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A Refracting Telescope Can Expand The Universe

October 6th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

In the world of astronomy, different types of telescopes are used to view the stars and planets. However, it is the refracting and reflecting telescope that represent the two basic types of telescope used by today’s novice and professional astronomers. Of these two telescopes, the refracting telescope has the longest history and has been in use for centuries. Its design was developed around the 15th century and is still a very popular telescope in the twenty-first century. Actually, a refractor telescope is one of the oldest telescope designs still in use by today’s astronomers.

The Principles Behind a Refractor Telescope

The refracting telescope, sometimes referred to as a refractor telescope, consists of multiple concave lenses which allow the incoming light to be refracted, resulting in images that are brighter and larger. These qualities make the actual images appear much larger than viewing with the naked eye. These refractors gather the incoming light and bend it, allowing you to view objects from a distance. This magnification is what provides you with the ability to clearly view the stars and night sky. Even though refracting telescopes look complicated, the truth is that they are basically a series of concave lenses that refract the light.

The Advantages of a Refractor Telescope

The refracting telescope has a long history, with centuries of use and design enhancement. Over time, its design was repeatedly tested, resulting in continuous improvement of its design and magnification capabilities. This was a real benefit providing astronomers with the opportunity to determine the refracting telescope design’s strengths and weaknesses.

The refracting telescope has obviously been improved dramatically since the fifteenth century. Even with the improvement of refractor technology, it is the size of the refractor telescope that still poses a potential concern. As the need for increased magnification has presented itself, the refractor lens has become larger. This can result in a larger risk of defects or sagging.

The truth is that refracting telescopes have proven themselves across the centuries and, to attest to their value, have remained one of the most popular designs among astronomers. Regardless of the type of telescope you choose to scan the cosmos, the ongoing use and popularity of the refracting telescope provides assurance that it will be with us for decades to come.

Finding a Refractor Telescope

Your quest to find the ideal refracting telescope at an affordable price can seem like a daunting task. But what we found was that visiting telescope and astronomy websites that provide telescope reviews can be very helpful in making your decision. So, whether you are considering a kids telescope or professional model, be sure to do your research and you will be assured of enjoying many hours of star gazing pleasure.

What Is a Refracting Telescope?

February 5th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

The refracting and reflecting telescope are two of the basic types of telescope in use today. But it is the refracting telescope that has been around for centuries and is one of the oldest telescope designs still used by today’s astronomers. Their use began somewhere around the 15th century and, to attest to the genius of the original design, is still quite popular in the 21st Century.

The refracting telescope, sometimes referred to as a refractor telescope, is made up of concave lenses that allow the light to be refracted and images to appear bright and larger. This makes the images appear much larger than looking at it with the naked eye allowing the refractor telescope to aid in seeing stars, planets and moons.

These telescopes contain convex lenses and an eyepiece lens similar to binoculars. These refractors gather light and bend it in order to view objects at a distance, which is particularly useful when looking at stars and the night sky. Refracting telescopes may seem complicated, but they are basically a series of lenses that are concave and refract the light.

Are There Different Types of Refracting Telescopes?

The telescope comes in a variety of versions;
Galilean Telescope - named after its creator and was one of the first versions

Keplerian Telescope - a refractor telescope that utilized a convex eyepiece as opposed to a concave of the Galilean model (Johannes Kepler improved upon the Galilean concept)

The centuries have passed with even newer inventions and different enhanced lenses, with the achromatic refractors invented in the mid 16th century and later with apochromatic refractors.

The Benefits of Refracting Telescopes

As I mentioned earlier, refracting telescopes have been around for a long time. And over the centuries, the design was tested repeatedly. This is a definite plus, since there was ample opportunity to determine the refracting telescope design’s strengths and weaknesses.

The refracting telescope has been improved dramatically since the 15th century. Even though the refractor technology has improved, the size of refractor telescopes still poses a problem. The refractor lens’ have become larger, and with that increase in size, the bigger the risk that they will have defects or begin to sag.

The Future of Refracting Telescopes

Even though the technology continues to improve in refracting telescopes, there really is no way of telling what the future of the refractor lenses will be. The fact is that refracting telescopes have been around for centuries and continue to be very popularity with many astronomers.

So no matter what telescope you select to view the skies and other universes, the value of the refracting telescope and its continued use and popularity signals that it will be with us for many more years and perhaps centuries.

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