Portability isn’t just about size and weight with telescopes. You will need to be vigilant about cleaning and storing your reflector telescope. In contrast, a reflector telescope has an open system and the mirrors come into contact with dust and humidity.
Its parts are in a closed system, meaning they aren’t exposed to the elements. This is a lot easier with a refractor telescope. However, a refractor telescope has better contrast and sharpness with its objects while more advanced astronomers may be disappointed in the optical quality of a reflector telescope.Īfter spending some solid money on your telescope, sometimes upwards of $1,000, you want to keep it well maintained. The more light, the larger the object can be seen. The diameter of a reflector’s objective, the area where light enters, is larger than a refractor’s objective. The bottom line is to get a telescope that meets your needs.
There’s no right or wrong reason for getting a telescope, so we can’t really judge which one is better. With a reflector telescope, you can peer farther into the universe and see galaxies.Īs you may have guesses, refractor telescopes are more common as they use less sophisticated technology and are also less expensive, which we’ll get into later. Winner: reflector telescopes Field of useĪre you content with gazing at the moon or do you want to far-off galaxies? A refractor telescope is used to view the moon and close planets such as Venus and Mercury. The Celestron AstroMaster 90 AZ is one example of a refractor telescope that can be bought for under $300. While refractor telescopes are more expensive, there is still a variety of prices that should meet most budgets. For example, the Meade LX85 is a quality option that comes in just over $400. Prices can vary, though, even with reflector telescopes. You can even find reflector telescopes under $200. If you are just getting into astronomy, you will probably want to keep your costs low and in this manner, a reflector telescope will be the more economical option. At the other end of the tube is the objective which uses a lens for you to see faraway objects. With a refractor telescope, you look through the eyepiece which conducts your gaze down a wide tube. You can also find refractor lenses in cameras and spy glasses. The biggest takeaway when trying to understand a refractor telescope is that it uses lenses to form an object. We’ll try our best to walk you through the difference between reflector and refractor telescopes so you have a better idea of what is best for your needs. There are lots of details, both minor and complex, to consider when choosing between the two. Both, however, have the same purpose, which is to explore the skies above us. Putting it simply, reflector telescope, uses mirrors, while refractor telescope uses lenses. Telescopes can be hard to figure out but one hurdle you might not have anticipated is deciding between a reflector vs refractor telescope. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page.
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