how many years of service one can expect?

[XPecto]

Hi, i am a beginner in astronomy and it's my fist Post.

I am very glad to be here. i am about to purchase a telescope, it probably will be a reflector.

I was wondering how many years of service one would expect from

1. Refractors

2. Reflectors

3. Catadioptrics.

Thank you.

[Doc]

Forever if you look after them.

[Bizibilder]

There are many in use today that are well over 100years old! You may need to recoat mirrors every decade or so if they have older type coatings but the modern ones should last quite a bit longer - it all depends on the "nasties" in your bit of the atmosphere.

[umadog]

As others have said, optics should last and last if looked after. In fact, the optics will almost certainly outlast the electronics and motors. This is something to keep in mind if buying a scope that can't be operated without the built-in motors. I think this is mainly the case for alt/az SCTs.

[Ad Astra]

Apart from very old glass developing 'crazing' or hairline surface cracks, I've never heard of a scope "wearing out" from use. I've seem scopes abused to death, dropped, scratched up, even left to rot in damp and / or dusty environs.

That said, I am restoring a 1950's 8" Cave Astrola reflector that is just gorgeous - and the drive motor still works fine.

Dan

[Dave-Ryan]

As others have said, optics should last and last if looked after. In fact, the optics will almost certainly outlast the electronics and motors. This is something to keep in mind if buying a scope that can't be operated without the built-in motors. I think this is mainly the case for alt/az SCTs.

Alt/az SCT's can be operated without the electronics.

I have a Meade LX200gps and this has manual adjusters for both axis. But even without these you would just need to unlock the clamps, move them by hand, and lock the clamps again.

[Si W]

If looked after a life time

[ollypenrice]

Electronics a lot less than glass! But I use kit very hard in my job as an astronomy provider and really only the software ever gives much trouble.

Olly

[lookhigh]

Electronics, bearings, gears and motors are the weakest link here. proper care and all should last a long time.

[XPecto]

I had doubts about reflectors that they might get too smudgy within 5-6 years.

i was hoping for a scope to give 8-10 years of service, but who would have guessed you can actually restore more than 100 year old reflector by re-coating.

Thanks a lot for your help.

[umadog]

Yes, some can but not all of them. They don't all have clutches on both axes.

[Nexus 6]

Electronics, bearings, gears and motors are the weakest link here. proper care and all should last a long time.

totally agree, its a bit similar to owning an old VCR, how many of use owned one? thay did need some looking after, moving mechanical parts seemed especially prone to breakdown

[Manok101]

The Orion xtg Dobs are moveable without the electronics.

[brianb]

I had doubts about reflectors that they might get too smudgy within 5-6 years.

Not with modern coatings, you should get 20 years + from the coatings, in any case recoating is a nuisance rather than a major expense.

The more expensive scopes (irrespective of type) tend to be better built than the cheaper ones and will last longer ... apart from electronics, the weak parts are wearing out of threads in the bits where they get bolted together etc. But in practise even cheap scopes tend to last until you drop them.