Reflector Telescopes

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Although many credit Isaac Newton with the invention if the first reflecting telescope, after some research I have found that the concept of a reflecting telescope came from a Scottish mathematician James Gregory. He published a description of the reflecting telescope in "Optica Promota" in 1663, however he never actually made the telescope. Sir Isaac Newton did construct the first reflecting telescope in 1668. I guess it depends on how you define invention. Reflecting telescopes are often called Newtonians.

 

Reflecting Telescopes use a mirror to gather light and bring the image to the eyepiece. Reflectors utilize a parabolic mirror that reflects the image to a focal point. Since the mirror reflects the image back towards the source, a small secondary mirror set at an angle reflects the light perpendicular to the tube so that the eyepiece is attached to the side of the telescope, rather than the end. Reflectors require some minor maintenance to keep the mirrors in proper alignment. They are the least expensive telescopes and provide the most light-gathering abilities for the dollar.

Newtonian reflectors are great all-around scopes, offering generous apertures at affordable prices. They excel for both planetary and deep-sky viewing. Of course, the larger the aperture, the more you’ll see. Smaller, 3" and 4.5" equatorially mounted Newtonians will provide a nice “survey” of celestial luminaries, and they’re plenty portable. Six-inch and 8" Newts have enough aperture to deliver captivating images of fainter fare-clusters, galaxies, and nebulas-especially in a reasonably dark sky. The tradeoff is their bulk and weight — something you should definitely take into account before you buy. But a 6" Newtonian on a Dobsonian mount is easily manageable by one person, and makes a wonderful beginner scope. Dobsonian-mounted reflectors have lower price tags than their equatorial counterparts, starting in the mid-$300s for a 6" Dob.