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TELESCOPES

1

2 Basic Types

REFRACTORS

These are the most popular telescope for beginners. They use a lens to gather and focus the light of the object it's pointing at. Using a lens which is made from two elements or more, the refractor reduces false colours.

$refractor$

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There are two different types - the

achromatic

apochromatic.

CONTENTS

Basic features of refractors include:
PROS;

small and compact
maintenance free
high resolution (excellent planet scopes)
Can be used during the day for terrestrial viewing without the image being upside down

CONS;

expensive for larger models and apochromatic
less light gathering power than reflecting telescopes because of their smaller size
Awkward to use when pointing straight up (straight up is the best place to view with a telescope)
false colour especially in larger models

TELESCOPE LINKS:

Mounts

Light Gathering Power

Closer Look At Refractors

Closer Look At Reflectors

Dimensions

Balancing

Eyepieces

Cleaning Optics

Tips

REFLECTORS

Astrophotography

Build your own telescope

Reflectors gather light using a mirror which is curved. The curved mirror concentrates the light and is then magnified by an eyepiece. Newtonian reflectors (invented by Sir Issac Newton) can be identified by the eyepiece protruding from the side of the telescope. These are the most common and cheapest to buy. Other types of reflectors incorporate a front lens which corrects the incoming light first before hitting the main reflective mirror. These front lenses are called corrector plates and the different types used determine the type of reflecting telescope. The more popular types are the

Build your own telescope
for schools

Binoculars

Schmidt-Cassegrain

and the

Maksutov-Cassegrain.

just

To find out more about each type of telescope, including

Newtonians,

click on their name. To find out the pros and cons of reflectors, please go to the next page.

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