The 3 Basic Types of Telescopes

Since the advent of modern astronomy, scientists have come along purchase structured settlement long way to build high powered telescopes. The earliest history of the modern telescope can be traced back to 16th century Netherlands. Modern day telescopes come in different types, sizes and shapes. The cost associated with each telescope differs widely and depends on the task it will be used for.

Normally, astronomers agree that there are only two main types of telescopes. They are refractive telescopes and reflective telescopes.

As the name suggests, refractive telescopes constitute a lens which gathers the beam of light and converge it on the surface of the mirror. On the other side of the spectrum, reflective telescopes disperse the beam of light that is spread across the surface of the mirror. Besides these two major types, there is also a pretty well known type, called a compound telescope. This type actually combines the qualities of the reflective and refractive telescopes. Combining these qualities may not necessarily mean that a compound telescope will be more effective. In theory, all of the three types have their advantages and drawbacks.

Refractive types are the ones that come in mind when thinking about the telescopes. These are open-ended from the far end, which than slants towards a closed end on the other side. A picture of this type is deeply embedded in our conscience as we have seen it numerous times in our text books. You always find this type in your neighborhood store. The main advantage of the refractive telescope is that they are very easy to maintain. The tube is closed from both the ends which mean that the glass surface inside the telescope is protected from the outside environment such as heat, dust and winds. The main disadvantage is that it suffers from chromatic aberration which is a defect that allows the light to form a rainbow around an image. This is partly the reason that refractive telescopes are not suitable to view distant objects as the mirror may produce light spectrum around a darker image.

On the contrary, reflective telescopes are more suitable to observe distant plants and galaxies. These are the giant machines that we see in famous astronomical laboratories around the world. Because of the advantages of the reflective surface, this type is now available for use in homes and smaller labs. Usually, a reflective telescope acts a light bucket where it traps the beam of oncoming light. When the beam is trapped, viewers can than adjust the objective mirror at the end to make objects look much consolidating student loans than their normal size. The main disadvantage is to maintain the telescope as the mirror and related material is exposed to the outside environment. To most viewers, it is not a major factor influencing their use of the telescope, as the maintenance for smaller telescopes is not a problem large enough to outweigh its huge advantages.

The third type, a compound telescope is commercially available for use and it might be a good starter telescope for novice and beginners alike. It combines the qualities of the refractor and reflector to provide a better magnification and view. This being said, compound telescopes are not normally used by advanced astronomers. Apart form the above types, there are more advanced versions including radio and x-ray telescopes, among others.

For a beginner, it is suggested to look for a professional telescope outlet and buy after a getting a professional advice from an expert. Be aware of the neighborhood stores with telescopes. It is not a good idea to buy your first telescope from a local shop as the telescopes might not be of the highest quality. This is due to the large scale production of telescopes that has led to inferior material quality which in turn poses a significant malfunctioning risk. A professional outlet always provides warranty and guarantees to fix any problems. The cost of a beginner telescope varies from two hundred to twenty five hundred dollars. It is recommended to buy a telescope above four hundred dollars, for the reasons stated above.

Alan Armstrong has always been fascinated with astronomy, even as a kid. To welcome people to the addiction of star gazing, he does telescope reviews to get them on the right track.