Let's learn how to make your telescope by yourself. Make it easier!
A description and demonstration of how to ake a refrractive telescope. Its 2009 , International Year of Astronomy (IYA 2009); lets be galileos today.
Let's discover the universe together..
The first inhabitants of the world were compelled to accommodate their acts to the daily and annual alternations of light and darkness and of heat and cold. In history there are only a few distinguished men who made such a big contribution to astronomy, one of them was Galileo Galilei and his work with the telescope.
When we look at today's telescopes we mainly are working with either Galileo's telescope or Newton's telescope. These men made such a big impact in astronomy and telescopes, that we still use the same types of telescopes invented by these men!
Galileo or his full name Galileo Galilei was an Italian physicist and astronomer. Galileo was born in Pisa on 15 February 1564 and lived 78 years till 1642 when he passed away. In this time he made such advancement in astronomy, that we still know the name Galileo.
Galileo not only made advancements in astronomy, he is also noted with the invention of the thermometer! Galileo Galilei telescope was the first to make observations of the Moon and its crescents, the Sun, planets and stars.
Most of Galileo's time and energy was in mathematics and that is what he spent most of his time. In fact he became professor of mathematics at the University of Pisa in 1589. What made Galileo change from mathematics and physics to a big interest in astronomy was when he heard about the invention of the telescope in Holland in 1609.
From this date, Galileo immediately focused his attention on building his own telescope. Galileo Galilei telescope was put together and he immediately started viewing the heavens. He published his findings in Sidereus Nuncius. The Starry Messenger one year later in 1610. The book was such a sensation throughout Europe that it made Galileo and his telescope famous.
Galileo Galilei telescope and his findings did not always go so rosy however. At that time the common idea held by the church was that the universe revolved around the Earth! Copernicus had a new theory, the Copernican theory that said that the universe does not revolve around the Earth. Galileo held this belief as well, and it caused major outrage with the church. The church declared the view heretical and Galileo was instructed to abandon the Copernican theory.
In 1632 a book was published called Dialogue Concerning The Two Chief World Systems. In the book the Galileo Galilei telescope was used to make the evidence of how the view adopted by the church was wrong. It resulted to Galileo being sentenced to life imprisonment. The sentence was commuted to house arrest for the rest of his life.
Galileo was a great inventor and has given the world some of the greatest inventions. In a Galileo Galilei telescope, the light enters through a tube starting with a convex objective lens. The light focuses even more with a concave lens in the eyepiece, before meeting the eye with a magnified and upright image.
Galileo Galilei telescope is one which we can never forget. It was an invention which showed at his time a planet (Saturn), one which has ears! Within 2 years of the invention of Galileo's telescope, he gave us fairly accurate information on the orbits of 4 of Jupiter's satellites. Galileo also gave us great information on the Sunspots on the sun.
Article Source: EzineArticles
By: Koz Huseyin
The narrative on Galileo's telescope is well known and retold many times. It was in the summer of 1609 that Galileo heard of news that some Dutch opticians had come up with some kind of optical instrument that can amplify objects and made them closer. The news was by then very well-known when Galileo was told of it.
The Venetian government was alert to it and was considering buying over the instrument from a foreigner until Galileo's friend Paolo Sarpi advised them to delay purchasing as he was positive that Galileo could match or even better it.
Galileo was a great experimentalist and then he devoted himself to improve the instrument and he came up with a more powerful instrument that had greater than before magnifying power. This was done through his understanding of improved magnification through a weak convex lens and a strong concave lens. At that time no optician was able to manufacture a much higher magnification than three and he has to grind the lenses himself.
It was then in the autumn of 1609 and as curiosity taken over him, he aimed the refined instrument towards the sky. He was then astounded by the power of the new device. From the observation, he figured out that the earth was not the center of the universe. It was opposite to what the bible was about at that times and the church stated publicly that Galileo was wrong. Galileo disputed that the interpreter of the bible might be wrong but he was accused of deviation. Though he was found innocent, he was banned from spreading the Copernican belief system.
Copernican belief system was the set of guidelines that Earth is not the center of the universe but revolve round the sun. Galileo went on to apply his knowledge of the refined instrument to other areas in particular the study on Jupiter and the ocean's tides. He persisted with the Copernican belief system even though he was not allowed to perpetuate. As a result he was placed on house arrest until his death.
It was from there that he unearthed even more sightings. The spots on the surface of the sun, rings that surround Saturn and the number of phases that Venus goes through were a result of his observations. All these were published in "The Starry Messenger" in 1610. That caused quite a stir back then just to imagine that the earth was round and not flat as thought earlier.
Galileo was the early contributor to the refined, contemporary telescope that we known today. Without his inquisitiveness and observations, our understanding and knowledge of the modern universe will not be as complete.
By: By Jhye Jhyiong
Article Source: EzineArticles
This video is about how to make your telescope. It's using home items. Pretty cool!
But it just basic..
Maybe you can make it for your family or want to know more about telescope..
Watch it!
Tag: homemade, telescope, homemade telescope
Astronomy or telescope binoculars are quite different than those used for, say bird watching. There is not a "best" pair of binoculars, such as those rated by reviewers. But it is very important that you choose the best pair of binoculars for your specific needs. Binoculars automatically provide you with right-side-up representations as well as providing you with a wider field of scrutiny.
Aperture
When considering a pair of astronomy binoculars you should first understand aperture. It deals with the sizes of the front part of the lens on the binoculars. The bigger the lens, the more light will be collected, and since many astronomical subjects are murky, increased light will allow you to see them much better. You can tell what the aperture is when looking at binoculars since the numbers printed on the binoculars tell you exactly the aperture size.
Thus, when you see a pair of binoculars that proclaims that they are 7X50's means they have a 50mm size aperture. 25X100 size for handheld telescope binoculars would be more than ideal! Any binoculars larger than 25X100 will require a tripod, as they would be too cumbersome to be handheld. Aperture is also referred to as the objective lens diameter and is always the last number printed on the binoculars themselves.
Magnification
The first number printed on the binoculars tells you the magnification. For stargazing you should look for binoculars showing at least 7 times, but no more than 10 times, or again you'll need a tripod for ease of handling.
Exit Pupil
This refers to the width of the light beam that leaves or exits the eyepiece. Figuring this number is quite simple as you simply divide the aperture number by the magnification number. Hence, a 10X50 pair of binoculars would have an exit pupil size of 5 mm.
Because the human eye's average pupil size at night, which is when you'll be using them, is over 7mm, in order for your telescope binoculars to be comfortable when using them you should look for at least a 7mm exit pupil.
Prisms
Binoculars use prisms inside them to make the objects being viewed right side up. There are two different kinds available-roof and Porro. Roof prisms are more compact and may exhibit dimmer images. They are also more expensive. Porro prisms, on the other hand, use differently shaped prisms, are lower priced, but tend to be heavier and bulkier. For telescope binoculars weight and bulk need to be traded off for brighter images.
Conclusion
This article recommended that you purchase binoculars that you find comfortable to use for what you intend to use them for.
After you purchase your telescope binoculars enjoy not only the moon and its lunar mountains, but multiple stars, asteroids, comets, open star clusters, and wide binocular star fields.
By Arnold J. Tadjman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Tag: telescope, binocular, stargazing, astronomy, magnification, prism, aperture, moon, telescope binocular, open star cluster
Are you looking to do backyard astronomy? You maybe stuck in a problem. No telescope and you still want to do backyard astronomy! In this article, you will discover some astronomy experiments you can do without the need for a telescope.
The first thing we see, when we look up at the sky, is lots of shinning points of light. These points of light seem to make up patterns, and these patterns are what we call constellations.
There are 88 in total that are visible from the Earth. These constellations have such an old meaning to us, that we still have birth signs. Your birth sign is one of those 88 constellations.
Constellations are made up of a group of objects in space. This makes looking at constellations, one of the greatest things to do. Imagine, knowing where these 88 constellations are. You could literally take any rough coordinate for a star or object in the sky, and manage to navigate to it, much more easily. And all this because you learned about the constellations.
Many myths have been conjured up with the constellations. From the great hunter, to the story of the scorpion, looking at the constellations teaches us much more than simply knowing the layout of space!
Many early astronomers started with no tools at all, apart from using what they had - their own kind of telescope, their eyes! And still managed to invest a lifetime into astronomy.
A telescope still does help, and once you do have a telescope, you likely will prefer the telescope than simply looking up at constellations. However, there is always that fascination with constellations.
A group of astronomers all put in their life research into space to find those constellations which many today take for granted. These constellations have helped countless navigators at sea, be able to do their voyages.
Now you can partake in the same essence, by learning about the constellations. There is a lot to learn about the constellations. Such information that can be learned from constellations and backyard astronomy is the shape, the size, the amount of stars or objects that make up the constellation.
You could also look at when these objects appear in the sky, and when they are no longer there. It is easy to look up this information in a book, but when you start doing proper backyard astronomy, and find out these truths for yourself. Suddenly you have a strong sense of satisfaction, as you now know that you are really taking part in science.
A good idea is to keep a notebook. Draw pictures, write down your findings. Over time this can be a great way to see your progress in backyard astronomy.
Here are some telescope resources that can help you find and buy a telescope:
* backyard astronomy
By Koz Huseyin
Article Source: EzineArticles
Telescopes are instruments used to observe distant objects. It makes distant object appear nearer and magnified.
Out of several hundred models of telescopes it is really a challenge to buy one that suits the need of a buyer. Here are few points that help one choose the one best fulfills the usage of a buyer.
There are two basic types of Telescopes:
1. The Reflector Telescope: This type is best suitable for sky based observation as it does not give distorted images. If you are an amateur astronomer choose a reflector telescope. Different price ranges are available and the costlier models allow us to observe the extreme reaches of the universe.
2. The Refractor Telescope: This type shows some distortion due to different colour bending into the lens (as two lenses concave and convex are used). Going in for costlier ones will put off this complaint. Due to this distortion reason it is best for earth based viewing. And if you are traveler who move around with your backpacks and telescope then choose a smaller, handy light weight one that is compact to carry.
In spite of any brand, model or pricing it is always important that you go in for a wider objective telescope for a clearer and better magnification. As in optics how much high you pay high results and features will be offered to you.
The other few guidelines of maintenance:
• Get maximum number of accessories that come along with a telescope.
• Learn all the features available in a model and try using them.
• Always keep the telescope in its case safely.
• Dust and clean the telescope after every use.
• Do not ever try to service or repair it on your own and always seek for a well trained technician's help for a good maintenance of your telescope.
• Always handle them with good care as rough handling will cause misalignment of the lens which leads to aberration of the images.
By Victor Thomas
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Thomas
Telescopes can help you to see far off objects. The distance is determined by the type and quality of your telescope. Of course, a toy store telescope will not be able to put into view the same objects as the Hubble Telescope can. Somewhere in the middle is a modest, but good-working telescope for the amateur astronomer.
To see how this viewing tool works, you must understand something about the eye, particularly about the retina. There will always be things you cannot see from far away. You must ask yourself why you cannot see them. There are two main reasons.
One reason you have trouble seeing objects that are far from you is that not enough light from the object reaches your eye. When the item is shrouded in darkness, it is hard to make out. The other reason is that the object takes up so little space on your retina that it is impossible to get a clear picture of it.
Therefore, the goals of the telescope are to focus more light on the retina, and to make a larger image of the object strike the retina. That way, it will stand out in a way that will let you examine the item clearly. Two main types of telescopes have been made to accomplish these purposes.
The refractor telescope is one type, and it uses an objective lens. The other type is a reflector telescope, which uses a primary mirror. In either case, the lens or mirror brings together plenty of light from the faraway object you are trying to study. It further focuses that light and the image it creates into a sharp point.
That is just one part of the process. If that was all that the telescope did, you would not be able to see anything more than a piercing stream of light. However, an eyepiece lens will solve this problem by magnifying this point of light. It will then be spread out over a much larger portion of the retina than it originally had been. This is how the image goes from being difficult to spot to seeming big enough to study easily.
There are a couple of properties that a telescope has that can help you see into the distance. The aperture is one. This is the diameter of the lens or mirror. A lens or mirror with a larger aperture is likely to gather more light and give you a brighter, clearer image.
Magnification allows the telescope to take the focused image and enlarge it. You can use different eyepieces on any telescope to get more or less powerful magnification. This gives you the freedom to change your telescope to suit your needs. At the same time, it does not affect the basic usefulness of your telescope.
By knowing how a telescope works, you can be aware of what parts might need to be replaced on your telescope if the time comes. You can also make it a part of your study to learn the wonders of man's explorations of the night sky.
Gregg Hall is an author living with his 18 year old son in Jensen Beach, Florida. Find more about astronomy as well as telescopes at here.
By Gregg Hall
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gregg_Hall
Telescopes are instruments used for viewing the objects at a distance. They are mainly used for viewing the astronomical objects. They find application in non-astronomical areas also. The working is with the help of two lenses. These lenses will work in a co-ordinate manner to give the exact image in a magnified form. There are different types of telescopes greatly used for varied purposes.
These telescopes vary in the structure and also the working. The basic types of telescopes that are available is the optical telescope and the radio telescope. There are still different types like, the Galileo telescope and the Hubble telescope.
Hubble telescope is quite a familiar term. It is used to orbit round the earth. The telescope is used to get a more clear view of the external atmosphere of the earth.
This gives images that are not blurred. This makes it quite unique among the other types of telescopes. Because of this they have an important place in the astronomical area. The telescope has been serving the humanity with the clear images for a long time.
The Hubble telescope photographs have proved to be very useful to prove the mysteries that existed in the field of astronomy. It helped to prove many unsolved issues in the solar system. The pictures taken by the Hubble telescope was not that clear in the earlier stages. Now it has become clearer with the advent of the technology.
The distances between the stars were become more accurate after the Hubble started sending the pictures. The estimated calculation was replaced with a more proven data. The galaxies that were farther were viewed in a closer view with the help of the pictures from Hubble telescope.
The pictures taken by the telescope is first stored in an archive. Later it is being transmitted to the earth. This will help the users to use it in a clearer manner. The transmitted images are clearer and free of any issues. This can get a vivid picture of what all are happening in the world beyond the reach of human eyes.
The use of the telescope is open to anyone. There will be a ratio in the time available to the users. This can vary in a range also. There are no restrictions based on any barriers to use the telescope. This will help all types of users to view the astronomical objects at any time. The use is very simple and there will be instructions that can help a novice user to handle the vision properly.
The Hubble telescope finds great use in the scientific applications. They helped in proving various unsolved truths of the astronomy in a more reliable manner. The pictures are clearer and brighter than any other telescopes in the earth. There is no scattering of the light and there is no blurred image produced.
By Steve Hill
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Hill
Buying a telescope is a daunting task for a newcomer. It all depends on your astronomy goals and careers. There is no perfect one which suits all observers in all conditions. You have to look for the features you want in your telescope and select the best one's according to your requirement.
Selecting the proper type
• The refractor type telescopes best suit for watching moon and major planets. Refractor telescopes are long & thin, and known for their sharp, detailed and contrasty images. They collect light through multi-element lenses. If you are just a starter then a small, quality achromatic refractor of 60 to 90 mm aperture would be a good one. The best thing about a refractor telescope is that they are inexpensive, portable and almost maintenance free. A refractor telescope is also useful when you will be mostly observing from city or the surrounding areas where the night skies are lightly polluted.
• Reflector telescopes are also known as Newtonian telescopes. They are good for planetary as well as deep-sky viewing. However Newtonian telescopes are more fragile and need more maintenance than others. These telescopes collect light with a curved, concave mirror and with the help of their large apertures, they show fine,
highly-resolved images. The reflector scopes are not suitable for terrestrial viewing because they produce an upside-down image.
• Catadioptrics use both lenses and mirrors to collect and focus the incoming light. They are also called compound telescopes. Catadioptrics scopes are considered the most versatile telescopes and gives great all-around performance. They use a large aperture in very compact tubes. They show magnificent images of the moon, planets and faint deep-sky objects, when viewed in dark skies away from urban areas. These scopes are best suited for astrophotography. Compared to other two, these scopes have a wide range of accessories available. They can be entirely computer controlled.
Factors affecting the performance of a telescope
• Aperture: Telescopes collect light from distant objects and focus it to produce images. The light collecting capacity of a telescope is the most important feature. It is the aperture of scope (diameter of mirror or lens) that is responsible for gathering light. Larger the aperture, the more light gathered, the more you'll see.
• Telescope Mounts: There are three basic mounts for telescopes altazimuth, Dobsonian, or equatorial. Altazimuth is the simplest type of mount, providing up-down, left-right motions. It is mainly recommended for terrestrial viewing and casual stargazing. The Dobsonian mount was basically designed for easy maneuvering of large reflectors of more than six inches. It is a boxy altaz-type mount sitting close to the ground. Equatorial mounts are designed for the purpose of astronomical viewing. These mounts are more expensive and complicated than the altazimuth mounts. With the help of these type of mounts users can track or follow the motion of celestial objects through the sky with a single manual hand control.
• Magnification: Magnification should never top the priority for buying a telescope. The quality if image degrades with magnification. Practically 300X is maximum magnification for good quality images. Telescope's magnification is also known as its power and it is adjusted by changing eyepieces. Ideally there should have been three eyepieces for the magnification of a scope: one low, one medium and one high. Lower powers of 30 - 50X are recommended for observing galaxies, star clusters and nebulae as they are spread over a wide area of sky. For observing the rings of Saturn, Jupiter, studying craters and valleys of the Moon's surface medium power of 80 - 100X are advised. Higher powers of 150 - 200X allow the astronomers to observe mountain peaks and fine lunar detail, the surface features of Mars.
By Mike Kirsten
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Kirsten
The Vivitar 50x 100x Refractor Telescope makes a great companion at sporting events, under the night sky, or on a bird watching trek. This article will talk about the MPN, key features and some miscellaneous data.
The MPN (manufacturer's part number) is explained by first talking about what a part number is exactly. A part number is a unique identifier of a part used in a particular industry. Its purpose is to simplify referencing to that part. A part number unambiguously defines a part within a single manufacturer. This unambiguous definition is called the MPN. The Vivitar 50x 100x refractor telescope's MPN is 1607225.
The Vivitar 50x 100x refractor telescope's key features are the finderscope (optical), max useful magnification (x 100) and optical design (refractor).
The Vivitar telescope's finderscope is a small auxiliary telescope mounted atop the main astronomical telescope and pointed in the same direction. The finderscope usually has a much smaller magnification than the main telescope can provide and therefore can see more of the sky. This helps in locating the desired astronomical object in the night sky. Some finderscopes have cross hairs to mark exactly where the main telescope is looking. The vivitar's finderscope is optical vs digital with a 3x magnification.
The Vivitar telescope's max useful magnification is x100. What this actually means is far too complicated for this article but you can Google "What does "magnification" actually mean?" to find out more.
The Vivitar 50x 100x telescope's optical design is refractor. A refracting or refractor telescope is a dioptric telescope that uses a lens as its objective to form an image. The refracting telescope design was originally used in spy glasses and astronomical telescopes but is also used in other devices such as binoculars and long or telephoto camera lenses.
If you are interested in getting more info on the Vivitar telescopes, such as pictures, just click on vivitar telescope now.
By Olan Butler
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Olan_Butler
Tips for Finding the Right Astronomy Telescope for You
Children and adults everywhere find the night sky fascinating and love to make wishes on the stars they see. As children get older, they begin to learn about what is in the night sky and many develop an interest in astronomy.
Astronomy is a word from the Greek language. Astro, the first part of the word, comes from the Greek word for the star shape and also refers to outer space. The last part of the word, onomy, is Greek for "the study of". So from the original Greek, astronomy means study of the star or outer space.
Novices and experienced astronomers need one main tool to learn about and enjoy the night sky: an astronomy telescope. There are many different kinds of astronomy telescopes. You need to choose carefully and consider some important aspects of the telescope, such as the size of the lens and the sturdiness of the telescope stand, when you are looking to buy your first telescope.
The Importance of the Lens Diameter
Certain aspects of your new astronomy telescope will either make it enjoyable or leave you frustrated. Lens diameter is one of these aspects. Forget about magnification; the size of the lens of the telescope is more important. The larger the lens diameter, the more light it lets into the telescope and that affects how well you can see the things you are trying to look at in the night sky. The brighter the light, the clearer the images will be.
Choosing a Good Astronomy Telescope Stand
You will want to give a lot of thought to the type of stand you mount your new telescope to so that you get the most efficient use out of your telescope. A good tripod stand is the way to go. You want to choose a stand that will keep the telescope still so you get the best views of the night sky. Any movement at all will make the images you see blurry and cause you frustration.
Where and How to Shop for an Astronomy Telescope
You need to find out what your options are and know what the different telescopes offer before choosing one. One of the easiest ways to gather information about telescopes is by looking online. You should try and find out what the features are that are offered on each kind of telescope, how much they cost and what reviewers think about the different brands of telescopes.
One way to choose a good astronomy telescope is to try some of your potential telescopes out. If there is an astronomy club in your local area, you might be able to join and meet people who share your hobby. Then, you can try a variety of different telescopes to see which ones work for you.
You can also get a lot of useful information to help you choose an astronomy telescope by talking to people who are in astronomy. Your friends and family members who have astronomy telescopes can tell you what they like and dislike about theirs.
If you have friends or family involved in astronomy, you might ask them to let you know when they are replacing their telescopes so you can possibly buy their old one from them.
If you are looking to take your astronomy to the next level and learn more about how to buy a telescope drop by the TelescopesCafe.
By Bo Collins
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bo_Collins
When the Phoenicians were cooking on sand, they discovered glass around 3500 BC, but it took about 5,000 years more for glass to be moulded and shaped into lens to make the first telescope. A spectacle maker was probably associated to assemble the first telescope. Hans Lippershey (1570-1619) of Holland is credited with the invention, but there is an element of uncertainty lurking on the discoverer of Telescope. Lippershey though was the first to invent the new device now widely known as Telescope.
Historically, the telescope was introduced to astronomy in 1609 by the legendary Italian scientist Galileo Galilee, who became the first scientist to observe the craters of the moon.
Galileo went further to discover sunspots, the rings of Saturn and the four large moons of Jupiter through the telescope. Galileo's telescope was akin to a pair of opera glasses. In Galileo's telescope, an arrangement of glass lenses was used to magnify objects. This arrangement provided limited degree of magnification up to 30 times for Galileo and a highly narrow scope of view. Galileo was not able to see no more than a quarter of the moon's face without repositioning a part of telescope. In the year 1704, Sir Issac Newton propagated a new concept in telescope design whereby instead of glass lenses, a curved mirror was made use of to collect light and reflect it back to a point of focus.
This reflecting mirror functions like a light-collecting bucket, the larger the bucket, the more amount of light it can collect. The reflector telescope that Newton designed magnified objects millions of times far beyond what could ever be achieved with the help of a lens.
The notion of a segmented mirror dates back to the 19th century, but experiments with it had been fewer and insignificant. Many astronomers doubted its feasibility or in other words practicability of application. It was left for the Keck Telescope to take the technology forward and bring into existence this innovative form of design.
The Short Telescope, however, was designed by the Scottish Instrument maker James Short in the year 1740. An optician and astronomer, James Short invented the first ideal parabolic and elliptic, distortion less mirror perfect for reflecting telescopes.
Visit Telescope reviews exclusive telescope site for expert reviews on Tasco, Seben, Meade and Astronomical Telescopes. You can read unbaised reviews and find best selling telescopes in UK.
By Victor Thomas
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Victor_Thomas
Are you thinking of buying a telescope? Perhaps you are wondering - what are the differences between refracting telescopes and reflecting telescopes, and which are better refracting telescopes or reflecting telescopes. As you read this article, you will discover more about which is the best telescope to purchase.
There are many different telescopes for sale. These different telescopes, however, fall into mainly 2 categories. The first is refracting telescopes, which is the one that reminds us most of Galileo's telescope. The other is reflecting telescopes, which is commonly attributed with Isaac Newton.
Both refracting telescopes and reflecting telescopes have benefits, advantages and disadvantages. The key element here is that your needs are the main focus, and as you read this article, you will discover which type of telescope is best for your needs in backyard astronomy.
- Information About Refracting Telescopes
The design of the refracting telescope is also the type you find on binoculars, though in pairs! How a refracting telescope works, is that there is a lens at the front of the optical tube assembly.
Light enters the optical tube assembly, and goes right to the lenses at the back of the telescope. And finally meets the eye, where an image of Saturn, perhaps can be seen.
A refracting telescope is good, in that it is enclosed. The simple design, allows it to be maintenance free, for a number of years. The simple design also makes it easy to use, which is great as a telescope for children.
- Information About Reflecting Telescopes
How reflecting telescopes work, is that light enters the optical tube assembly, and goes straight to the back of the telescope, where it meets a big mirror. This mirror then reflects the light back up the tube.
Now, the light meets a secondary mirror, which is near to the top of the telescope. As the light bounces, it enters the lenses, and finally meets the eye.
Reflector telescopes are great in that they offer good price verses performance ratio. Reflecting telescopes can be much larger than refracting telescopes.
- Refracting Telescopes Compared With Reflecting Telescopes
Realize however, that the refracting telescopes are not cheap. Compared with reflecting telescopes they can be more expensive for similar performance.
For viewing the planets, buying a refracting telescope may be the best way to go, however, if you desire to see more of the heavens, there is nothing that compares, as with a reflecting telescopes. Though you may be able to get similar performance with refracting telescopes, you would need to invest a much bigger investment, which brings back the question - couldn't the investment in a reflecting telescope be much better?
Here are some telescope resources that can help you find and buy a telescope:
- Meade refracting telescopes
- Refractor telescopes for sale
- Buying astronomy binoculars
By Koz Huseyin
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Koz_Huseyin
A refracting telescope uses a lens as its objective to form an image. The refracting telescope was designed for used in a spy glass, but is also used in other devices such as binoculars and telephoto camera lenses.
There are two principles to a refracting telescope, an objective lens and an eyepiece. These two principles gather more light for the human eye and helps to focus and present it in a brighter, clearer, and magnified virtual image. A refractive telescope bends light to cause parallel light rays to converge at a focal point.
Galilean Telescopes are refracting telescopes. Galileo came up with the design in 1608 and uses a convex lens and a concave eyepiece lens. The Galilean telescope magnifies objects up to thirty times. The Galilean telescope was the first telescope to see the planet Jupiter and its moons.
The Keplerian Telescope, invent by Johannes Kepler in 1611 improves upon Galileo's design. The Keplerian Telescope uses a convex lens in opposition to Galileo's concave lens. This allows for a broader field of view and greater eye relief. However, the view is introverted.
An achromatic refractor is a refracting lens which was invented in 1733. The design over came the need for very long focal lengths and used two pieces of glass with different dispersion to limit the effects of chromatic and spherical aberration. Each side of each piece of glass is ground and polished, at which point the two pieces of glass are assembled together. Achromatic lenses bring two wavelengths together and focus them on the same plane.
Alex Sutton has worked in the telescopes profession for nearly 11 years. For more information please visit telescopes
By Alexander Sutton
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexander_Sutton
Telescopes are popular gifts for Christmas, birthdays or other occasions... but buyer beware! Many people live to regret their telescope purchasing decisions, either because they bought a cheap telescope that under performs, or because they paid far too much for a telescope they rarely use. But armed with the right advice, smart shoppers can buy a good quality telescope for just a few hundred dollars.
First, whatever you do, don't buy a telescope from a department store or drug store! The telescopes you'll find there, while cheap, are typically of very low quality. They're appropriate for a child in elementary school: If the child breaks it, you're out only a modest amount of money. But if you're buying for a teenager or an adult, buy from a store that specializes in telescopes, or buy online. Good telescope brand names include Antares, Orion, Celestron, and Meade.
While there are several types of telescopes, most beginners would do well to purchase what is called a "Dobsonian" telescope. Dobsonian telescopes (or "Dobs") are relatively low-cost, yet high-quality telescopes. Generally speaking, they do not have any high-tech, computerized gadgets on them. Yet their optics are just as good as the overwhelming majority of computerized telescopes that cost thousands of dollars. Once you gain some experience using a Dob -- and should you eventually decide to make astronomy into a serious hobby -- you might one day purchase a more expensive "Schmidt-Cassegrain" or "apochromatic refracting telescope." But start with a Dob!
Astronomers compare telescopes primarily by the diameter of their main ("primary") mirrors. This is referred to as the "aperture" of the telescope. You'll want to get a Dob with an aperture of either 6 inches (150 mm), 8 inches (203 mm), or 10 inches (254 mm).
If you can afford it, purchase either an 8 or 10 inch version: The larger the diameter of the mirror, the easier it is for you to see dim objects (like galaxies and nebulae) in the night sky. Prices range from roughly $230 USD for 6-inch apertures to $500 USD for 10-inch apertures. The telescope should come with two or three eyepieces: If it doesn't, shop somewhere else. You'll use the eyepieces to control the magnification of the telescope. For example, with one eyepiece in the telescope, you can see the entire surface of the Moon. But with another eyepiece, you can zoom in on a crater.
Also, consider purchasing the following accessories:
Nightwatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe -- a really good introductory book by author Terence Dickinson;
A subscription to Astronomy magazine -- a monthly publication with beautiful photos, a guide to the night sky, product reviews, and the latest astronomy news;
Some astronomy software -- such as Name A Star Live's Virtual Planetarium software;
A planisphere -- Use this simple, lightweight, handheld device to identify constellations and major stars in the night sky;
An inexpensive pair of binoculars -- These are good for helping you navigate around the night sky as you search for a galaxy, nebula, or star to observe through your telescope; and
A TELRAD -- Most telescopes come with a very small telescope, called a "finderscope," mounted on top of the main telescope. As the name implies, a finderscope helps you find the astronomical object you're looking for through your main telescope. But most astronomers prefer to use a TELRAD -- a battery-powered device that projects a red bullseye in the night sky. It's much easier to aim a telescope with a TELRAD than with a finderscope.
These tools will help you learn the constellations, and otherwise help you get started in astronomy. Also, consider joining a local astronomy club where you can gain experience using various types of telescopes, and get help learning the night sky.
Happy stargazing!
Richard Pickering is an astronomer for Name A Star Live, which lets you express your feelings in a romantic, meaningful way by 'naming a star' for a loved one. While no star-naming service can change the scientific designations of stars, only Name A Star Live makes it real by providing you: Virtual Planetarium astronomy software; an opportunity to view your star live using an online telescope; and the launch of your star name into space!
By Richard Pickering
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Pickering
A telescope can help us in looking at far-away objects of the infinite space out there in our universe. Hubble telescope is one such huge telescope that offers us a look at diverse parts of the universe aside from ours. Telescopes are essentially of the reflecting and refracting types and the magnification make far off objects noticeable.
Astronomy as a hobby is delightful as the discovery of the unknown always bewilder men. The collection of stars in our vast outer space is enough to enthrall a child and how a telescopes work will set off the imagination of any knowledge's seekers. Binocular is a good way to arouse the curiosity of a child who might one day be the next Galileo.
If you will like to graduate away from binocular, the factors to look out for in buying a telescope are cost, maintenance, storage space and portability. Try to achieve a balance between prices and the best telescope out there to get one that observes the furthest. Living in countryside offers the infinite vastness of the sky but those living in city area can fiddle with their telescope to ensure maximum view. As well as, a portable telescope can secure into a car to journey to a location that better utilize your telescope but make sure that you know how to assemble in the dark.
Store and cover the telescope in a location free from moisture and dust and proper storage and maintenance will extend the life of the telescope. Other accessories for instant the eyepiece and the mount are equally essential to your viewing pleasure, so choose one that you are at ease with.
Eyepieces come in diverse designs and lenses for our viewing pleasure so do not get more than two to three pieces. Get the right one and it will add to your hobby. Mount takes the weight of the telescope while you focus. The two diverse kind of mount are the Alt-Azimuth and the Equatorial. Choose wisely to add more joy to astronomy.
Learning how telescopes work and understanding the various kind of telescopes not only make astronomy fascinating besides just exploring the mystery of the vast universe. Telescopes add a third eye and magnify the mysterious unidentified aside from broadening our knowledge. The mysterious universe will open up if we can see and discover, and telescopes make available the apparatus to satisfy our everlasting search for answer to decipher the vast and infinite universe.
Jhye is an author of numerous websites and astronomy and how telescopes work fascinate him. Take a tour at http://www.viewtelescopes.com
By Jhye Jhyiong
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jhye_Jhyiong
