Why do reflecting telescopes primarily avoid chromatic aberration?
Answer
Mirrors reflect all colors of light equally.
Reflecting telescopes utilize a curved mirror, the primary mirror, as the main light-gathering element. Unlike glass lenses, mirrors operate based on the principle of reflection, not refraction. Reflection is a physical process that does not separate light based on its color or wavelength; all visible colors of the spectrum reflect off the mirror surface at the same angle relative to the angle of incidence. Consequently, all colors are brought to a single, sharp focus point simultaneously, thus completely eliminating the chromatic aberration that plagues simple lens-based refractors.
Related Questions
How does doubling the aperture diameter affect a telescope's light-gathering power?What optical challenge is inherent to refracting telescopes using an objective lens?Why do reflecting telescopes primarily avoid chromatic aberration?What is the magnification achieved with an objective focal length of 2000 mm and an eyepiece focal length of 20 mm?What specific axis adjustment is required to track a celestial object using an aligned Equatorial Mount?What is often cited as a typical trade-off when choosing a reflector over a refractor telescope?What causes 'empty magnification' when using a telescope eyepiece?What optical combination defines a catadioptric or compound telescope system?What is the primary role of the small, low-magnification finderscope attached to the main telescope tube?What electronic component relies on external power sources like batteries or AC adapters in a modern telescope setup?