Click Here to Ask Our Astronomy Experts a Question!

Dobsonian vs Newtonian telescopes

Filed Under DVDs, Telescopes 

Dobsonian and Newtonian telescopes are both reflector telescopes, utilizing a mirror and not lenses to see into space.

The term Newtonian refers to the actual telescope itself; whereas, the term Dobsonian refers to the telescope with its altazimuth mount.

An Altazimuth mount, also known as an alt-azimuth mount, is a very simple dual-axis telescope mount.

Dobsonian telescopes use a mechanically operated alt-azimuth mount, meaning that to move the telescope when navigating through space you literally push it and pull it up and down and left and right until you are pointing at what you want to see. The telescope moves smoothly due to the mount’s bearings and stays in place due to the mount’s friction and there are no parts to breakdown or wear out over time.

The only real disadvantage with a Dobsonian telescope is that it is tricky to track objects as they move through space, making it an impractical type of telescope to use for astrophotography.

Click Here for Dobsonian Telescopes at Amazon.com!

Click Here for Newtonian Telescopes at Amazon.com!

Affordable Telescopes to Match Your Budget!

Comments

4 Responses to “Dobsonian vs Newtonian telescopes”

  1. Vic George on August 5th, 2009 7:33 am

    A Dobsonian telescope is a standard Newtonian reflector. The only difference between them, as mentioned above, is the mount. A typical Newtonian reflector can come on an alt-az mount or a heavier equatorial mount. Both of these types can be guided by drive mechanisms to enable the telescopes to follow the Earth’s rotation so that the object being observed remains stationary in the field-of-view.

    A Dobsonian telescope cannot be guidesd by a motor drive, which is why Dobsonians are much cheaper. The Dobsonian moves around on Teflon pads on a Formica base. The great benefit of Dobsonians over standard Newtonians is that for the money saved, a much larger aperture can be obtained, making them fantastic for wide-field work.

  2. Earl Coaston on December 23rd, 2009 12:48 pm

    God bless Mr.Dobson!

    He created Astronomy viewing for the masses.

  3. Mr. Telscope on February 9th, 2010 10:20 am

    Ahem, not to be a party pooper, but the telescope on the left is a NEWTONIAN reflector on a DOBSONIAN mount. The telescope on the right is a Schmidt-Cassegrain style telescope on an Equatorial mount. Article should be either discussing the difference of the mounts or the difference of the telescopes, because the words Dobsonian and Newtonian can ONLY be associated with the Meade LightBridge on the left. :mrgreen:

  4. Mike J on February 25th, 2010 1:18 pm

    Telescope on the right is NOT a Schmidt-Cassegrain. Eyepiece would not be at the top of the tube if it were.

Leave a Reply