There are three types of telescopes for the Amateur Astronomer, refractor, reflector and catadioptric. All these designs have the same purpose, to collect light and bring it to a point of focus so it can be magnified and examined with an eyepiece, but each design does it differently. All designs can perform satisfactorily if properly and responsibly manufactured and all have their own special virtues.
Choosing a particular telescope depends on your individual needs including cost,
portability, versatility, usability, appearance, etc. You should also contemplate what you plan to do with the instrument both now and in the future. Many amateurs own two or more telescopes to satisfy their varied interests. Some amateur astronomers build their own telescopes but this market has rapidly declined due to the abundance of affordable commercial telescopes available and the time, materials and equipment needed to hand-construct an instrument. Below is a brief discussion the most popular types of telescopes and a description of the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Refractors
A typical refractor with 45° diagonal and eyepiece
Refractors (also known as dioptrics) are what the average person identifies with the word “telescope”, a long, thin tube where light passes in a straight line from the front objective lens directly to the eyepiece at the opposite end of the tube.
Advantages
- Easy to use and reliable due to its simplicity of design
- Little or no maintenance
- Excellent for lunar, planetary and binary star observing especially in larger apertures
- Good for distant terrestrial viewing
- High contrast images with no secondary mirror or diagonal obstruction
- Colour correction is good in achromatic designs and excellent in apochromatic, fluorite, and ed designs
- Sealed optical tube reduces image degrading air currents and protects optics
- Objective lens is permanently mounted and aligned
Disadvantages
- More expensive per inch (25.4mm) of aperture than Newtonians or Catadioptrics
- Heavier, longer and bulkier than equivalent aperture Newtonians and Catadioptrics
- The cost and bulk factors limit the practical useful maximum size objective to small apertures
- Less suited for viewing small and faint deep sky objects such as distant galaxies and nebulae because of practical aperture limitations
- Light has to travel through glass rather than being reflected and so is prone to light loss, colour abberations, dispersion.
- Focal ratios are usually long making photography of deep sky objects more difficult
- Some colour aberration in achromatic designs (doublet)
- Poor reputation due to low quality imported toy telescopes; a reputation unjustified when dealing with a quality refractor from a reputable manufacturer
Reflectors
A typical reflector with an eyepiece
Reflectors (also known as catoptrics) usually use a concave parabolic primary mirror to collect and focus incoming light onto a flat secondary (diagonal) mirror that in turn reflects the image out of an opening at the side of the main tube and into the eyepiece.
Advantages
- Lower costs per inch (25.4mm) of aperture compared to refractors and Catadioptrics since mirrors can be produced at less cost than lenses in medium to large apertures
- Reasonably compact and portable up to focal lengths of 1000mm
- The best design for observing faint deep sky objects such as remote galaxies, nebulae and star clusters due To the generally fast focal ratios (f4 to f8)
- Very good for lunar and planetary observing
- Good for deep sky astrophotography ( but not as convenient and more difficult to use than Catadioptrics)
- Low in optical aberrations and deliver very bright objects
- Very little light loss due to reflected design
Disadvantages
- Open optical tube design can allow image-degrading air currents and air contaminants
- More fragile than Refractors or Catadioptrics and thus require more maintenance ( such as collimation)
- Suffer from off-axis coma
- Large apertures (over 8” (203.2mm)) are bulky and heavy
- Generally not suited for terrestrial applications
Catadioptrics
A Catadioptric-Newtonian with an eyepiece
Catadioptrics use a combination of mirrors and lenses to fold the optics and form an image. There are two popular designs: the Schmidt-Cassegrain and the Maksutov-Cassegrain. In the Schmidt-Cassegrain the light enters through a thin aspheric Schmidt correcting lens, then strikes the spherical primary mirror and is reflected back up the tube and intercepted by a small secondary mirror which reflects the light out an opening in the rear of the instrument where the image is formed at the eyepiece. Catadioptrics are the most popular type of instrument, with the most modern design, marketed throughout the world in 3 1/2″ and larger apertures.
Advantages
- Combines the optical advantages of both
- Lenses and mirrors while cancelling their disadvantages
- Excellent optics with a sharp image over a wide field
- Good for astrophotography with fast film or CCDs
- Excellent for lunar, planetary and binary star observing or photography
- Excellent for terrestrial viewing or photography
- Focal ratio generally around f10. Useful for all types of photography. Avoid faster f/ratio Telescopes (they yield lower contrast and increase aberrations).
- For faster astrophotography Use a focal reducing lens
- Close tube design reduces image degrading air currents
- Most are extremely compact and portable
- Easy to use. Durable and virtually maintenance free
- Large apertures at reasonable prices and less expensive than equivalent aperture refractors
- Best near focus capability of any type telescope useful for astrophotography
Disadvantages
- Much more expensive than Newtonians of equal aperture
- Slight light loss due to secondary mirror obstruction
- Less contrast compared to refractors and reflectors
- Heavy for the size
- Takes a long time to cool down and achieve thermal equalibrium
- More prone to dewing up compared with dobsonians
Maksutov-Cassegrain
A Maksutov-Cassegrain with 45 degree diagonal and eyepiece.
The Maksutov design is similar to the Schmidt with basically the same advantages and disadvantages. It uses a thick meniscus correcting lens with a heavy curvature and a secondary mirror that is usually an aluminized spot on the corrector.
The Maksutov is heavier than the Schmidt and because of the thick correcting lens takes a long time to reach thermal stability at night in larger apertures (over 90mm).
Advantages
- The Maksutov design is similar to the Schmidt with basically the same advantages and
disadvantages. It uses a thick Meniscus connecting lens with a heavy curvature and secondary mirror that is usually an Aluminized spot on the corrector. - Well regarded as the best for high focal ratio lunar, planetary and binary star observing or photography
- Excellent for terrestrial viewing or photography
- Close tube design reduces image degrading air currents
- Most are extremely compact and portable
- Easy to use. Durable and virtually maintenance free
Disadvantages
- The Maksutov is heavier than the Schmidt and because of the thick correcting lens can take a long time to reach thermal stability at night in larger apertures ( over 90mm).
- Larger-aperture models are difficult to manufacture (and thus are very expensive)
- More expensive than Newtonians of equal aperture
- Slight light loss due to secondary mirror obstruction
Never believe all the hype you see and read in brochures or magazines about how good a particular telescope manufacturer’s products are, always check out these claims on the net or join a astronomical club and ask the members which telescope they use and which ones they would like to own.
Look through as many different members scopes as you can to gain experience of viewing, handling, storage cost of each telescope.
Think long and hard before parting with your cash and always check out the second-hand/used market, you will be greatly surprised at what you can save over new prices and remember there are additional costs to be taken into account for essential additional equipment, like eyepieces, diagonals, finder scopes, mounts etc.
Another very good point about buying second-hand/used telescopes the additional essential equipment usually comes with the scope.
Local Astronomy Suppliers
North Down Telescopes
Phone: 02891 273584 ( UK )
04891 273584 ( EIRE )
Or visit the North Down Telescopes website
2nd Hand Markets