Learning All About Refracting Telescopes

A telescope of this kind is actually a pretty simple device.

As opposed to a reflecting model, refracting telescopes don't use mirrors and instead use an objective lens and an eyepiece. The lens bends, or refracts, the incoming light, focusing it at a single point. The eyepiece helps to gather in all of that light to begin with. Knowing that basic design or theme, here are the different varieties of refractors that exist.

Below I will explain the different types of refracting telescopes that exist and that have existed since their inception. Some of this information may sound like a history lesson, but much of this information is important in order to understand just how refracting telescopes work and how they have improved over the past centuries. Let's start in the early 1600s, with Galileo.

Galilean Telescope: Galileo invented his refracting telescopes over 400 years ago, in 1609. Nobody actually uses this type of refractor anymore, as the technology has been vastly improved. But the basic design was in place and it allowed Galileo to see some great sights within our solar system for his time.

Keplerian Telescope: Just a few years after Galileo created his design, Johannes Kepler developed his in 1611. Kepler made one key change from Galileo's design, he used a convex eyepiece instead of a concave eyepiece. This actually cleared up the picture a great deal, and also allowed far a wider field of the view. The downside though was that all of the images appeared upside down, which certainly took some getting used to!

Achromatic Refracting Telescopes: Today many novice astronomers and hobbyists turn to this type of refractor. It utilizes two separate pieces of glass in the objective lens, which each bring in a separate wavelength of light, one blue and one red.

Apochromatic Refractors: Taking things one step further than the achromatic refractors, apochromatic refractors have three separate pieces of glass in the lens, separating light into red, blue and green. This helps to clarify and distinguish between objects with more precision, and allows for greater detail as well. Of course, they are a bit more complex and are geared more towards those with some experience, but they aren't hard to learn.

Certainly the refracting telescopes of today have come a long way since their inception over 400 years ago by Galileo! If you're ready to get started with your own pursuits or just want to learn more, visit MagnifySpace.com for more information and some fantastic deals and prices.

by: Jon Fotheringham

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