Astronomy is one of the most important hobbies that people of different ages can be interested in. If you love Stars, Planets, or Galaxies and if you want to know more information about them then you have to purchase a Telescope.
By use of telescopes, one can look at objects in space though he may not look at them at night with human eyes. But it can be confusing, especially given the fact that various types of telescopes are available on the market today. Here is a list of guidelines, which will be discussed in this article helpful for choosing the right telescope.
What to Consider When Choosing a Telescope
- Aperture: The aperture is the diameter of the main lens or mirror in the telescope. An increase in the diameter of the aperture results in an enlarged aperture. This means that even more out-of-focus objects in the heavenly dome will come into sight.
- Focal length: It may be defined as the distance from the lens or mirror to the center of the lens system specified as the principal focus or the focal length. Hence it can be noted that the larger the telescope focal power the larger the image magnification power captured.
- Mount type: The mount refers to the component of the type that holds the tube and allows the telescope to be rotated on different planes of movement. Mounts come in three varieties: there are two methods of self-tracking – the equatorial and the altazimuth. Equatorial mounts are effective in tracking the motions of celestial objects in the sky and the altazimuth types are effective, particularly for beginners in astrological photography.
Types of Telescopes
- Refractors: This is light that is collected by refractors with the use of lenses. However, they are comparatively shorter and are lighter in use than most of the types of telescopes out there. However, refractors are often more expensive than reflectors, a common option found in many telescope stores.
- Reflectors: Reflectors utilize the mirror while the light is being collected. Telescopes of this type are usually even larger than refractors, and heavier, but they are cheaper usually. Reflectors also have advantages over all types of telescopes in observing faint objects in the sky.
- Catadioptric telescopes: Catadioptric telescopes use a mirror in the collection of light while the reflecting telescopes use lenses. They are normally non-illuminated and they are not as big as the reflectors though they might be more expensive. Catadioptric telescopes are also useful whenever observing objects in the sky that are faint like stars.
Best Telescope for Beginners
To get started, I would suggest trying a complete refractor or reflector telescope of 60-80mm aperture. Such telescopes are not very expensive and are easy to operate. What they will enable you to do is observe the Moon, some of the planets, and some bright stars and nebulae.
After a beginner’s understanding of how telescopes work, it could be fit to a bigger 100-150mm aperture telescope. According to reports, the largest telescope in the world will be the European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT). The ELT is destined to have a primary mirror measuring 39 meters in diameter. It’s also said that it will be 100 times more accurate than any ground-based telescope ever built. Such a telescope will let you view dimmer objects such as galaxies or further away nebulae in the sky.
Tips for Using a Telescope
- Find a dark location: Light pollution limits visibility, which causes difficulty in identifying objects in the sky. It is also recommended to select a place which would be as distant as possible from city lights.
- Give your eyes time to adjust: This takes approximately 20 minutes and during this time, you need to avoid using your cell phone and any other source of light as it will take time for your vision to adjust to the darkness.
- Start with low magnification: This will make it easier to identify objects in the sky since they act like a GPS.
- Use a star chart: A star chart can assist you in identifying objects that exist in the sky.
- Be patient: One has to learn how to use the telescope to take pictures, which may take time. Do not be discouraged if you do not see something immediately.
Conclusion
A telescope is a remarkable device that allows you to see parts of the Universe in remarkable detail, objects that are impossible to behold with the natural eye. When it comes to the aperture, focal length, mount type, and price, it shows that you can always select a suitable telescope depending on your preferences.
The first step for an individual is to observe celestial objects with a common telescopic model and gradually increase the number of such viewed objects. The more you get into it and the more active you are, the more part of the mysteries of the Universe you will unlock and the more you will be amazed at the Universe.