If you are someone who is seriously into astronomy and an avid star gazer, naturally you would also want to share this exciting out-of-this-world experience of “seeing the moon and the stars” with your family – especially the children.
I am sure you are definitely willing to share with your little tykes your astronomical telescope. Whether it is a refracting telescope or a reflecting telescope, you want them to enjoy and see for themselves the wonders and magnificence of the planets, stars, galaxies and other far away space objects.
If you are going to tag along your kids in any of your star gazing sessions, ideally the telescope that you should use is a refracting telescope. The refractor telescope is an excellent astronomical telescope for your children to use because it is excellent for observing the planets of the solar system and stars. The images that you get are very clear – the kids would definitely be exited with this, wouldn’t they?
This is aside from the fact that the refracting telescope is very easy to operate and maintain – it would not be hard to teach the kids on how to handle it. The refractor is the right instrument for our little tots to use. And just let them use the scope – it will definitely make them more interested in astronomy and star gazing.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Crane Telescope Observatory
At the state of Kansas, is the Crane Telescope Observatory of Washburn University. Located at Washburn and 17th Avenue, the Crane Observatory is one of the more popular university observatories in the US.
The Crane Observatory houses the popular Warner and Swasey refracting telescope which was built way back in the late 19th century and is considered one of the oldest working refractor telescope instruments in the United States.
The Warner and Swasey refractor telescope is still available for use by the public as it is regularly utilized for regular star and sky gazing and astronomical research.
The Crane Observatory likewise has open house schedules which are usually conducted when permitted by the weather. The observatory also has planetarium programs which are usually held on the afternoon of the first Saturday of every month. The public, especially the astronomical enthusiasts and avid stargazers who wish to participate do not need to register or make reservation.
The astronomical activities and star gazing sessions of the observatory are usually held through the sponsorship of the Washburn University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.
The Crane Observatory houses the popular Warner and Swasey refracting telescope which was built way back in the late 19th century and is considered one of the oldest working refractor telescope instruments in the United States.
The Warner and Swasey refractor telescope is still available for use by the public as it is regularly utilized for regular star and sky gazing and astronomical research.
The Crane Observatory likewise has open house schedules which are usually conducted when permitted by the weather. The observatory also has planetarium programs which are usually held on the afternoon of the first Saturday of every month. The public, especially the astronomical enthusiasts and avid stargazers who wish to participate do not need to register or make reservation.
The astronomical activities and star gazing sessions of the observatory are usually held through the sponsorship of the Washburn University’s Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Green Bank Telescope
I must have discussed every important refracting telescope issues and have likewise featured some of the world’s most popular refracting telescope observatories. Now I guess I have to write articles on other types of telescope such as the radio telescope.
In the state of West Virginia, on Green Bank, Pocahontas County, is where the National Radio Astronomy Observatory can be found. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory houses the popular Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. More commonly called the Green Bank Telescope, it is recognized as the biggest radio telescope in the world that is completely steerable. The site of the GBT is free from radio transmission, in order for the telescope to function regularly.
The GBT is a 100 meter (3937 inch) telescope, which means its dimension is 100 x 110 meters. The telescope has an individual actuator (small motor) that is used for all of the telescope’s surface panels.
Did you know that the Green Bank Telescope is designed especially to be able to observe the entire heavens above the elevation of 5 degrees? This is one of the special features of GBT.
In the state of West Virginia, on Green Bank, Pocahontas County, is where the National Radio Astronomy Observatory can be found. The National Radio Astronomy Observatory houses the popular Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope. More commonly called the Green Bank Telescope, it is recognized as the biggest radio telescope in the world that is completely steerable. The site of the GBT is free from radio transmission, in order for the telescope to function regularly.
The GBT is a 100 meter (3937 inch) telescope, which means its dimension is 100 x 110 meters. The telescope has an individual actuator (small motor) that is used for all of the telescope’s surface panels.
Did you know that the Green Bank Telescope is designed especially to be able to observe the entire heavens above the elevation of 5 degrees? This is one of the special features of GBT.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Refracting Telescope, Reflector and Cassegrain
Here we have discussed mostly about telescopes, the most discussed being the refracting telescope, which is the earliest discovered astronomical telescope.
Easy to set up, requires little maintenance, and one of the simplest astronomical instruments, the refracting telescope is very reliable especially when it comes to observing and studying the moon, the planets and the sun. It is actually excellent in terrestrial viewings.
Next to the refractor telescope is the reflecting telescope which like the former is excellent in observing the planets and the moon. Another advantage of the reflecting telescope is that it is much more portable and compact.
Another type of scope is the Catadioptrics, a popular example of which is the Schmidt-Cassegrain. This type of telescope makes use of a combined lenses and mirrors in order to form the image of whatever object it is focused at.
The Schmidt Cassegrain is one of the most modern telescopes in use today. And it is likewise said to be one of the best multi purpose scope. This telescope succeeded in improving on the combined use of mirrors and lenses, emphasizing on their advantages and eliminating the usual disadvantages when using them.
The Cassegrain is usually used for deep space observation and astronomical photography.
Easy to set up, requires little maintenance, and one of the simplest astronomical instruments, the refracting telescope is very reliable especially when it comes to observing and studying the moon, the planets and the sun. It is actually excellent in terrestrial viewings.
Next to the refractor telescope is the reflecting telescope which like the former is excellent in observing the planets and the moon. Another advantage of the reflecting telescope is that it is much more portable and compact.
Another type of scope is the Catadioptrics, a popular example of which is the Schmidt-Cassegrain. This type of telescope makes use of a combined lenses and mirrors in order to form the image of whatever object it is focused at.
The Schmidt Cassegrain is one of the most modern telescopes in use today. And it is likewise said to be one of the best multi purpose scope. This telescope succeeded in improving on the combined use of mirrors and lenses, emphasizing on their advantages and eliminating the usual disadvantages when using them.
The Cassegrain is usually used for deep space observation and astronomical photography.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Keppler's Astronomical Telescope
We can only thank Galileo Galilei for his invention of the first astronomical telescope which is the refracting telescope or what is called the Galileo telescope. His refractor was an improvement of the first refractor discovered by a Dutch optician, Hans Lippershey. The fact is, the Galileo Telescope can be considered as one of the most important discoveries and inventions in the field of astronomy.
But in the year 1611, it was the turn of Galileo Galilei’s refracting telescope to become a model to a more improved scope, the Keplerian Telescope, which as invented by the German scientist and astronomer Johannes Kepler.
Johannes Keppler, who is one of Tycho’s outstanding students, used a special type of lenses instead of optical mirrors for the reason that during his time such quality mirrors are not yet available.
The telescope’s convergent mirrors were the trend during Keppler’s time until they were taken over by larger mirrors that were built to capture low intensity objects.
Some more information on Johannes Keppler – Aside from being a scientist and astronomer, he was also a gifted mathematician, a prolific writer of science fiction and an astrologer. He was often referred to by many, especially by as peers, as the world’s last scientific astrologer.
But in the year 1611, it was the turn of Galileo Galilei’s refracting telescope to become a model to a more improved scope, the Keplerian Telescope, which as invented by the German scientist and astronomer Johannes Kepler.
Johannes Keppler, who is one of Tycho’s outstanding students, used a special type of lenses instead of optical mirrors for the reason that during his time such quality mirrors are not yet available.
The telescope’s convergent mirrors were the trend during Keppler’s time until they were taken over by larger mirrors that were built to capture low intensity objects.
Some more information on Johannes Keppler – Aside from being a scientist and astronomer, he was also a gifted mathematician, a prolific writer of science fiction and an astrologer. He was often referred to by many, especially by as peers, as the world’s last scientific astrologer.
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