Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using a reflecting telescope?

Answer 1

Advantages:

• The main advantage is reflector telescope can escape from chromatic aberration because wavelength does not affect reflection.
• The primary mirror is very stable because it is located at the back of the telescope and can be supported in the back.
• More cost-effective than refractors of similar size.
• Easier to make a high-quality mirror than a lens because mirror needs to only concern with one side of the curvature.

Disadvantages:

• Optical misalignment can occur quite easily.
• Require frequent cleaning because the inside is exposed to the atmosphere.
• A secondary mirror can cause diffraction of original incoming light rays causing the “Christmas star effect” where a bright object has spikes.