How does the practical aperture limit of a high-end refractor compare to a reflector?
Answer
High-end refractors rarely exceed 6 or 7 inches, while large reflectors are common at 10 inches or larger.
The engineering difficulty and expense associated with supporting a heavier, larger lens place a practical ceiling on refractor apertures, resulting in high-end models typically staying under 7 inches, while reflectors commonly exceed that size.
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