Which optical element primarily defines Refractor, Reflector, and Catadioptric telescope designs?

Answer

Lenses, Mirrors, and a combination of both, respectively

Telescopes organize themselves into three fundamental optical designs based on how they manipulate light. Refractor telescopes rely exclusively on lenses positioned at the front of the tube to bend incoming light rays to a focal point. Reflector telescopes fundamentally employ mirrors; specifically, a primary mirror collects light and bounces it toward a secondary mirror which directs it to the eyepiece. Catadioptric systems are hybrid designs that ingeniously combine both lenses (typically a corrector plate at the front) and mirrors to achieve their optical path, allowing for a significantly folded light path within a compact structure. This primary method of light manipulation—lenses, mirrors, or both—is what distinguishes these three categories.

Which optical element primarily defines Refractor, Reflector, and Catadioptric telescope designs?

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