Which type of telescope is good for stargazing optical or refracting?
Refractors and reflectors are both types of optical telescope and have strengths in different areas. Reflectors generally give the most bang for your buck and are available in larger sizes giving more light grab, but refractors have better contrast and generally the edge on resolution too. For planets and splitting double stars I would go for a reflector every time but for everything else a reflector usually wins on account of the larger aperture. In general beginners would usually be best going for a Newtonain reflector on either a Dobsonian or equatorial mount – the equatorial mount is more capable but also more expensive. A Newtonian reflector can be used on pretty much any class of object – a refractor will outperform it where contrast is the foremost requirement but the Newt can still be used to good effect.
