This is especially true on nights of less-than-perfect seeing, when the details visible in a larger scope are often blurred by turbulence in our atmosphere. The result of a refractor's lower diffraction and higher light transmission? Given favorable seeing conditions, a modestly-sized refractor can often show you subtle lunar and planetary features with a wider and more easily observed contrast range, and with more sharply etched detail, than is possible with the light-scattering optics of larger reflectors and catadioptrics. Century-old refractors are still used, and highly prized, by discerning amateurs, and the world's largest refractor - the Yerkes Observatory's massive 40" - has been in professional use since 1897. Unlike reflectors and catadioptrics, which can lose 1% to 1.5% of their reflectivity per mirror surface per year as their aluminum coatings gradually oxidize, the light transmission of a low-maintenance refractor rarely deteriorates significantly with age.
They do not take into account the light blocked by a reflector or catadioptric's diagonal or secondary mirror, which can reach a hefty 15% to 20% additional light loss in some scopes.) (The reflector and catadioptric percentages only concern the reflectivity of standard aluminum mirror coatings. Refractors typically transmit 90% or more of the light they collect, compared with the 77% to 80% transmission of reflectors and 64% to 75% of catadioptrics. Refractors also have the highest light transmission - the percentage of the light gathered by the scope that actually reaches your eye. Why? Unlike reflectors and catadioptrics (Schmidt-Cassegrains, Maksutov-Cassegrains, etc.), refractors do not have a secondary mirror obstruction or multiple-reflection optical path to introduce light-scattering diffraction and internal reflections that brighten the sky background, reduce contrast, and smear images. Under average seeing conditions, a useful rule of thumb in astronomy is that a good quality 3" to 4" refractor can often outperform an average quality 6" to 8" reflector or catadioptric telescope for seeing details on the Moon and planets, splitting binary stars, and resolving globular clusters.
Various Closeouts Meade, Kendrick, Bob's Knobs, JMI and othersįor high-quality lunar, planetary, globular cluster, and binary star observing - as well as for surprisingly good views of the brighter Messier, NGC, and IC catalog galaxies and nebulas - many amateur astronomers prefer the crisp, high-contrast, diffraction-free images of a good refractor.Astronomics Used, Demo, Closeout, Spring Cleaning Page.Rechargeable Batteries And Power Supplies.Personal Planetariums / Electronic Sky Guides.Focal Reducer and Field Flattener Combos.Equatorial & Altazimuth Accessories & Adapters.Through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Stealth Optional is supported by its audience. They'll require more upkeep, but the pay off means that you won't get an chromatic aberration, and you'll be able to see stars and galaxies much brighter too. You may get some chromatic aberration, but that shouldn't be an issue if you're just starting out.įor those who want something a bit more technical and enjoy the process of adjusting, maintaining, and just generally 'tinkering', a reflector telescope could be the best one for you. If you're a beginner, we'd probably say starting off with a lightweight, refractor telescope could be the best way to go, as they can be moved easily and don't require much technical know-how to setup and maintain. Choosing either a higher quality lens or ensuring that the mirror setup is more optimal would be a wise place to start, but there will be many good quality telescope from either side at more affordable price points. Of course, budget is something you'll want to factor in as both types of telescopes have their advantages and disadvantages at different price points. Reflector vs Refractor Telescopes: Which Should You Buy?
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