Have you ever wondered what is out there under the night sky of Australia? Astronomy has captivated humanity since we first looked up at the stars above us. There are a huge variety of affordable saxon telescopes available that can help you explore the cosmos in comfort and ease – but selecting the right model can prove intimidating for a novice. 

To understand how your telescope works, it may be best to go back to basics. There are three main designs of telescopes available – refractor, reflector, or catadioptric. Refractors have the lens up at the front of the tube, reflectors gather light using a mirror at the back of the tube, while catadioptric telescopes use a combination of both. 

Here is a brief breakdown of their differences:

  • Refractor – Refractor telescopes are what most people think of when they imagine a telescope. The lens is up front, and they are generally easy to maintain. However, they rapidly get much more expensive as you increase the available aperture.
     
  • Reflector – Reflectors instead use mirrors placed at the rear of the viewing tube to collect and focus light. A reflector based telescope will often be the least expensive, but are finicky and may require adjustment, manipulation, and maintenance after transport.
     
  • Catadioptric – Catadioptric telescopes use both lenses and mirrors at the same time. They are usually light weight and compact, but can be expensive and more difficult for new users to effectively operate.

The choice of telescope can be quite personal and it depends on a range of factors including purpose, budget and needs. Beginners may wish to start with a scope that is fuss-free and easy-to-use like the saxon DeepSky Dobsonian Telescopes. Advanced astronomers on the other hand, may need an apochromatic refractor like the saxon 120EQ5 ED Refractor Telescope to try a hand at astrophotography.

No matter your choice of scope, we hope you now have a better idea of how they operate. With a little bit of patience and practice, you’ll soon be exploring the night sky of Australia or beyond in no time at all. To find out more about our range of saxon telescopes, simply click here.