house, the larger it is, the more light it lets in, and it's the same with reflecting telescopes. Reflectors have a large, concave, aluminised reflecting mirror at the end of a white tube that reflects the light it collects back up to a small, flat elliptical mirror tilted at 45 degrees to the main mirror.įrom here, the cone of light passes out at 90 degrees into a focuser, where you can insert an eyepiece that will magnify the image into a larger one, which is what the eye sees.Ī reflector telescope's main mirrors range from 10cm to 30m, with the 20cm being the most universally used and enjoyed around the world. Search the web, read the reviews and then make a decision. Now it's China's turn and while we all love a bargain, there is no such thing as 'a good, cheap whatever' as in many cases it turns out a big disappointment. This has been the norm in the past 45 years of poorly made cameras, lenses, telescopes and binoculars, first coming out of Russia and other Eastern Bloc communist countries. It may look nice but when you set it up and look through it, the thing shakes like jelly at the slightest touch, it's hard to focus and whatever image it does give is utter rubbish. While many photos of telescopes and their mounting system on the internet look classy, are you really sure they will do what you expect them to do?ĭo you know the difference and the pros and cons of a reflector or refractor telescope?įor instance, when you see an ad for a $50-$150 telescope complete with a stand, be very careful. By choosing the right type of telescope you should be able to enjoy and get the most out of your stargazing hobby for many years.BUYING a telescope for stargazing is fraught with dangers to the uninitiated as to what is best for either a budding astronomer or for an adult to view the Moon, planets, nebulas, star clusters and galaxies. Final TipsĬhoosing a telescope can seem daunting, but remember there are many great resources out there to help you make the right choice, including our in-depth telescope buying guide. In addition to combining the best qualities of both reflectors and refractors into one package, the price of catadioptric telescopes usually falls mid-way between that of a refractor and reflector. They are durable, highly portable, easy to use, and produce “right-side-up” images. This hybrid telescope comes in two main varieties known as either Schmidt or Makutsov after their designers. These are excellent for observing the moon, planets and binary stars, as well as deep-sky objects. Catadioptric TelescopeĪ compromise between these two types of telescopes is a hybrid telescope known as a catadioptric, which uses both lenses and mirrors. A good entry-level for amateur astronomers would be a 3.1-inch (80 mm) or more refractor. On the other hand, refractor telescopes can suffer from some chromatic aberration caused by using lenses, and they are generally more expensive to buy than reflectors. Pluses for refractor telescopes include “right-side-up” images, the ability to come to thermal stability quickly meaning low image distortion, and a sealed tube which means little maintenance is required. They are ideal for viewing larger, brighter objects such as the Moon’s surface, the planets, or viewing Jupiter’s moons. Refractor telescopes use lenses and are usually long and slim in appearance. A good entry-level for amateur astronomers would be a 4-inch (100mm) reflector. Other pluses for reflectors are that they are far cheaper to buy than refractors, are more portable, and their mirrors reflect all wavelengths of light the same, thus correcting for any chromatic aberration. This makes them ideal for viewing such deep-sky objects (DOSs) as nebulae, star clusters and galaxies. They are the instrument of choice for deep-space objects and wide-field viewing on account of their large apertures and superior light-gathering abilities. Reflector telescopes use mirrors and are usually short and wide in appearance.
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