Refractor or Reflector Telescope- Which is Better?
Refractor and reflectors are the most common types of telescopes in use today. Refractors, because of their precision optics are considerably more expensive than similarly sized reflectors.
Refractors, with their more precise focusing abilities, offer an advantage over reflectors when used for viewing of the moon and planets. Reflectors, with their greater light gathering ability, are better for deep-space exploration. If you want to look closely at planets and the moon’s surface, then get a refractor. If you want to look at faraway galaxies and nebulae then get a reflector.
My first telescope was a 70mm refractor which I picked up for under $100. It was awesome to see the moon with so much clarity. I used this one for about a year, then upgraded to a larger refractor, then I also added a Newtonian reflector for some serious deep space peering. I took the moon shot below:
- Picture of the Moon Taken with My First Refractor
I highly recommend a 60mm to 70mm refractor as a first telescope. You won’t tire of its ease of portability, and the nice moon and planetary shots you can get with it. When you do upgrade, you’ll still find your first telescope handy for nights when you don’t feel like lugging out your big bertha for a quick peek at a comet or a meteor shower.
Telescopes that combine a refractor with a reflector like the Schmidt-Cassegrain are a boon for travelers as they combine the best attributes the refractor and the reflector and can fit in a suitcase, however they aren’t cheap.
As you become a more advanced user, then you’ll want extras like an equatorial mount (compensates for the rotation of the earth as your fixed on one object), filters (that allow you to look safely at the sun and others that cut out the glare of the moon and planets), and different eyepieces like the barlow (below)
Is a used telescope a good buy?
My first telescope was new, but the rest were used at a considerable savings over new. Astronomy is a hobby like owning an aquarium or coin collecting and like I did of my stamp collection, some people get bored and just set in a closet and forget it. Used once! Used for 2 months! Are not uncommon to see in ads and can result in a nice purchase and a nice new home for an otherwise neglected telescope.
Here, at refractor-telecope.com, we have partnered with Ebay to offer an easy way to shop for that perfect refractor telescope.
