THE REFLECTOR
Akin to a bucket that grabs as much light as it can, the reflector is an ideal choice for faint deep-sky objects
There are two common breeds of reflector: the Newtonian and the Dobsonian. The way these telescopes operate, however, is exactly the same. They both use mirrors to reflect light to create an image of the object that you’re looking at. The Newtonian telescope is made up of a curved lightcollecting mirror that can be found at the tube’s base. The light that hits this mirror is reflected back to the front of the tube, where a smaller flat mirror – orientated at 45 degrees – brings light to the observer, who can then see the object that the telescope is pointed at.
Newtonians can be found on alt-azimuth mounts, but you shouldn’t be too surprised to find this type of reflector more commonly mounted on an equatorial mount. This allows the telescope to follow the rotation of the sky while being aligned with your hemisphere’s celestial pole. Newtonian reflectors are very popular within the amateur astronomy community thanks to their versatility. They allow users to observe a wide selection of astronomical targets and are perfect for astrophotography, while you can also buy a large aperture for a decent price. For instance, an eight-inch reflector costs less than a refractor with the same aperture – in short, you get much more value for your money.
On the downside, the Newtonian doesn’t come hassle-free, especially when it comes to maintenance. You might find yourself having to realign the optical mirrors, as well as repainting the mirror’s surfaces, since they can eventually become tarnished. If you choose to go for a reflector of this sort, then you should always choose one which has mirrors with a protective coating – these will last longer.
Some beginners to the hobby of astronomy might find setting up and using an equatorial mount tricky, and that’s where the Dobsonian comes in. This has the capabilities of a reflector, but without the complexity that an equatorial mount will bring since it employs an alt-azimuth mount. Not only that, but this type of reflector isn’t limited to an aperture size.
This contrasts equatorial mounts, whose structure means they cannot support large-aperture telescopes. Dobsonians are very simple to use and can be pulled into orientation when looking at astronomical objects with ease. If you’re not confident in handling your telescope, though, then GoTo Dobsonians – as well as Newtonians, for that matter – are on the market, albeit at a higher cost.
Whatever you decide, these telescopes are excellent for low-magnification targets such as galaxies and many types of nebulae.