The 3 Main Varieties Of Telescopes
Since the beginning of modern astronomy, scientists have greatly improved in building high powered telescopes. The earliest known history of the modern telescope is in the 16th century Netherlands. Nowadays, telescopes can be found is a variety of shapes, types, and sizes. The prices of different telescopes vary significantly based on the task for which the telescope will be used. Astronomers generally place telescopes into one of two main categories. They are two types of telescopes: refractive and reflective.
As you can probably gather from the name, refractive telescopes consist of a light-gathering lens that concentrates light on the mirror’s surface. On the other side of the spectrum, reflective telescopes disperse the beam of light that is spread across the surface of the mirror. In addition to these two main types, another well-know types is the compound telescope. The attributes of reflective and refractive telescopes are blended together to create this type. Combining these qualities may not necessarily mean that a compound telescope will be more effective. In theory, there are pros and cons to all three types.
One typically thinks of refractive devices when considering telescopes. These have the far end open, and then slant towards the opposite, concealed end. A picture of this type is deeply embedded in our conscience as we have seen it numerous times in our text books. This kind is always available in local stores. The greatest advantage of refractive telescopes is that maintaining them is very easy. The tube is enclosed which keeps the glass surface protected from the outside elements 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. That partially explains why refractive telescopes cannot view distant objects well, since the mirror may produce a dark image surrounded by a light spectrum.
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. It is possible for viewers to make the object look bigger than their normal size by adjusting the objective mirror at the end from the trapped beam. The main disadvantage is to maintain the telescope as the mirror and related material is exposed to the outside environment. Maintenance cost of smaller telescopes is not factor that influence most viewers to use their telescopes compared to the huge advantages of using the telescope.
The third type, a compound telescope is commercially available for use and it might be a good starter telescope for novice and beginners alike. By merging qualities of the reflector and refractor, the magnification and view are enhanced. Knowing that, astronomers that are more advanced usually do not use compound telescopes. In addition to the above types, there are more advanced versions such as radio telescopes, x-ray telescopes, and 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. Familiarize yourself with the local stores that carry 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. Because of this, look for telescopes in the over $400 range.
