NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Refractor

A refracting or refractor telescope is a type of optical telescope which refracts light at each end using lenses. This refraction causes parallel light rays to converge at a focal point; while those which were not parallel converge upon a focal plane. This can enable a user to view a distant object as if it were brighter, clearer, and/or larger. These are similar to microscopes. The monocular is a type of refractor. A typical refractor has two lenses, an objective lens and an eyepiece lens. The objective lens has two pieces of glass (with different densities), "crown" and "flint glass". Each side of each piece is ground and polished, and then the two pieces are glued together. The curvatures are designed to cancel chromatic and spherical aberration.

Technical difficulties

While initially the most common type of telescope, these are today used primarily by amateur astronomers, and have been supplanted in professional research work by reflecting telescopes. However, some relatively small instruments with 100-150mm objective lenses regularly produce astrophotography that rivals images created by professionals as recently as 20 years ago using what were then the largest telescopes on Earth.

Refractors are criticized for their relatively high-degree of chromatic and spherical aberration. There is also the problem of lens sagging, a result of gravity affecting glass. There is a further problem of mis-refraction; caused by air bubbles trapped within the lenses. In addition, glass is opaque to certain wavelengths, and even visible light is dimmed when it passes through glass. Many of these problems are avoided by using reflecting telescopes.

Notable Refracting Telescopes

Illumination apparatus for ophthalmic refractors - Patent 5281984 (4942 words)
	The refractor of claim 1 in which said light guide first transparent output is configured as a Fresnel lens of circular peripheral extent substantially encircling said cylinder axis scale; and said second transparent output is configured as a Fresnel lens configured to illuminate said cylinder power readout.
	The refractor of claim 8 in which said light guide includes an integrally formed thin portion extending outwardly from said inwardly extending cavity portion to a third transparent output positioned in adjacency with said spherical power readout and configured to transmit light thereto propagated from said light source.
	Refractors typically are fashioned comprising right and left batteries, each having an eye position for the patient before which any of a broad variety of disk-mounted testing lenses may be positioned.

spacegazer - Refractors (456 words)
	Refractors are very robust in the sense that they do not normally require adjustment of the optics in order to put them back into alignment.
	Achromatic and apochromatics lenses are quite expensive to produce, and refractors are therefore the most expensive type of telescope in relation to their aperture.
	Refractors are the most robust telescopes, very easy to use, and therefore very suitable for novice astronomers.

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Notable Refracting Telescopes

See also