

We also have proof that even ancient Egyptians used some lenses based on certain hieroglyphs.īut the first oldest reference for using the objective lens is from Aristophanes, mentioning a “burning glass” in his writings from 424 BC. Some say that the lens is thousands of years old.Īrcheological evidence indicates some rocky crystal artifacts dated to the 7th century BC so-called Nimrud lens.

It all began with the lens many centuries ago- we are still determining exactly when because scientists argue about that. The magnification of the telescope is determined by the ratio of the focal length of the objective lens to the focal length of the eyepiece. It is located at the back of the telescope and is used to view the image.

The eyepiece is a smaller lens that magnifies the image formed by the objective lens. The light passes through the objective lens and forms an image at the focal point, which is located behind the lens. The objective lens is a large lens that gathers and focuses light from distant objects. The basic design of a refractor consists of two lenses: an objective lens at the front of the telescope and an eyepiece at the back. It was the first type of telescope to be invented and has been used for centuries to observe celestial objects. What is a refractor telescope, and how does it work?Ī refracting telescope, also known as a refractor, is a type of telescope that uses lenses to gather and focus light.

What is a refractor telescope, and how does it work?.Read also: Maksutov Newtonian Telescopes (In-depth Guide) There are also other telescope designs like Schmidt Cassegrain and Maksutov Cassegrain telescope, but I will only talk about reflecting and refracting telescopes in this article. Refractor telescopes usually have smaller apertures and are more expensive than reflector telescopes. The refractor telescope requires less maintenance than a reflector telescope. Reflector and refractor telescopes also differ in the required maintenance. The main difference between refractive and reflective telescopes is that the refractor uses optical lenses, and the reflector telescope uses mirrors. That is a huge mistake because there are big differences between refracting and reflecting telescopes. Many people buying the first telescope are deciding based on the look of the refractor or reflector telescope alone. The main telescope designs you can choose from are the refractor telescope and reflector telescope. If you are looking to buy your first telescope, you will find out that there are a few types of telescope designs. I may receive a commission for purchases made through these links. This site contains affiliate links to products.
