Reflector telescopes are one of the two main types of reflecting telescopes. The primary difference is in the housing of the reflecting mirror. Reflector telescopes use mirrors that have been cut to a specific size. They are made of glass, aluminum, or other similar materials, and their reflectors are mounted on the inside of the mirror. In some instances, reflectors are attached to the outside of the mirror on hinges. Learn more about the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies here.
There are a number of advantages to having a reflector telescope. For one thing, reflecting telescopes gather light from starlight that would otherwise be lost at the edge of an image. For another, they allow a bright source of light to be bright enough for people to see. In the case of a reflecting telescope, the light that is gathered by the mirror is then reflected back into the telescope and sent out as a light wave through the tube. This process allows light to be reflected many times over, allowing astronomers to observe many different stars at once.
Reflectors are also useful in other ways, too. They can be used to create a pattern in the sky. The "smoke ring" is a popular example of a reflector creating this effect. A reflector can also be used to focus a light so that it appears closer or further away from its origin.
The reflector telescope are most often used in research telescopes. Because they focus light in such a way, they are able to collect more light and place it in a focused direction. For this reason, they are often used in research operations to study many stars at once. Astronomers also use reflectors in order to place telescopes in a certain direction so that they can point more closely towards a star for scientific measurements. This technique is sometimes referred to as R.L. Gentry (GL).
Reflectors can either have a single primary mirror or two mirrors. When a reflecting telescope has a single primary mirror, the light travels in a straight path through the primary mirror. If there are multiple mirrors, then some of the light will be reflected and some will pass through the secondary mirror. Through a combination of primary and secondary mirrors, a telescope will focus light in a precise way.
Reflectors are available in many sizes and designs. Some reflectors focus the light that comes through their primary mirrors in a focused, parallel fashion. Others reflect light in a radial fashion. Still others combine both techniques to give a circular field of view.