Reflector Telescope

Reflecting or Reflector telescopes are a popular choice for astronomy because they cost the lowest per inch of aperture. A reflector telescope uses a single or a combination of curved mirrors to reflect light to form a projected image. They are great for deep sky observations of nebulae and galaxies as they go up to bigger apertures at a cheaper cost than refracting telescopes.

Almost all large research-grade astronomical telescopes such as space telescopes and spacecraft imaging devices are reflectors because mirrors have some advantages over lenses in terms of cost and the absence of chromatic aberration. However, like any other optical instrument, reflecting telescopes do not produce perfect images, though they do utilise parabolic shaped mirrors or correcting lenses to reduce these imperfections. Some users may also find reflecting telescopes harder to maintain due to their open tube designs.

Wondering what Newtonian reflector telescopes are? They are actually named after Isaac Newton, who has been widely credited for building the first ever reflecting telescope in 1668. The Newtonian reflector telescopes on our website refer to the telescope's optical configuration that he popularised, although many advancements have been made since the 1700s that have resulted in today's Newtonian telescope.

To learn more about telescopes and their different types, read our Beginner's Guide on How to Choose a Telescope. We have a huge range of Reflecting Telescopes including well-known brands such as Celestron, Saxon, and SkyWatcher so you have a wide variety to choose from! If you're unsure, contact us and we'll be glad to assist you with picking the perfect telescope to suit your needs.