Choosing a telescope is an important decision. It can be tricky to choose between two seemingly similar products. Though it’s true that both reflector and refractor telescopes are used for astronomy, each of these types of telescopes has definite advantages and disadvantages. Below are four things you should consider if you’re wondering whether to buy a reflecting or refracting telescope.
In general, the answer is yes. Most people who buy a reflecting telescope use it for daytime viewing and find it more convenient than a refracting telescope.
Reflecting telescopes have several advantages over refracting telescopes. They’re easier to transport and store, and they don’t require as much setup time. When you’re ready to go out with your telescope, you can simply pack it up in the car or take it along in your backpack.
Reflecting telescopes are also less expensive than refracting telescopes — though not by much — and they have larger apertures, which makes them better suited for long-distance viewing.
You’ve probably heard that a reflecting telescope is better than a refracting telescope. What you may not know is that this isn’t exactly true.
The main reason why people tend to prefer refracting telescopes over reflecting telescopes is that they’re more portable. This is because of the shorter focal length, which makes them easier to transport and more compact. You can check Celestron for more information.
Reflecting telescopes, on the other hand, require you to use an equatorial mount in order for them to track objects in space accurately and reliably. This can be difficult if you’re trying to find your way around the city or simply traveling with your telescope.
A reflector is also more expensive than a refractor because it requires a lot of extra parts and accessories, such as a secondary mirror (which reflects light back into the tube after it travels through the primary mirror). You’ll also need a motorized drive, which can cost hundreds of dollars or more depending on what kind of mount you get.
Reflecting telescopes are often more affordable than refracting telescopes, but they don’t offer the same level of image clarity.
Reflecting telescopes have a mirror at the front of the primary mirror that reflects light through lenses to the eyepiece. The telescope’s lower magnification doesn’t result in a sharper image, but it also provides better light transmission than refracting telescopes.
Refracting telescopes use curved glass lenses to bend light from distant objects, which magnifies an image on the focal plane. The higher magnification of refracting telescopes results in sharper images and allows you to see deeper into space.
A reflector can be used for either type of telescope, but it’s not as easy to use as a refractor since you have to manually adjust your focus for each object you’re viewing. You can check Celestron Astromaster 130EQ for more information.