If you are curious about astronomy and are serious about discovering more on the subject then the way forward is to purchase a telescope or a set of astronomy binoculars to get the telescope astronomy experience and increase your knowledge on the universe around us with it’s solar system and galaxies. Buying your own telescope will enhance your ability to really take a closer look at the sky and see things of interest that can’t be seen with just the naked eye. This post should give you a general astronomy telescope review and you can then decide which is the best telescope for you !
There are 3 types of astronomy telescopes out there?
1. Newtonian Reflectors
This telescope contains an internal concave parabolic primary mirror that reflects light onto a diagonal mirror that directs it out to an opening at the side of the front end of the telescope through to the eyepiece.
What are the advantages?
-Lowest cost
-Excellent color rendition.
-More compact
-Great Viewing using longer focal lengths.
What are the disadvantages?
-loss of contrast due to the central obstruction of the flat secondary mirror
-Higher maintenance
2. Refractors
This is what the regular customer has in his mind when visualizing an astronomy telescope. It is long and tube shaped with the light coming in from the front of the lens and travelling to the eyepiece on the opposing side and into the users eye. These are great telescopes for beginners because of their reliability,their ease of use and low maintenance. Ideal for binary,lunar and planetary observing using a greater apertures
What are the advantages?
-High contrast
-Low maintenance due to the simplistic design
-Ideal for lunar and planetry observation.
-Excellent for wide field viewing in shorter focal lengths
-Greater stability due to the fact the telescope is mounted and aligned
-Excellent color in apochromatic and ED (Extra Dispersion) designs.
What are the disadvantages?
-Expensive
-Bulky
3. Catadioptrics telescope
This type of telescope uses lenses and mirrors to increase the focal lenth of the telescope, a full-aperture correcting lens is included to adjust for elimination of coma,spherical and chromatic aberration.
What are the advantages?
-Compact and easy to carry around.
-Low maintenance
-Plenty of accessories available.
-Cheaper than refractors.
-Excellent all-round telescope
-Ideal for lunar and planetary viewing and photography.
-Excellent optics
Disadvantages:
-More expensive than Newtonian telescopes.
-Because of the central obstruction there is a loss of contrast
