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In principle, there's no reason why it couldn't be. But it would be prohibitively

expensive, harder to operate mechanically, and tough to match the optical

performance of an equal-sized reflector. That's why, bowing to pragmatism

and practicality, there hasn't been a larger refractor built since the 40-incher

at the Yerkes Observatory was completed in 1895.

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āˆ™ 12y ago
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āˆ™ 14y ago

The advent of the Dobsonian telescope has made refracting telescopes less popular because the large mirrors of the reflectors gather so much more light for the same amount of money.

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Q: Are reflecting telescopes are more popular than refracting telescopes?
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What telescopes is the largest reflecting refracting x-ray or the very large array?

It's difficult to understand the question, but WikiAnswers doesn't do well with multiple choice questions. In general, refracting telescopes are smaller than reflecting telescopes; a refractor has the light going straight through the tube, and structural considerations force limits on its size. In a reflecting telescope, the light path is folded back on itself, and reflecting mirrors reflect more light than thick lenses can pass through. But the largest current reflecting telescope is perhaps 300 inches in diameter, although larger ones are planned. By contrast, the Very Large Array of radio telescopes is ACRES in total size, and there is no theoretical limit in how large "it" could be - because "it" is actually "they". Dozens, potentially hundreds of radio telescopes can add their size together to develop a more sensitive and more precise instrument.


What are some telescopes names?

The two types are refractor and reflector. In a refracting telescope, the light comes in THROUGH a magnifying LENS where it is REFRACTED (bent) to focus the light into an objective lens. In a reflecting telescope, the light BOUNCES OFF a curved magnifying MIRROR , and then reflected again on a secondary mirror to direct the light into an objective lens. Among the advantages of a reflecting telescope are that in a refracting lens, the thickness of the lens can absorb some of the light, while a mirror reflects all of the light. Additionally, a reflecting telescope can "fold" the telescope into a much more compact instrument, which is essential with especially large devices. A large refracting telescope would be enormously heavy and cumbersome.


Is a light telescope the same as a refracting telescope?

Not exactly. A light telescope is a telescope that catches and shows visible light. The main light-gathering piece may either be a lens, in which case you would have a refracting telescope. Or - much more common with the larger telescopes - the main light-gathering piece is a parabolic mirror. In this case, it is a reflecting telescope. The largest refracting telescope is about 1.2 meters in diameter; all larger telescopes - currently up to about 8 meters - are parabolic mirrors.


Why is it a advantage for reflecting and refracting telescopes to be made larger?

The reason people build larger Telescopes is because smaller telescopes have a smaller power to them, which results in less detail the farther they look. Larger telescopes use much larger lenses to see much farther and with much more clarity.


What is more popular iCarly or drake and josh?

iCarly is much more popular.

Related questions

Why are most modern telescopes reflecting telescopes?

A reflecting telescope is much easier to build than a refracting telescope and consequently is much less expensive. A reflecting telescope uses a concave mirror to collect and concentrate starlight and send it to your eye, whereas a refracting telescope uses a series of lenses to do the same thing. Optical quality lenses are much more expensive (and heavier) than a well-made mirror. For a given amount of money, much larger reflecting telescope can be built than a refracting. For very large telescopes, the lenses needed would be enormous and next to impossible to make optically perfect. Consequently, most telescopes are reflecting.


Are reflecting or refracting telescopes more top heavy?

Refracting, large lenses at the top which make them top heavy and harder to stabilize.


What is the difference between a reflecting telescope and a refracting telescope?

A reflecting telescope uses mirrors while refracting telescopes uses lens. The refracting telescope also had chromatic aberration and bad resolution while the reflecting telescope had none of these.


What are some of the advantages of reflecting telescopes over refracting telescopes?

Size... a reflecting telescope with the same power as a refracting telescope is much shorter. This is because, in the reflecting telescope, the incoming light is bounced off mirrors (often more than once) which means the physical length is much shorter than an equivalent refracting model.


Do refracting telescopes have more limitations than refracting telescopes?

nope they are the same


What advantage do reflecting telescopes hAve over refracting telescopes?

One advantage of reflecting telescopes is that the mirrors can be very big. Large mirrors allow reflecting telescopes to gather more light than refracting telescopes do. Another advantage is that curved mirrors are polished on their curved side, which prevents light from entering the glass. Thus any flaws in the glass do not affect the light. A third advantage is that mirrors can focus all colors of light to the same focal point. Therefore, reflecting telescopes allow all colors of light from an object to be seen in focus at the same time.


What are the major types of optical telescopes?

Ground-based telescopes, and space telescopes. Or: refracting telescopes (main collector is a lens), and reflecting telescopes (main collector is a mirror). Or: Home telescopes (small ones), and professional ones (larger and more expensive).


What advantages do reflecting telescopes have over refracting telescope?

One advantage of reflecting telescopes is that the mirrors can be very big. Large mirrors allow reflecting telescopes to gather more light than refracting telescopes do. Another advantage is that curved mirrors are polished on their curved side, which prevents light from entering the glass. Thus any flaws in the glass do not affect the light. A third advantage is that mirrors can focus all colors of light to the same focal point. Therefore, reflecting telescopes allow all colors of light from an object to be seen in focus at the same time.


What advantages do reflecting telescope have over refracting telescope?

One advantage of reflecting telescopes is that the mirrors can be very big. Large mirrors allow reflecting telescopes to gather more light than refracting telescopes do. Another advantage is that curved mirrors are polished on their curved side, which prevents light from entering the glass. Thus any flaws in the glass do not affect the light. A third advantage is that mirrors can focus all colors of light to the same focal point. Therefore, reflecting telescopes allow all colors of light from an object to be seen in focus at the same time.


What is the main purpose of reflecting and refracting telescopes?

Taking molecules away from other microorganisms and seeing what it looks like without the molecules.


Why are most large telescopes reflecting telescopes?

They are refracting telescopes(:Large refracting telescopes are no longer built because there were too many problems with them. There was color distortion, light pollution, and when the object hits the focal point it turns upside down. Then you don't see the object for what it really is, you see it upside down and weird-ed out. They are to complicated and scientists believed they should just stick with the simple, small, original refracting telescopes!!!!-Meghan Betts (8th grader)


What telescopes is the largest reflecting refracting x-ray or the very large array?

It's difficult to understand the question, but WikiAnswers doesn't do well with multiple choice questions. In general, refracting telescopes are smaller than reflecting telescopes; a refractor has the light going straight through the tube, and structural considerations force limits on its size. In a reflecting telescope, the light path is folded back on itself, and reflecting mirrors reflect more light than thick lenses can pass through. But the largest current reflecting telescope is perhaps 300 inches in diameter, although larger ones are planned. By contrast, the Very Large Array of radio telescopes is ACRES in total size, and there is no theoretical limit in how large "it" could be - because "it" is actually "they". Dozens, potentially hundreds of radio telescopes can add their size together to develop a more sensitive and more precise instrument.