Reflecting: They use a mirror to gather light. Then, with a secondary mirror at a 45-degree angle, they direct the light to the eyepiece.
Dioptric: They use a lens that refracts light and focuses it onto a second lens called the eyepiece, which acts as a magnifier.
Catadioptric: They use lenses and mirrors. Light passes through a lens at the front which prepares it, and then, with the help of successive mirrors, the light reaches the eyepiece lens.
Altazimuth: The simplest option. It moves like our head, up-down and left-right. It is ideal for quick tours of the stars or nature, as it is easy and intuitive to use, just like a classic camera tripod.
Equator: Designed to "lock onto" stars, following their curved path across the sky. Although it requires a small adjustment at first, it allows you to track a star along an imaginary arc, moving only one lever without ever losing it.