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Asked by: Taira Arejola
science space and astronomyWhy is it called a refracting telescope?
Last Updated: 10th May, 2020
The name refractor is derived from the term refraction, which is the bending of light when it passes from one medium to another of different density--e.g., from air to glass. The glass is referred to as a lens and may have one or more components.
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People also ask, what is the purpose of a refracting telescope?
A refracting telescope (also called a refractor) is a type of optical telescope that uses a lens as its objective to form an image (also referred to a dioptric telescope). The refracting telescope design was originally used in spy glasses and astronomical telescopes but is also used for long focus camera lenses.
One may also ask, how is a refracting telescope made? A simple refracting telescope consists of two lenses, the Objective and the eyepiece. Basically the objective lens produces an image of a distant object at its focus and the eyepiece lens magnifies this image.
Considering this, why are refracting telescopes long?
One way uses multiple compensating lenses to counteract chromatic aberration. The other way uses a very long objective focal length (distance between the focus and the objective) to minimize the effect. This is why the early refracting telescopes were made very long.
Where are refracting telescopes located?
Yerkes Observatory, in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, houses the largest refracting telescope ever built for astronomical research, with a main lens that's 40 inches (1.02 meters) in diameter.