Buying a telescope is easy! Especially when you have help from the Pros here at ProTelescope.com.
But, if you want to learn a little about telescopes and space, this "Telescopes 101" guide should get your mind grounded before you start exploring the stars. So let's learn...
Telescopes make outer space look brighter
That's basically it, and it's the most important thing about telescopes. Telescopes gather light from space, and blast it into your eyes so you can get a fabulous, astonishing look at star clusters, dual-star systems, distant galaxies, and details of the moon or Saturn's rings in ways you can never see with the naked eye because the items are too small and way too dark.
Telescopes make space objects look bigger too
Yes, telescopes magnify objects, that's true. But magnification is really not that important. Just a little bit of magnification is enough to see all kinds of great space stuff. But boosting light gathering power is where it's at in buying a telescope. The more light you can suck down from the sky, the more you'll see. Don't worry about magnification, just about all telescopes have enough of that -- go for the light gathering power.
Bigger is better
At least in telescopes, that's true. The bigger the main opening of the telescope tube is, the more light the telescope can collect. More light, means you see more. The size of the telescope's main opening is called the "aperture" and it is typically measured in inches or millimeters. In just about all cases, the larger the aperture, or the opening, the better the space viewing will be. Our biggest telescope
has an 10" opening and is the best you can get for backyard observing.
Mirrors vs Glass
How does it all work? Well, telescopes gather straight beams of light and focus them on a single point. This magnifies what you're looking at and makes it seem larger and brighter. Telescopes either use a round, bowl shaped mirror to focus the light, or a glass lens to do the job, or a combination of both. Depending on what you're looking for, you might consider one or the other.
Reflector Telescopes
True to their name, reflector telescopes use mirrors
to reflect
the image back to your eyes. Most bigger telescopes are reflectors, and the advantage is that these scopes can gather a lot of light for less money. But be careful! Everything you see in a reflector telescope will be upside-down. No kidding. That's because the mirrors in a reflector flip the image over before it hits your eye. Of course, in the zero gravity world of outer space, there is no such thing as rightside up or upside down, stars and planets look the same no matter what. But if you want to use your reflector during the daytime to spy things here on Earth, you'll need an erecting eyepiece
(we sell 'em), to flip the image around. These serious scopes require a bit more care and maintenace than others, but it is worth the effort. ProTelescope.com carries these reflector telescopes:
- FirstView 3" Reflector
-- Great first scope for younger kids.
- AstroVenture 4.5" Reflector
-- Solid all around value.
- AstroQuest 6" Reflector
-- Big magnifcations, impressive moon & planet watcher.
- AstroQuest 8" Reflector
-- The big one for when you're ready to learn it all.
- Meade 4.5" Computer Controlled Reflector
-- A great entry-level telescope that offers sharp imaging of space objects. Also includes the AutoStar Computer Controller which locates and points the telescope to over 1,400 celestial objects with just the push of a button.
- Meade 6" Computer Controlled Newtonian Reflector
-- Premium optics and superior light-gathering power. Advanced optical coatings means clearer and brighter space views with less distortion than other refractors. Also includes the Advanced AutoStar Computer Controller which can automatically track to any of 30,000 celestial objects.
- Meade 6" Computer Controlled Schmidt-Newtonian Reflector
-- Jaw-dropping views! The unique Schmidt-Newtonian design results in sharp stellar views that are typically 50 percent better than traditional Newtonian reflectors. Also includes the Advanced AutoStar Computer Controller which can automatically track to any of 30,000 celestial objects.
- Meade 8" Computer Controlled Schmidt-Newtonian Reflector
-- A backyard astronomer's dream come true! Enjoy both high-powered planetary and extreme deep-space object hunting. The unique Schmidt-Newtonian design results in sharp stellar views that are typically 50 percent better than traditional Newtonian reflectors. Also includes the Advanced AutoStar Computer Controller which can automatically track to any of 30,000 celestial objects.
Refractor Telescopes
Just to make it confusing, you've got refractor telescopes too. Refractors? Reflectors? Sounds like a Dr. Seuss tongue-twister game. Unlike their mirror-based cousins, refractor telescopes use glass lenses to focus light and magnify the stars and planets. Refractors work just like a camera lens. Refractors provide crystal sharp images and tend to be smaller and very light weight. Best of all, they show a rightside up image, so they are perfect "as is" for bird watching, spotting game, or even spying on your neighbors. Refractors require nearly no maintenace and many of the models we carry are ultra-portable:
Catadioptric Telescopes
Just when you're starting to get it, we'll throw catadioptric scopes into the mix. The clever design of these instruments use both
mirrors and
lenses to bring you the best of both worlds. So you get really high performance out of a fairly small instrument.
- AstroVenture 90mm Cassegrain
-- Portable and high-powered, great day or night.
- Meade 90mm Computer Controlled Advanced Cassegrain
-- This "Maksutov-Cassegrain" telescope uses both mirrors and lenses to offer the clearest, most powerful views in a compact size. The telescope itself weighs just 8 pounds but packs quite a punch. Also includes the Advanced AutoStar Computer Controller which can automatically track to any of 30,000 celestial objects.
- Meade 102mm Computer Controlled Beginner Cassegrain
-- Like all Cassegrain style optical telescopes, the dual mirror/lens type opticals yield high powered views in a compact package. Also includes the AutoStar Computer Controller which locates and points the telescope to over 1,400 celestial objects with just the push of a button.
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