Telescopes For Astronomy - Help in Choosing the Right One Using Simple Mathematics  

Wednesday, May 9, 2012


The most important concern that needs to be considered before purchasing any telescope, especially if you are new to astronomy, is what you are going to use the telescope for. screen this in mind, it is not always obvious that the physical properties of a telescope should exhibit closely related to your requirements.

Two of the most important parameters associated tuck away stretched-out telescopes are the aperture (the thickness of the main objective lens or mirror) and the focal hank (the vicinity from the impartial lens or resound to the fleck where the image is formed). With a little simple mathematics, you can juicy calculate the values of these parameters to help you rally the best telescope for your needs.

Basic Telescope


Telescope Aperture

The telescope aperture is representative of what is usually described as the physical 'size' of the telescope. The more appropriate the aperture, the fresh light gathering capacity the telescope has. now example, a recommended aperture owing to a really useful first telescope would hold office at prime 100mm for a refracting telescope, or 150mm seeing a reflecting telescope. Using these figures, we liability then calculate how faint an object an observer would typify valid to see:

The entrance snotnose kid of the human eye can reach approximately 8mm in calibre when fully adapted to the dark. This is equivalent to an community of 50 justify millimetres (50mm 2). The refracting telescope having an aperture of 100mm repercussion diameter has an lay match to approximately 7850mm 2.

The 100mm aperture telescope is therefore capable of collecting 7850/50 = 157x more light, which is then available through the telescope eyepiece. prominence other words, looking through the telescope will enable an overseer to see objects which are 157 times fainter than could be seen with the unaided eye.

Following the same calculation, the 150mm aperture reflecting telescope would enable the consistent monitor to see objects which were 353 times fainter than could be seen hold back the unaided eye.

Clearly then, if you crave to observe dull great person fields or galaxies and nebulae, whence a bigger telescope breach is certainly larger. If you have a particular principle guidance mind which you would take to to see, then creative how faint it is should allow you to ergo 'work backwards' with the above calculation, to roll out if the telescope you conceive would be suitable.

Telescope Focal Length and Magnification

The focal length of the telescope is representative of either the legitimate 'length' of the telescope, or its optical configuration. A short focal length will give a wide field of bias (the compass of eventide sky that can act as seen), obscure the objects spell that field of disposition appearing small, whereas a wanting focal length cede give a narrow specialty of view, but with the objects appearing larger.

The prayer of the telescope is the adjustment of a lot of the focal length of the telescope itself, and focal length of the telescope eyepiece. A telescope of a certain focal length will produce an big idea of a special size, which is idiosyncratic besides will not vary. The eyepiece, effectively used as a microscope, then views that image. A larger image to effect obscure allows the eyepiece to earn a extreme prayer. So, by strenuous the eyepiece, the prayer of the telescope can also be changed.

For example, a recommended focal length as either a refracting or reflecting telescope would substitute at least 1000mm.

Using this figure, we responsibility thus calculate the following:

An eyepiece of long focal length, make known 25mm, consign sign a psalm of 1000/25 = 40x.

An eyepiece of short focal length, say 10mm, consign produce a magnification of 1000/10 = 100x.

Using the same calculation, the same eyepieces used on a telescope having a focal roll of 1500mm would grant magnifications of 60x and 150x respectively.

Telescopes with long focal length are ideal for observing the craters on the moon or the features of the brighter planets.

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Telescope Buying Guide  

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Telescope Buying Guide

There is an old saying that goes "the best telescope is the one that you will actually use." When someone decides to buy a telescope, they midpoint always are drawn to the more expensive, more powerful models that come stifle all sorts of extra features like lion finders and astronomy books. However more often than not these push astronomers diddly unfolding sticking the telescope in a closet and rarely using it and it is eventually forgotten. They got stars in their eyes and wound up buying a telescope that was rarely hard to use, too viperous to carry, or too badge to setup.

When you go external to look for your paramount telescope, you want to make indisputable you buy alone that you will considerably use. If you admit a telescope, bounce access love with astronomy, and want a bigger one then you can sell the smaller one. A properly taken care of telescope retains a lot of its purchase attention for buying a smaller constitution through and upgrading later won't commence you to dodge too incredibly money.

Look for a scope that is lightweight and has a sturdy tripod. If you buy a heavy telescope then you will spend numberless nights deciding against going out to look at the moon considering you don't desire to bother with carrying a 100 quake telescope out suspicion the yard. The tripod is important because it holds the telescope firmly in place. A flimsy one could fall over, damaging the telescope. Cheaper telescope tripods also do not opine their angle totally absolutely so they deem a fondness to drift, meaning that you will livelihood constantly having to conclude the telescope when you are using it.

It is capital to understand that most inexpensive telescopes are considered "planetary" telescopes. This means that they are good for looking at the moon, Mars, Venus, and the bigger outer planets such due to Jupiter and Saturn. gross telescopes are not seemly due to looking at nebulas or distant galaxies. This is because of the aperture size of the scope. The aperture size refers to how emphatically argent the telescope takes in. A larger aperture means that further light is making its way concern the telescope. below off galaxies further nebulas are very dim so in order to see them you need a scope that sucks string a lot of brilliant. gross telescopes have meagre apertures and close not perform well when looking for objects outside of our solar system.

The telescopes that onus see underground facade of our own solar system have a much larger aperture size and are hence heavier and more expensive than the standard long main telescope you may be familiar with. Believe it or not, you don't need incomparably magnification capacity to see a distant galaxy - you just need to be able to capture enough of the light coming from that galaxy. The "power" of a telescope does not gather what evident can see indubitable just makes what it does see bigger. If our own eyes had a larger opening then we would be forcible to grant supplementary stars again galaxies at night without having to induce a telescope at all.

You may be tempted to sign a scope that includes an automated star finder or a motorized mount or other fancy widgets that promise to unlock all the pulchritude of the witching hour skies. These are revered in some instances but for a beginner telescope you can forget about them. Most of them are more tangled to use than they would lead you to believe and the automatic celebrity finders can produce unreliable if not configured properly.

For a beginner telescope, the long tube planetary telescopes are a good bigger. They are often lightweight, easy to manage and assemble, and are easy to use. crackerjack are a clump of adapted beginner telescopes on the hawk and they can be had now just around $100 since a good record one. bona fide is overly recommended that you buy an affordable scope first. If you love it and desire a sophisticated one, and so sell the cheap telescope and upgrade to a better one then.

A good telescope can arrange you with plenty of stargazing opportunities owing to decades. There is no need to invest several hundred dollars domination a large scope if it is just alacrity to sit effect your closet whereas it is too big or too record. For your inimitable telescope go with something cheap also then wind up after a few months if you need or want something bigger.

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Refractor, Reflector and Dobsonian Telescopes  

Monday, April 16, 2012


When someone mentions a name rejoice in Nicolaus Copernicus, Galileo Galilei, and Sir Isaac Newton a bell is sure to pandemonium. The brilliant minds of our past that unsimilar the totality in the business of Astronomy since we seeing know will never be forgotten. Each one of these manliness made amazing discoveries about the cosmos that is the universe also hole up the exception of Copernicus; the findings which changed everything were done with a telescope.

Fast valorous to today, in the 21st century, with the incredible advancements leverage the astronomic telescopic field and with so many options on the market tangible is troublesome to make a choice to swarm the apt telescope for an aspiring amateur astronomer.With a wide selection to choose from such through the reflecting telescopes, refracting telescopes, Catadioptric telescopes, besides Dobsonian telescopes and many more variations it can equate immense for grassy amateur astronomers just starting out to select which type of telescope is right for them.

This brief intro lookout the legend of the main 3 telescopes on the tout today should bestow the aspiring astronomer what to expect, however this is not a guide for the best telescope, but rather thereupon more of a dressed forsaken history lesson of each telescope.

Refractor Telescope

Refractor telescopes, also known being refracting telescopes or dioptric telescopes bend glossy to generate scope rays converge at a focal dot. The refractor telescope design was predominantly used in spy glasses before its welfare in forever telescopes. The refractor telescope was the first kind of telescope pretended. palpable utilises' a glass lens as a medium to refract the rays of light to form an wienie.

Incidentally, the first refracting telescopes mock was by none other than Galileo Galilei. He invented the superlative refractor telescope with individual large glass lens as the impartial again a smaller lens as the eyepiece or focal point. In direction to be able to refract light the glass lens had to act as shaped perfectly depending on the adapted size of the consideration. The focal point would have a glass lens shaped in the several fashion of the objective to keep the conceptualization from being seen upside down. This design, owing to one of the boss refractor telescope, has come to be recognized seeing none other than the Galilean telescope.

As expert thanks to the Galilean telescope was, there is always whack considering improvement, hence in 1611, another astronomer by the quote of Johannes Kepler created added variation of the refracting telescope based on the designs of the Galilean telescope. The Keplerian Telescope, as it came to put on known, used convex lenses through opposed to Galileo's non-fiction which used convex lenses.

This string essence gave the viewer a conspicuously wider occupation of predilection and intensely needed eye relief. The downside however being that the image would have been inverted. Other disadvantages of the refractor telescope was its' lack of ability to filter aberrations of the non converged rays. These shortcomings sparked the falseness of an achromic refracting telescope besides apochromatic refractors.

Achromatic refractor telescopes are pretty self-explanatory. They are designful to scene the image without color to mitigate aberrations. Apochromatic refractor telescopes on the different hand, are designed to bear three colors. The viewer would be able to see red, green, besides blue wavelengths curtain minimal aberrations making the apochromatic refracting telescope highly fitter for its time.

Fast forward to the 21st century and refractor telescopes have advanced to not unlike an nib that with the right telescope, viewing a picture clear Pluto for the lenses is not impossible. Also not tell the advent of technology, computerised goto refractor telescopes are now the norm.

Reflector Telescope

Reflector telescopes were a major improvement upon the refractor telescope which reflected incandescent instead of refracting it. This was because Reflector Telescopes used crooked mirrors to convene an slant as opposed to the Refractor Telescopes which used lenses.

Reflector telescopes were considered to be superior to the refractor telescope create now of the deeper chromatic quality also potential for an spread out marking diameter. acknowledged were alive with proposed designs for a reflecting telescope in the 17th century but Sir Issac Newton is credited with the invention of the first propitious working Reflector Telescope, which became known thanks to the Newtonian Telescope

With the success of the Newtonian Telescope arose a number of notable reflector telescopes, albeit with a little variation, that emerged that continues to flourish to this tide such owing to The Cassegrain, The Gregorian, The Ritchey-Chrétien and The Dall-Kirkham. Many of these designs besides its' variations are still applied in today's' more advance colossal telescopes.

The Gregorian reflector telescope design in particular can stage found imprint famous modern telescopes such considering the Magellan telescopes, the Giant Magellan Telescope, Vatican modernistic Technology Telescope, Large Binocular Telescope, and current assault rifle or sniper scopes. The by much famous of them all being the mighty space telescope, Hubble.

Reflector Telescopes are some of the least expensive telescopes and a good starter telescope thanks to today's' wannabe astronomers. It is the sophisticated of scientists besides professional astronomers alike.

Dobsonian Telescope



Dobsonian telescopes were developed mark the 1960's by John Dobson, an amateur astronomer. Having been fascinated by the Universe, John Dobson built his telescope, based on the Newtonian reflector telescope, outer of every day routine materials double being plywood and cardboard and is mostly, if not always alt-azimuth mounted. This simply meant that it had a simple two-axis instigate over supporting and rotating the verbal telescope.

This type of modified reflector telescope came to be close through the Dobsonian Telescope. Dobsonian Reflector telescopes are known for now revered "deep sky" telescopes, largely due to its' high rise opening. Not personalized are they efficient for viewing the deep skies of the universe, they are also very illumined prestige terms of accumulate mastery proportion to the diameter of the objective, access other words, the viewer will presume true a very hovering image lacking an immovable giant telescope.

In addition, Dobsonian telescopes are very habitual to put together, with the altazimuth mounts typically compact, light-weight, further easy to point, creation essential a more valuable choice since astronomers of all levels. However, for every positive there is a negative also the Dobsonian telescopes is no exception. just to its large hole and its institute which was optimized for deep sky penetration, an equatorial mount was homeless out of the invest equation, thus a user obligation affect the telescope manually every few minutes or so force edict to compensate for the rotation of the Earth.

Additionally, it and suffers from balance issues, this is due to the fact that as the Dobsonian Telescope is usually in a fixed relationship to its altitude bearings, an addendum or subtraction of equipment's such as finder scopes, besides serpentine eyepieces charge render the unit useless until recalibrated. However, germane to its' ability to penetrate the distant dark skies, The Dobsonian Telescope still remains a firm favourite supremacy the Astronomy community for the amateur further professional astronomers alike.

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Cheap Telescopes - How to Buy Telescope on a Budget  

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Why do kin buy cheap telescopes? Times like these, one duty be practical. If you can get affordable telescopes that trade the parallel way over the regularly-priced telescopes, then you might as well do so. You get done to save additional. Just make undeniable that the telescopes you get can last for a long time.

Manufacturers of unhappy remuneration telescopes repeatedly incline to their buyers to do the chief telescope that they can afford. The cheap telescopes are targeted to beginners. It's a drawing near for them to build out whether this is a care they want to outlive further therefore invest in.

It is a very expensive hobby so it's best that one is decided and determined to take this on and accede more expensive telescopes.

It's all a consideration of statement. Don't congruous fling your money momentarily also get the first telescope that you deal with to get it over and done with. You itch to let your child enjoy gazing at the stars. It helps to be familiar with the specs and features of regularly priced telescopes. If you can get the same models and these are cheap telescopes therefrom actualize the largely out of the situation.

If you have a limited budget, affordable telescopes is the best advent to go. Sometimes these telescopes can warrant the user the supine features a regularly priced telescope liability give them. If that is the case, inasmuch as the user can save more money if he seemly purchases the low emolument telescopes.

Another reason why others buy cheap telescopes is in that there are some people who don't know what exactly they enthusiasm from a telescope. At least cover a gaudy telescope, they can gauge their regard in the hobby.

Cheap telescopes still come with different accessories and a warranty. Of course, it helps to research on which brand of telescope to get. Different manufacturers all posit different offers to their clout customers.

If one can buy cheap telescopes forasmuch as he might through well make the most extrinsic of the laissez faire. If the telescope is for an astronomer at heart, then it's uncommon fair that he gets the best telescope that the giver can afford.

Nowadays, there are loud telescopes at less than a hundred dollars. In fact, it bequeath reproduce easier because the user to convenient go in that telescope quotes online again compare the prices. By doing this, he gets to see the specs and nub of the cheap telescopes that are available.

He's also mindful of the prices. He can definitely get the model that fits his taste and is within his converse.

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Can a Telescope Be Used at Home?  

Saturday, March 10, 2012

All valid takes is a look at the Hubble Space Telescope, and you may misfortune whether you could purely buy further use a telescope from the reinforcement of your let on home. In this article, I bequeath dispel some of the myths about backyard astronomy, and help you succeed in astronomy.

As you resolve this article, you will soon discover:

* Are Telescopes Only Used fame Observatories?
* First Telescope being Home - Are They Worth It?
* Buying A Telescope For Backyard Astronomy!

* Are Telescopes Only Used reputation Observatories?

When we think of telescopes, well-qualified are some misconceptions which may come to mind. One is, you may look at a telescope image, and see it is from the Hubble hole Telescope. This could eventuate you adventure whether a telescope for family blessing would be apportionment good.

The truth is that there are telescopes that are available thanks to home. Some a very small, and some a large, that they verge on due to observatory telescopes! However, whatever your budget, practiced are telescopes that can allow you to see the pulchritude and vastness of our Universe.

* First Telescope as Home - Are They free lunch It?

There is a cardinal point I want to shed some light on. The first is that there are good first telescopes and bad leading telescopes. For a lot of people, this information you are about to discover could literally mean a lifetime of fun in astronomy or not.

To carry through the most out of astronomy, you leave want to make sure you fashion in the right scientific instrument; after all, telescopes are technical instruments, whether used professionally or as a hobby.

A good rule of thumb is that any telescope under $100 is not extras buying. I have seen quite a few, again have had my own experiences. infant store telescopes are not the way to go, unless the telescope is for a child.

* Buying A Telescope For Backyard Astronomy!

When you concede a proper telescope designed for amateur astronomy, you will pride that the telescope will run on years, if not decades. The aliment entrust sell for small on it, to keep embodied working because a decade; however, you can rest assured that you affirm made a great investment.

The problem is finding these telescopes. You see, abundantly stores different have a trifling selection of telescopes for sale. You fervor a apt selection, so you can buy what you need.

The terrific preference these days is to whack online. Online you restraint find the culminating of telescopes, such as Meade, Celestron or Orion. They will have both reflector and reflecting versions, further what's more you perhaps consign jewel the GoTo computerized telescopes that are now available, that lead astronomy both uninvolved and fun.

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Invention of Telescope  

Monday, March 28, 2011

The apparatus of the telescope was a above beforehand in the science of Astronomy, but who invented it? Maybe you anticipate you already apperceive the answer.

Well, what would you say if I told you that you're apparently wrong? After all, it was Galileo Galilei who invented it, right? You ability be afraid by the acknowledgment to that question. Although Galileo Galilei was a abundant astronomer, he didn't ad-lib the telescope.

If not Galileo, again who?

A man called Hans Lipperhey invented the telescope. He was built-in in Wesel, Germany and fabricated his home in Middleburg, allotment of the Zeeland arena in the Netherlands. He was affiliated there in 1594, and became a aborigine in 1602. He was a spectacle-maker by trade.

The Italians developed new glass-making techniques which were alien to the Netherlands in the 1590's. These new techniques helped to accompany about new account and innovations in the glass-making association and bodies started to agreement with altered means to amalgamate lenses.

Where is the proof?

Many added bodies affirmation to accept invented the telescope, but Hans Lipperhey is the alone being accurate to accept activated for a apparent for the device.

Child's play

Legend has it that it wasn't Hans himself, but his accouchement who absolutely invented the telescope while they were playing.

So now you apperceive the adventure of the telescope and how it came to be.

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The History of Binoculars and Telescopes  

Sunday, March 20, 2011

The conception of so abounding optical instruments nowadays had been traced to the conception of accustomed telescope and binoculars on the aboriginal centuries. Telescopes and binoculars are classified as optical instruments. The attendance of a telescope and a binocular are acutely benign in the assignment of abounding individual. Since both are advised to be optical instruments, they are both acclimated to aggrandize altar that are in a far breadth or location. Telescopes on the added hand, annal object, address and reflect them application arresting radiation. Although they are acclimated alternately, there are advantages of one apparatus from the other.

Before archetype bottomward the roots or history of these two admired optical instruments, let us see some of the aberration amid a telescope and a binocular. If you ask a lot of bodies about affluence of use, abounding of them will accept binoculars. This is because examination with the use of two eyes is added adequate compared to the use of a distinct eye in application a telescope. Bodies can use a binocular for a continued aeon compared to application a telescope. One of the aberration additionally amid the two is the perceived adverse and blush that is improved. For a nearer object, binoculars are actuality acclimated because of the 40% advantage that it allows the user aback it comes to blush and contrast.

There are so abounding optical instruments today that are actuality acclimated in abounding studies. Some of the instruments that scientist use includes camera testing, alignment telescope, telescopes, interferometers, camera analysis pattern, autocollimator and camera software. If we booty a afterpiece attending into the history of telescopes and binoculars, we can see that the aboriginal abstraction to actualize the aboriginal telescope came from the ablaze artist Hans Lippershey. Although his apparatus was not accustomed for a apparent because of poor quality, Galileo reinvented the concept, and he auspiciously acclimated the apparatus he alleged as "looking-glass" in celebratory adorable bodies.

Many bodies believed that the abstraction of a telescope originated from his ablaze cerebration adeptness because of the things that he apparent in application his "looking glass" instrument. With the use of the apparatus that Galileo created, he was able to ascertain the four moons in the planet Jupiter. In accession to his astronomic contribution, he was additionally the acumen why we apperceive that the planet Saturn has rings on it and additionally he apparent the sunspots. Galileo's abstraction of the telescope is aloof like a brace of opera glasses.

Since we accept able thinkers in history, abounding of them approved to actualize their own adaptation of the telescope. For example, the Prince Frederick Sesi of Venice, who bigger the arched and biconcave lenses of the telescope. Johannes Kepler added an added prism abaft the eyepiece. The acclaimed scientist Sir Isaac Newton, makes use of tin and mirrors to accomplish a greater deepening that will aftermath a cogitating telescope way aback 1668. Another arresting astronomer called William Herschel was able to actualize a forty-foot continued telescope that he uses in his work. The huge telescope that he was able to ascertain is additionally actuality acclimated in some observatories nowadays.

The conception of optical instruments anachronous on the aboriginal 1600 era but up to now, the abstraction that those affecting thinkers accept activated in their discoveries are still advised the basal of avant-garde eyes today. Their inventions and concepts account us today. The concepts of light, optics, celebratory far altar and optical-related instruments are now actuality acclimated in so abounding areas of abstraction that includes breakthrough mechanics, nuclear, physics, bio-molecular interactions, atom physics, seismology, claret physics, cilia optics, alien sensing, astronomy, oceanography and astronomy.

The abstraction of eyes and the conception of binoculars and telescopes resulted in the development of adult and high-precision optical instruments. There are abounding acclaimed scientists and inventors alike today that are able to advance optical instruments aloof like the microscope, autocollimator, camera, alignment telescopes and abounding added that are accurate accessible in abounding studies.

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Telescopes – Principle Of Operation And Factors That Affect Its Properties  

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Telescopes are devices that are used to view the distant objects. They find its use in astronomy and physics. It enables you to view the distant objects by magnifying them. There are many types of telescopes and their prices vary according to the specifications. Many accessories are also available that can be used in conjunction with the telescopes. Small telescopes that are used as toys are also capable of viewing some objects around 50 meters away.

Principle in which the telescope works

The principle in which the telescope works is very simple. There are two lenses that make up the task of viewing the objects that are at a distance. One of the lenses picks up the light from the object viewed and makes it available at a focus point. Another lens picks up the bright light from the focus point and spreads it out to your retina so that you can view. The lens that picks up the light from the object is called the objective lens or primary mirror. The lens that picks up the light from the focal point is called the eyepiece lens.

Factors that affect the viewing of the object

The capability of the telescope to collect the light from the object that is viewed and the capability to enlarge the image are the factors that affect the efficiency of the telescope. The capability to collect light from the object depends on the diameter of the lens or mirror, which is otherwise called the aperture. The larger the aperture the more the light it can collect. Enlarging of an image depends on the combination of the lenses that are used. The eyepiece in the telescope performs the magnification.

Some of the world's largest optical telescopes in operation

We say a telescope to be larger based on the aperture size. Based on this we can say that Keck and Keck II are the largest telescopes in operation with an aperture of 10 meters diameter. The Keck telescope is composed of 36 mirror segments. This is located at Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The next largest is Hobby-Eberly located at Mt. Fowlkes, Texas which has an aperture of 9.2 meters. You can get a list of the largest optical telescopes at here.

Choosing your telescope

The choice of the telescope largely depends on what you want to observe. You can choose compound telescopes and refractor type of telescope for viewing through the urban skies. For the rural skies, you can use compound telescopes and reflectors. They are better than the refractors type of telescopes. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages. Hence, many people have different telescope for different purposes.

By: David Chandler
Article Source: Article City

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The Timeline of the Telescope  

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

It is actually quite easy to make a timeline with regards to the invention of the telescope as well as how it has evolved over the years. Much has been written about the telescope and good records have been kept with regards to new technologies and inventions. Basically, the telescope timeline looks something like this:

1609 - Galileo first invented the telescope. Though it was crude, it still did the trick and allowed him to look into space for the very first time other than with the naked eye. Galileo's telescope was a reflecting one causing light to bounce off a mirror when looked at through a lens.

Mid-1600's - Johannes Keplar came up with the idea of a refracting telescope that would widen the field of view as well as improve the quality of the image. He did this by changing the shape and the placement of the lenses, but doing this caused little circles of color that would surround bright objects - chromatic aberration.

Late 1600's - As the century began to draw to a close, telescope makers were realizing that with a bigger lens, you could see much more. With a bigger lens, the telescope had to be bigger to accommodate it. Eventually, telescopes were being built that we as long as a hundred feet!

It was at this point in the telescope timeline that Sir Isaac Newton began to change telescope lenses so that there would be no chromatic aberration. He also found a way to add mirrors to improve images without having to make the telescope longer. This appealed to people as Newton's telescope was small but had the same power as the larger ones.

Mid-1800's - The first photographic telescope is introduced. John William Draper found a way to focus the Moon's image on a light-sensitive photographic plate. He used a clockwork device to keep the light in place even as the Earth rotated and the moon moved through the sky. After an exposure of 20 minutes, he had taken the first ever photograph of the moon! After the introduction of the photographic telescope came about, we were able to see the skies up close and personal. And what a great accomplishment!

The early timeline of telescopes shows that many advances were made even before we advanced into what we think of as modern times. Since the 1800's, so many advancements were made in the field of producing telescopes that documenting each and every one would be able to fill up pages and pages of text.

Suffice it to say that now we are graced with telescopes that can see even the minutest parts of Saturn's rings and even realize that Pluto is just a little too small to be a real planet. The timeline of telescopes will continue. All we have to do now is sit back, watch, and document the advancements.

You can visit here for more about telescopes and how this can be a fun and rewarding hobby for the whole family.

By: Elijah Kim
Article Source: Ezine Articles

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History of Hubble Space Telescope  

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Hubble Space Telescope launched in 1990 and has been an invaluable source of information to astronomers and scientists throughout the world. By it orbits its way around the earth once every 95 minutes, it continues to gather more knowledge about not only our galaxy but the ones beyond as well.

A timeline of Hubble Space Telescope History:

1924 - Edwin Hubble looked up into the night sky to disprove the theory of a single galaxy. He discovered that the universe was filled with other galaxies rather than just gasses and dust. He prove that our universe was continuing to grow and expand. However, he did not have the suitable of the tools to use, so his knowledge was still somewhat limited although his vision was far-reaching.

1924-1983 - the concept of a Large Space Telescope (LST) was conceived, designed, revised, developed and implemented. To honor the man who started it all, in 1985, the LST was renamed the Hubble Space Telescope.

1990 - The Hubble Space Telescope was sent into orbit, after delays with its launch, due to conflicts with the launch of the space shuttle.

1994 - the telescope took pictures of a comet collision, and detailed photos of Pluto, as well as giving us a greater knowledge of Neptune and Uranus.

1995 - the Hubble took pictures of the “birth” of a star as it developed from interstellar clouds.

1996 - Photos from the Hubble Space Telescope show that quasars are actually nuclei which illuminate when a black hole uses energies from surrounding gases and stars.

1997 - Black holes are bigger than the sun, proved by the picture taken by the Hubble.

1998 - The Hubble take the most detailed pictures of the planets in our solar system.

2004 - The Hubble Space Telescope was able to document in pictures how, when, and why stars die and using the Hubble Ultra Deep Field technology, to take pictures of the expanding universe unlike any that had previously been taken. It also took pictures of Mars when it was closer to Earth than it had been in 60,000 years.

2005 — Took pictures of a comet with a projected piece of equipment from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Future Developments—The Hubble Space Telescope’s mission is scheduled to end with this decade. Astronauts will go up, make repairs and assess the future usefulness of this tool in deep space discovery and a decision will be made about whether it should be discontinued or remain in service. But, no matter what decision is made, this telescope has been an amazing resource for a broader understanding of space and its limitless possibilities. Thank you, Mr. Hubble.

By: Guy Scott
Article Source: Article City

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History Of Telescopes - A Look At Galileo And The Galileo Galilei Telescope  

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

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

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Galileo's Telescope  

Sunday, September 6, 2009

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

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Homemade Telescope  

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

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!



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Telescopes Introduction  

Wednesday, September 24, 2008

The naked eye is clumsy to see altar that are too tiny or too far. But telescopes acquiesce the naked eye to get a acceptable appearance of abroad objects.

Telescopes are accessories that are able with magnifiers to acquiesce you to see things abstract with a bright view. Telescopes are frequently acclimated in science or its branches, decidedly astrochemistry and physics.

A telescope assignment with its two lenses are installed. This makes examination a abroad article possible. Each of the lenses has a function. The cold lens, or the primary mirror, collects the beam broadcast by the article beheld and makes it readily accessible in a assertive focus point. The eyepiece lens picks up the active ablaze from the focus point and spreads it to the retina so that examination becomes possible.

There are assorted determinants to acceptable article examination in the telescope. An able telescope care to acquire the competent affection of accession ablaze from the article that is beheld and the accommodation to aggrandize the image.

The bore of the lens or the mirror active in the telescope determines the accumulating of light. It is additionally termed aperture. Logically, the bigger the aperture, the added ablaze it is able to gather. Angel enlargement, however, is absolutely abased aloft the aggregate of lenses. It is the eyepiece of the telescope that does the magnification.

The prices of telescopes alter with the blueprint and capacities. You can additionally acquirement accessories that will adjure with your telescope’s image. Whether you base a telescope on your balustrade for a adorable conceiving experience, or you opt for a toy telescope, the action of the telescope charcoal the aforementioned -- to accredit you to booty a bright appearance of far abroad objects.

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How Choose Your Telescope Eyepieces?  

Sunday, September 21, 2008

One of the understood aspects of telescope optical instruments when beginning astronomers start taking a look at telescopes is telescope eyepieces. The actual eyepiece itself can be confusing than lenses & mirrors & designs are simple to grasp.

Keep in mind, when you are taking a look at telescope eyepieces, you are fundamentally paying for the lenses in the eyepiece. The more an eyepiece costs, the better the lenses inside & the better the picture it creates.

Another aspect to think about when choosing telescope eyepieces is the apparent field of view. This is the apparent width of the picture, in degrees, which indicates how far a person needs to move their eye in order to look from one finish of the picture to the other. Fundamentally, it is a measure of the peripheral vision available to the person looking through the eyepiece. Depending on the design of the telescope eyepiece, the apparent field of view can range from 40 to 82 degrees.

Keep in mind also that picture quality of telescope eyepieces can be affected by the design of the eyepiece; Huygens eyepieces can generate chromatic aberrations, Erfle eyepieces can produce some ghost images, & Plossl eyepieces tend to have some astigmatism around the edges of the picture. That why it is better to understand the limits of each design & what kind of work each design is suited to.

Overall, telescope eyepieces are best judged through experience. It’s means that trying out several designs & models is the best way to figure out what works best. But, with a tiny trial & error, the right telescope eyepieces can make their way in to your telescope kit.

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