The refractor is the oldest telescope design. It is by far the most familiar design (it's what Galileo used in the 17th Century, and it's what Marvin the Martian used in the cartoons). Refractors have been used to produce some...
The modern theory of optics is due in great part to Isaac Newton. Much has been written about the fantastic achievements of Newton, but it was a misconception of his that led to his greatest astronomical invention. While studying refracting...
Probably the most popular telescope design is the Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (SCT). The SCT is a versatile design, good for both imaging and visual observation. It is compact for portability and ease of use, and is relatively inexpensive compared to other...
A sturdy mount is obviously important for visual observing--the lack of a quality mount is a primary complaint about cheap telescopes--but for astrophotography, the mount is every bit as important as the telescope itself. The mount's ability to hold the...
Other Telescope Designs While the Schmidt-Cassegrain, Newtonian, and refractor are the most common optical designs used for CCD imaging and observing in general, other types are becoming increasingly popular. Classical Cassegrain Above: Optical layout of a Classical Cassegrain telescope The...
