Beginner SCTs are usually paired with a go-to mount, which make SCTs long focal lengths a breeze to find objects. Schmidt-Cassegrains are highly popular with both beginners and advanced amateur astronomers alike for their versatility, compact design, and great optics. Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes, also known as SCTs, are by far the most common type of catadioptric telescopes and for good reason. Other Cassegrain Telescopes exist as well, such as the Classical Cassegrain, the Corrected Dall Kirkham (CDK), the Riccardi Dall Kirkham (RiDK), Riccardi-Honders, Harmer-Wynne, and more, and are usually reserved for research purposes.īest for observers and imagers who want a highly versatile telescope.Please note that there are other modified variants of Dall Kirkham telescopes (see below), which are different in that they feature corrective optics for professional imaging with large sensor cameras. Dall Kirkham Telescopes are a more expensive telescope design best used for planetary viewing or imaging, and are often used for research.However, unlike SCTs, they do not pair well with reducers and therefore aren't nearly as versatile for other applications like deep sky imaging. Maksutov Cassegrain Telescopes make for excellent planetary viewing and imaging, and can provide even better views of the planets than SCTs due to slightly longer focal ratios.However, RCs are ill-advised for planetary images because their optical design lowers contrast dramatically. They are best used for long focal length deep sky imaging, which tends to lend well for research. Ritchey Chretién Telescopes are some of the most well-corrected telescopes consumers can buy, as their design allows for a flat field across a large image sensor.The SCT is a jack of all trades, with probably its biggest strong suit being planetary imaging. You can use them for observing and imaging solar system objects like the planets and the moon, as well as deep sky objects like galaxies and nebulae. When paired with other accessories like focal reducers or Barlow lenses, SCTs are some of the most versatile telescopes out there. Schmidt Cassegrain Telescopes are best used for just about any target.Generally speaking, Cassegrains are best used for observing and imaging targets at long focal lengths, but it depends on the type of Cassegrain: So really, the answer is that Cassegrains can be either a reflector or a catadioptric. Because of this, some Cassegrains like Schmidt-Cassegrains can be categorized as catadioptric telescopes. However, in some designs, there is a corrector plate/lens in the front or rear of the telescope. Example of a Cassegrain telescope design (Schmidt-Cassegrain) Which main category of telescopes do Cassegrains fall under?īecause Cassegrain telescopes use two mirrors to bring an image into focus, many Cassegrain designs like Ritchey-Chretiéns are reflector telescopes.

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