My Telescope

If the “brand new” is more often than not expensive or out of your pocket’s reach, go for the second hand or discounted. This is a very sound policy.

This can very well apply when you are an astronomy enthusiast and wish to buy a refracting telescope, or a reflecting telescope for that matter.

Indeed even that simplest but complete reflecting telescope or refracting telescope can still be heavy on the budget.

Even those scopes that are sold in the popular department stores are expensive (and I am hoping that you would not purchase your scope from any of these stores.

Fortunately, offered in many established and recognized telescope stores and also in the internet are discount telescopes which are much cheaper but nonetheless are complete and have great specifications. These scopes come in many kinds – you would just have to ask the scope dealer and consult him on which discount telescope is the most appropriate for your astronomy or star gazing needs.

Second hand or discount scopes, albeit way cheaper, are comparable if not of better quality than the brand new telescopes, and with discount scopes, you can also get the same enjoyment that you would receive if you have a brand new scope.

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.

For astronomy enthusiasts who are serious in star gazing and learning all the stellar and planetary objects that can be found in the skies, a telescope is an indispensable instrument.

No question about it. Whether you have a refracting telescope or a reflecting telescope on hand, you need a scope to be able to see and observe the magnificence of the heavens.

Where can we find a reliable telescope?

One advise: you should get one from a reputable and recognized scope dealer. It is imperative that you get your scope from a telescope shop - and not from the toy section of the department store.

The telescope store has a wider range of telescopes from which you can choose from. And the store would know which kind of telescope is appropriate for you and your astronomical needs - and find out if you will need a reflecting telescope, or a refracting telescope or any other kind of telescope that's available.

But then, the telescope is not the only instrument which you can use for your stargazing endeavors.

There is also the binocular, which is worth mentioning here if only because it is likewise capable of seeing far sky objects such as the planets, stars and the galaxies.

Whether you would want to use the binoculars or the telescopes, it is best to inquire from the telescope stores or the authorities on these kinds of astronomical instruments.

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.

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.

A refracting telescope or a reflector one? Take your pick.

For the star gazing enthusiasts or the astronomy hobbyists, what is better than having, owning and having fun with the appropriate model of telescope for your star watching and researching activities. Once you already have the right scope in hand, there would be only perfect star gazing moments for you guys to enjoy.

Two of the more common scopes from which you can choose from are the refracting telescope and the reflecting telescope.

What are your bases of knowing which astronomical telescope is right for you?

Would you like a powerful telescope? Or one with the right magnification? First of all, we reminded that high magnification and scope power does not necessarily mean the better telescope you will have. Actually, you should ignore these two qualities and go instead for aperture. Better aperture means better focus on whatever image you focus your scope on.

Do you have your budget as one of your main consideration? My advice is to invest on a good scope, even if the price is a little high for your budget. Save on it. A good professional astronomical telescope is worth the money if you are a serious star gazer.

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.

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.

When I was a kid, I have tried assembling and creating many gadgets, the more of which memorable ones are a projector and refracting telescope. Crudely done as they were, I was thrilled to see how they somehow worked in the end.

The movie projector of sorts I was able to build with the use of a shoe box, a cheap magnifying glass, and a small battery lit bulb. You can imagine the excitement and satisfaction I got from watching enlarged pictures and photographs that were projected to the white wall of my room together with my cousins.

Another gadget that I was able to assemble was a refracting telescope. Very crude but somehow I did get to make some enjoyable star gazing with it. Especially the moon and its craters.

The materials for the scope I got from an astronomical telescope shop, except for the long black plastic tube which I found in the basement of our house. It was a perfect component, as the objective lens and the eyepiece both fitted the ends of the tube.

I just love to assemble anything back then. I really believe I was a great in “creating and inventing.”

What have you “created” during your childhood days?