Advantages of Reflecting Telescope Over Refracting Telescope

 

Advantages of Reflecting Telescope Over Refracting Telescope :- Reflecting type telescope has the following advantages over refracting type telescope :-

(1) Chromatic aberration: The defect of chromatic aberration is found in refracting type telescope, where different colors of light are focused at different points, due to which the image becomes blurred and colored. Reflecting type telescope does not have this defect. The defect of spherical aberration is found in reflecting type telescope but it can be removed by using parabolic mirror.

(2) Light weight of the mirror: Mirrors are used in reflecting type telescopes, which are lighter than the lenses in refracting type telescopes, requiring light mechanical mechanisms to handle them. But large lenses are very heavy and it is very difficult to keep them resting on the edges. A mirror can also be supported from its back side (where the coating is done) but the lens can be supported only on its sharp edges which is a difficult task. Therefore, to get more magnification, it is easy to fit a mirror of large aperture in a reflecting type telescope and it is a difficult task to fit a lens of large aperture in a refracting type telescope.

(3) Cost: Reflecting type telescopes cost less to manufacture as compared to refracting type telescopes of similar quality, magnification and aperture.

(4) Low maintenance: Cleaning and repairing mirrors in reflecting type telescopes is generally easier than the complex lens systems in refracting type telescopes.

(5) Minimal light loss: Reflecting type telescopes have fewer optical surfaces (usually only mirrors), resulting in minimal light absorption compared to refracting type telescopes with multiple glass-air interfaces, producing clear images.

(6) No need for achromatic lenses (or achromats): Refracting type telescopes often require complex lens designs to correct chromatic aberration. This problem does not occur at all in a reflecting type telescopes.