A naukri.com initiative
Earthsky
2w
112
Image Credit: Earthsky
Thinking of buying a telescope? Read these tips 1st
- Buying a telescope is one thing; learning where and how to aim it is another. The wise beginner who spends a year with some simple star charts or a planisphere – and maybe a pair of binoculars – before investing in a telescope.
- The pro for binoculars is their ease of use. Most of us have already held and pointed binoculars at distant objects. Try a pair of 7×35, 8×40 or 7×50 binoculars. Binoculars are particularly useful for deep-sky observing of star clusters, nebulae and galaxies.
- The con for binoculars is that, because they work so well for beginning deep-sky observing, stargazers enjoy them most when they have regular access to darker skies. Luckily, binoculars are a smaller financial investment than telescopes.
- Once you know some bright stars and constellations, you’re ready to consider buying a telescope. Telescopes are either refractors (using lenses) or reflectors (using mirrors). Both are excellent.
- If you want a refractor, consider a 3- to 4-inch (75- to 100-millimeter) long-tube achromatic refractor. Don’t confuse an achromatic refractor with an apochromatic.
- If you want a reflector, consider a 6- to 8-inch (150- to 200-millimeter) with a Dobsonian mounting. This type of mounting was popularized by John Dobson in the 1960s. It’s easy to use and more portable than classical equatorial mounts.
- A beginner should be concerned more with aperture (tube diameter) than with magnifying power. The primary purpose of an astronomical telescope is to collect light; its magnifying power is a by-product.
- Spend a year just observing, and not taking pictures. Learning to see fine detail on planets and the moon, and in the vast array of objects in the deep sky, is an art.
- Keep your expectations reasonable. A planet will not appear through your eyepiece as it looks on your wall poster! Also, forget about colorful nebulae.
- A telescope that is easy to set up and use is key to a solid beginning in amateur astronomy.
Read Full Article
6 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app