Why does the Newtonian reflector often provide the largest aperture relative to its cost compared to other designs?

Answer

Manufacturing large mirrors is inherently less costly than manufacturing equally large, flawless lenses.

The Newtonian reflector, especially when paired with a simple Dobsonian mount, is renowned for offering superior light-gathering capability per dollar spent. This cost-effectiveness stems directly from the manufacturing process of the primary optical component. Creating a large, flawless lens required for a large-aperture refractor is a substantially more expensive and difficult process than manufacturing a large concave mirror for a reflector. Since the primary mirror in a reflector dictates light gathering ability, the lower cost associated with producing larger mirrors means that a reflecting telescope can achieve a much greater aperture size for the same financial outlay compared to a refractor designed to correct for chromatic aberration.

Why does the Newtonian reflector often provide the largest aperture relative to its cost compared to other designs?

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