There are many fascinating things about telescopes. They let us do all sorts of neat things: explore outer space, communicate with satellites and spacecraft, bounce beams of light off of the moon, and observe nature.
The fact that telescope rely on two simple facts of physics – bouncing light off of mirrors or bending light through a lens – doesn’t do anything to diminish their magic and wonderment.
All the universe can be revealed to us because really, we humans have been given the gift of learning how light moves. Light is energy, and its movements and behaviors are governed by strict sets of rules or laws.
Light comes to us as the energy released when an excited atom returns to its normal state. Light also comes to us as the energy released by hot, glowing objects.
Of course, light permits telescopes to function only when it reaches a telescope’s mirror or lens. Clouds, dust, and pollution all conspire to keep the light away from our goals.
These separate us from the universe. Yet, as light reaches Earth, it becomes possible for us to observe and learn. Assistive devices known as telescopes help us to collect and focus light. Telescopes are engineered tools designed to expand human abilities and knowledge.
Yes, telescopes can be accurately defined as instruments. Yet, they are among the most fascinating and wondrous instruments ever created. Their functions expand the human mind and stretch human imagination. It is not surprising that those who pursue knowledge have found telescopes to be indispensable tools.
Current telescopes, when evaluated against the broader background of history, actually are the grand products of many innovations and breakthroughs that stretch back over 500 years of time.
The grand technological achievement bound up in modern telescopes enrich humanity and constantly lead us to ask new questions. Indeed, the gap between what is known and the next things yet to be learned seems almost infinite.
Telescopes have been one of the most fascinating objects for children. The mystery of how you can use them to see things so far away and the unbelievable concept they have of what the universe is naturally leads them to the fascination of what telescopes are and how they work.
With their advancing technology, these optical telescopes keep moving human knowledge into uncharted territories.
A telescope is a device that aids in observing distant objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation. The first known practical telescopes were invented near the beginning of the 17th century in the Netherlands.
The different purposes for which telescopes are used depend on the type of telescope, such as the optical telescope, the radio telescope, or the technical ones.
They are used to observe things that are far away and also to observe the different kinds of rays that form the universe. Astronomical telescopes allow observation of distant stars, nearby planets, and the surrounding environment.
The radio telescope makes it possible for people to listen to radio signals coming from far away in the universe. And technical telescopes can come in many varieties and allow us to understand more about the chemical composition of a far galaxy to help make things like cell phones more powerful.
- Telescopes: Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ LT Refractor Telescope Kit with Smartphone Adapter and Bluetooth Remote
- Telescopes: BEBANG Telescope for Adults Astronomy, 80mm Aperture Astronomical Telescope, 3 Rotatable Eyepieces Refractor Telescope with Tripod
- Telescopes: Celestron NexStar 5SE Computerized Telescope
- Telescopes: Celestron Starsense Explorer 8-inch Dobsonian Telescope – Smartphone App Enabled
- Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit
- TELMU Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting
- Celestron Inspire 100AZ Telescope, Refractor
- Choosing the Right Telescope for Professional and Hobby Use
Telescopes: Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ LT Refractor Telescope Kit with Smartphone Adapter and Bluetooth Remote
The Celestron AstroMaster comes with a glass optic that has been covered with multiple reflective layers to ensure that consumers can experience clearer and more comfortable viewing.
The telescope also boasts a lightweight, portable build. Since the telescope can be completely set up within seconds, it can be carried and used easily in any place.
With the addition of the smartphone mount, consumers can take pictures of their view through the Celestron AstroMaster as well. The Bluetooth Remote for smartphone and the night vision LED flashlight help in smartphone maintenance.
With a powerful 180x magnification, sharp images and crisper and clearer views are guaranteed with the AstroMaster. Plus, it can also be used to observe objects during the daytime, making it versatile.
Furthermore, missions can be organized whereby consumers can search for the moon, stars, or even gaze at the wonders of the heavens with the Celestron AstroMaster. The dazzling world of astronomy viewed with this excellent telescope guarantees splendid and breathtaking moments.
Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ LT Refractor Telescope Kit with Smartphone Adapter and Bluetooth Remote Check Price
Telescopes: BEBANG Telescope for Adults Astronomy, 80mm Aperture Astronomical Telescope, 3 Rotatable Eyepieces Refractor Telescope with Tripod
The Bebang telescope includes an astronomical telescope with an 80mm aperture, a field rotationally shifting mechanism, a German Equatorial mount, and a celestial coordinate tracking and driving control system.
The telescope’s focal length is 600mm, and the maximum magnification of the eyepiece is 20mm. Thus, the telescope provides three different magnifications.
Gallery telescopes on the market often require manual focusing for long and short distances (the shift of focus through the entire focusing range), while the Bebang telescope has achieved manual focusing function through a speed ball and adopts an objective focusing mechanism (locating the focus position).
The objective sheet welding mechanism can also be used to fix small focal length and large numbers of wide-angle eyepieces. The mount and the coordinate tracking and driving control system have been tested and unnecessary shaking at the focal point is avoided even when the telescope tubes are completely released.
Telescope The Bebang telescope includes an astronomical telescope, an objective focusing mechanism with a stackable combination, a field rotationally displacing mechanism, a zenithal quadratic frame, and a celestial coordinate tracking and driving control system.
The optical part of the Bebang telescope mainly includes an 80mm aperture 600mm focal length refractor optical tube. The optical system with a focal length of 600mm constitutes a 20X28 finder, an objective focusing mechanism, an eyepiece seat, a C-mount connector, etc. The imaging quality of the optical system is important for the telescope.
BEBANG Telescope for Adults Astronomy, 80mm Aperture Astronomical Telescope, 3 Rotatable Eyepieces Refractor Telescope with Tripod Check Price
Telescopes: Celestron NexStar 5SE Computerized Telescope
As you probably know, the Celestron NexStar 5SE is a computerized telescope. It has a database with all the well-known stars, galaxies, and planets. By taking advantage of this feature, you can look at a map of the night sky that gets displayed on the device so that you will be able to find all the objects quickly and easily.
This telescope is also customizable when you are using it in the field. Just plug it in with a computer via a suitable serial cable. You will then be able to create and download a list of preferred objects into the device.
An excellent GPS add-on is also available to be added to make positioning so much easier. The basic telescope is not fitted with vernier type controls for fine positioning.
However, you can add these features yourself or get the optional GPS-ready feature that gives additional tracking options. The NexStar 5SE weighs in at 25 pounds (11.3 kilograms) and measures 13 inches by 17 inches by 34.5 inches (84.4 cm), and is restricted in parts of the sky to only a 7-degree diagonal view.
Celestron NexStar 5SE Computerized Telescope Check Price
Telescopes: Celestron Starsense Explorer 8-inch Dobsonian Telescope – Smartphone App Enabled
The Celestron Starsense Explorer is an 8-inch Dobsonian reflector telescope with a 203 mm (8-inch) primary mirror and an 8×50 finderscope. The Starsense Explorer app uses a smartphone’s camera to analyze the night sky and pair it to a database of tens of thousands of celestial objects.
It then uses the app to tell you where to find nearby stars, and the displayed map guides you towards the area of the sky where your selected celestial object is. It does not have a motorized mount and cannot be automated to find objects on its own. The smartphone app works with a wireless cellular connection to download data from the Celestron cloud.
The Starsense Explorer app is available for iOS and Android and works with the phone’s camera. Before using the app for the first time, register with Celestron first using your email and then pair your working smartphone to the app by connecting it wirelessly to the Starsense Explorer telescope via the built-in Wi-Fi within your phone settings.
Plug in your telescope batteries and check the red dots at your telescope’s base. They project celestial object locations your phone’s camera will scan. If it is not detected, adjust the focuser to make the pattern brighter and turn up the brightness control of your phone as well.
Celestron Starsense Explorer 8-inch Dobsonian Telescope – Smartphone App Enabled Check Price
Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit
Welcome to the wondrous world of amateur astronomy! Whether you’re a beginning stargazer or a seasoned astronomer, this telescope has something for everyone.
The Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian telescope – a favorite of amateur astronomy clubs all over the country – features an unbelievably large six-inch aperture. It’s lightweight and portable, while its stable base permits use on virtually any flat surface.
With its computer-optimized design, it has adequate light grasp to permit exploration of the Moon, planets, and deep-sky objects such as nebulas, star clusters, and galaxies that are so popular with amateur astronomers.
The XT6 Classic Dobsonian telescope, quite possibly the standard for viewing both deep-sky and solar system objects, has the portability and ease of use that you’ve been looking for.
With the Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit, observers can explore the vastness of the universe in a new way. But this story is not about the objects of the universe, but rather the tools that provide a gateway to the heavens.
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars have created an entry level astronomical tool, the SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit, that meets a balance of value and performance, ideal for people new to astronomy.
The XT6 kit is easy to use and affords many hours of rewarding sky exploration. Astronomy has always been associated with high powered mountaintop observatories accessible only to professional astronomers. However, with the Orion SkyQuest XT6, the universe is just a glance away.
Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope Kit Check Price
TELMU Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting
The Telmu 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ mount astronomical refracting telescope offers extensive viewing possibilities for individuals or families while under tight budget constraints, yet requiring professional astronomical equipment.
Installed on the azimuth mount, two flexible adjustment systems for up, down, left, and right rotation points to the main optical tube provide an enjoyable and interactive astronomical adventure involving constellation identification guidance, golden times of viewing planets, double stars, constellations, and bright nebulae.
The Telmu 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ mount astronomical refracting telescope is a classical refractive astronomical telescope with an altitude mount, with up and down and left and right flexible fine-tuning systems on the base connecting the optical tube.
TELMU Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Check Price
Celestron Inspire 100AZ Telescope, Refractor
The telescope arrives in an attractive, blue box. Inside, the black tube assembly and telescope mount sit in molded plastic, along with other accessories such as the 90° erect image diagonal, Red LED flashlight in the leg strap of the telescope, a finderscope, the tripod, a 2″ terrestrial viewing erect image diagonal, and two different eyepieces.
There is also a copy of TheSkyX – First Light Edition astronomy software included, that can also be downloaded from Celestron’s website. The software has a limited database and maps, but is good enough to get started and learn the basics.
Refractor telescopes are generally easier to set up and use than their reflector or compound counterparts. For the introductory stargazer, these telescopes offer the capability to view bright objects such as the moon and close planets, but at a cost.
The higher price point can generally be attributed to higher production costs for the manufacturer resulting from the requirement for high-quality clear glass elements. Due to the size to weight ratio and larger objective lenses, these telescopes are also easier to transport and set up at different locations.
Light enters the telescopes through the front or objective lens and proceeds to travel to the rear end of the telescope where the user’s eye makes contact.
Refractor scopes are less affected by atmospheric disturbances and tend to offer better performance when compared to reflector telescopes of the same aperture, although there is still a long-standing debate on this subject.
Small refractors are great for portable stargazing and are generally less likely to suffer from damages due to small moving parts which require precise manufacturing tolerances, further adding to the premium price point for these models as well.
They offer the chance for inexperienced telescopic viewers to get good views of the cosmos without the need for a lot of setup and aligning time, as well as freedom from frequent maintenance.
Celestron Inspire 100AZ Telescope, Refractor Check Price
Choosing the Right Telescope for Professional and Hobby Use
So, you want to explore the stars or view distant vistas but don’t know which telescope to choose. Here, I’ll explain the differences between basic types of equipment that will fulfill your needs.
Professional telescopes
First, it’s important to make a distinction between professional and hobby use. Professional instruments are used by astronomers and for scientific or technical purposes. Because they must provide very sharp and bright images, professional telescopes are quite large and expensive.
These must be used in optimal conditions but can be installed in various suitable sites throughout the world. They will be provided with highly sophisticated electronic devices, such as photometers and highly sensitive cameras, to record, document, and analyze astronomical objects.
Hobby telescopes
Hobby telescopes are used for leisure, for observing the sky for personal enjoyment. Therefore, they are simpler and cheaper. The size of a hobby telescope is calculated according to the observer’s needs – for example, the weight the observer is willing to carry and his/her commitment to the observation.
Typically, hobby telescopes are portable, easy to assemble, easy to use, and have a reasonable cost. They are lightweight and can be easily taken to astronomical observation sites.
These telescopes do not have advanced electronic devices, but the digital cameras enable observation and photo shooting. These can be easily connected to the optical tube, provided the observer (or user) has the necessary adapters.
The lenses and mirrors in a hobby telescope must have good quality, mainly the lenses. However, they do not have to produce high optical performance – the observer’s eye can adapt to almost any image quality.
Stars gazing with a telescope and enjoy the outdoors. More on Outdoor Living gadgets Here
“Why did the telescope break up with the microscope?
Because it needed some space!”
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