Telescopes are excellent gifts for beginner astronomers, but their enthusiasm can be hindered, if not killed completely, by their first telescope. If the telescope is too difficult to use, the resulting frustration can curb any astronomical interest the beginner may have. To keep the passion
Astrophotography is a field of its own, and you may feel overwhelmed on where to start and what it is that you need. To help make the start-up process simpler, we’ve listed the most recommended astrophotography accessories that could make up your shortlist. Assuming you
If you just bought the best telescope you could afford and thought you could stargaze out of the box, your first observation was probably a disappointment. Now what? Accessorize. Accessories will enhance what you can see and may very well guarantee enjoyment. These are the
You may be doing your homework on different types of optics, or you may be curious about how microscopes stack up to telescopes. They have similar features and seemingly provide the same result – a magnified view of an object. What is their purpose and
When thinking of a telescope, a long tube on a tripod immediately comes to mind. It’s a given that a tripod is needed for amateur astronomy. However, you likely didn’t give it that much thought that there are other components involved. Is it an alt-azimuth
How different are refracting and reflecting telescopes from each other? Is one type better for a specific telescope use? Which type is more affordable? Clear the air with a solid understanding of the optical designs of refractors and reflectors. If you know an inch in
There’s a balancing act going on between a telescope’s technical specifications and types of materials and parts used to determine what type of astronomy it performs best for. All this can affect the final cost that will eventually end up as a charge on your
All you know is that when you look through the telescope, you can see planets and stars in greater detail than what you can see with your own eyes. What if you want to see more? It’s a valid question as many astronomers look through
Many would quickly disregard binoculars and opt for a telescope as if it’s the only astronomical optic worth owning. If you’re willing to be a little open-minded, you could expand your astronomical collection for better performance. To keep you from falling into the pitfalls of
It’s wise to brush up on your telescope types if you’re adding variation to your collection or if you’re looking to buy your very first one. You may know the terms, but how do you tell the differences between them? This is a good question