subject: What The Right Reflecting Telescope For You [print this page] Reflecting telescopes are used for a long time today. They were first created in the 17th century and are sometimes called a reflector which has led to confusion with the reflecting and refracting telescope. The refracting telescope precedes the reflecting telescope but it's seldom utilized and most telescopes that are used nowadays are the reflecting form.
It is because refracting telescopes suffer from chromatic aberrations, due to the various refractive indexes on the lenses in these telescopes. What it means is that around each picture, color fringes appear. While this could be reduced, it is easier to utilize a reflecting telescope.
Design Factors
The first reflecting telescope to solve the problem of chromatic aberrations was a telescope that was invented by Sir Isaac Newton. The Newtonian design for reflecting telescopes is in use nowadays and is one of the easiest designs of contemporary telescopes available these days. It's also one of the cheapest telescopes. Anyone is deciding to make their telescope would be able to put together a reflecting telescope of this kind.
The Cassegrain or Classic Cassegrain telescope is also very popular and this is in part due to its compact design. This is achieved by folding the optics in the telescope. While the design does lose some light gathering power, it has a benefit with a closed tube that stays clean at all times.
Best telescopes follow the Ritchey-Chretien design. It's an offshoot of the Cassegrain design and has two hyperbolic mirrors. This design characteristic is different from the Cassegrain, which employs one parabolic primary mirror instead. This kind of telescopic lens is perfect in photography.
Another reflecting telescope that is used is the Yolo. One of the problems associated with this telescope is that of astigmatism. This leads to double vision and particular blind spots. This can be corrected however and one of the advantages of this telescope is the fact that this eliminates the problem of coma, a problem prevalent in numerous telescope designs.
Based on your specific needs, you will find various kinds of reflecting telescopes that could fit your specifications. For amateur telescope building and astronomy, beginning with a Newtonian telescope is a good place to begin. It is also the least expensive type and a good starting point when you are just beginning to explore the world of telescopes. When you have ignited your passion, there are many other designs that you can try out for star gazing and wide field observation.
