What type of telescope is a Newtonian telescope?

A Newtonian telescope is correctly identified as a type of reflective telescope that employs a parabolic mirror along with a flat secondary mirror. This design was developed by Sir Isaac Newton in the 17th century and is renowned for its ability to collect light effectively and deliver sharp images while minimizing chromatic aberrations, which are common in refractive telescopes.

In this design, the primary parabolic mirror gathers light and reflects it to a focal point, and the secondary flat mirror redirects the light to an eyepiece, allowing for easy observation of celestial objects. This construction distinguishes it from refractive telescopes, which depend solely on lenses to focus light, and from simpler optical devices that do not combine the mirror system to enhance observation quality.

The unique feature of the Newtonian telescope design makes it popular among amateur astronomers due to its relatively low cost and high performance compared to other types of telescopes.