What is the typical orientation of the image produced by a Newtonian reflector compared to a refractor?

Answer

The typical Newtonian design presents the image upside down to the viewer.

A key mechanical difference in how Newtonian reflectors process light results in a distinct visual output compared to refractors. In a standard Newtonian reflector, the light path is folded by a secondary mirror before exiting toward the eyepiece, causing the final image presented to the observer to be inverted, or upside down. Refractors, conversely, generally produce an upright image, although they may exhibit lateral reversal depending on the specific eyepiece used. This inversion in Newtonian designs is a notable characteristic, though it is usually addressed by the orientation of the finder scope, but it remains a difference in the view provided by the main optical path.

$What is the typical orientation of the image produced by a Newtonian reflector compared to a refractor?$

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