What Types of Mirrors Are Used in Telescopes?
Refracting and reflecting are the two main types of telescopes. Refracting telescopes use lenses to collect and focus the light from distant objects. Reflecting telescopes use mirrors to collect and focus this same light. Because of several advantages, astronomers more commonly use reflectors for the large telescopes in observatories. Many higher-quality amateur telescopes also use mirrors instead of lenses.
