This document summarizes the key differences between refractor and reflector telescopes. Refractor telescopes use lenses to bend and focus light, while reflector telescopes use mirrors. Both have advantages - refractors can observe dim celestial objects clearly while reflectors are more compact and less expensive. The document provides examples of different telescope types and outlines the basic components needed for each to function properly.

1. Reflector &
Refractor Telescopes
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2. Map
How it works
Why we use them
What they need to function
Refractor pros & cons
Reflector pros & cons
Examples
Diagrams
Bibliography

3. How it works
Telescopes use mirrors and the sky’s light so you can
use them.
Telescopes use mirrors and the sky’s light so you can use
them. For reflector telescopes, light reflects form a large
primary mirror into a diagonal mirror, reflecting the light
to the eye. Refractor telescopes have a lens that is
thicker in the lens, which bends the light and focuses it.
Then, all the light can come together at the focus point,
and the image appears.
Map

4. Why We Use Them
We use these telescopes to view objects in the
sky and earth that we wouldn’t be able to view as well
with the naked eye.
These telescopes need different things to function.
Refractor telescopes are good for looking at dim stuff,
and reflector telescopes are good for looking at bright
stuff. We use these telescopes to view objects in the sky
and earth that we wouldn’t be able to view as well with
the naked eye.
Map

5. For reflector telescopes, light reflects form a
large primary mirror into a diagonal mirror,
reflecting the light to the eye. Refractor
telescopes have a lens that is thicker in the
lens, which bends the light and focuses it.
Then, all the light can come together at the
focus point, and the image appears.

6. What They Need to
Function
Refractors Reflectors
Bright objects ??????
These telescopes need different things to function.
Refractor telescopes are good for looking at celestial
objects, so they need bright objects and reflector
telescopes are good for looking at bright stuff.
Map

7. Refractor Pros & cons
Pros Cons
Can be good for Can be bad for
taking pictures taking pictures
Compact
Can observe
terrestrially and
celestially
Map

8. Reflector Pros & Cons
Pros Cons
Cheaper There is less light,
Compact which makes the
image fuzzy
Reflector and refractor telescopes both have many pros and cons. The
reflector telescope costs less to produce; and therefore costs less to buy. They
also have the ability to be compact. However, there is less light, and the
image is fuzzy. Also, the mirrors are weirdly shaped. There are two different
kinds of refractor telescopes – achromatic and apochromatic. Achromatic
refractor telescopes are inexpensive and compact. They can also observe
both terrestrially and celestially. However, they are also sometimes blurry and
Map
are not good for taking pictures. Apochromatic telescopes are good for
terrestrial and celestial observing, as are achromatic. Apochromatic
telescopes are excellent for taking pictures, and achromatic telescopes
aren’t.

9. Examples
Some types of refractor and reflector telescopes are the
Catadioptric and the Cassegrain. The Catadioptric is good
for starting astronomers. They are small, and have a great
lens. Cassegrain telescopes have a second mirror that
reflects the light through a hole in the first mirror, so you can
see the image.
Reflector
Refractor
Map

10. Bibliography
"Refracting and Reflecting Telescopes."
ThinkQuest. Oracle Foundation, n.d. Web.
24 Jan. 2013.
"Refractor Telescopes." - OPT Telescopes.
N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.
"Beginners Guide to Telescopes." UK
Telescopes. N.p., n.d. Web.
Refractor Telescope. Digital image. N.p.,
n.d. Web.
"Telescopes." ThinkQuest. Oracle
Foundation, n.d. Web. 25 Jan. 2013.