Your Kid and His First Astronomy Telescope

If your child shows great interest in astronomy and observing the skies and star gazing, an astronomy telescope for kids will help them to get started with this new, exciting hobby without you shelling out large sum of money. However, you must remember that want a child needs is a real astronomy telescope, and not a toy. Preferably it can be a refracting telescope with all the functions of a starter scope. Never mind the advanced and complex features. What matters it that you are encouraging your child to take up this hobby.

Money indeed can be a consideration but if you buy him a scope of his own, he will be happy with the full support that you are giving him on his interest on astronomy. A true blue simple telescope, perhaps a refracting telescope sans the frills, will definitely give your kid the boost that he needs to learn about the stars and planets and astronomy as a whole.

Try investing on a beginner telescope which can be had for 100 dollars. A better one is available on most scope shops and stores for 200 up to 300 dollars. And as your child becomes really more interested in astronomy, it would be great if you can spend more for a much sophisticated and complex telescope, like having features such as astrophotography capabilities. Your kind would certainly want to take pictures of comets, planets and stars.

Where in the World is the Galileo Telescope?

Where is the Galileo Telescope? This scope which is a type of refracting telescope and the first true astronomically working telescope is one of the most popular astronomy equipments of all times.

Albeit the Galileo Telescope is actually not the first refracting telescope invented (we have to credit Hans Lippershey for his efforts), it is the fist really professional telescope that was used for star gazing and astronomical research.

So does it matter if it is not the original refractor? First is not always the best there is, I must say. And for this scope of Galileo Galilei, we have so much to thank because it served as the fitting model for all the succeeding astronomical telescopes.

What I would also like to know is if the original telescope of Galileo is still in existence. Where is it, in some Italian museum or observatory perhaps? What I know is that there is a replica of the Galileo Telescope kept at the London Museum. And I am sure that many other replicas of this great astronomical piece of instrument all over the world.

Learning about Astronomy and Refracting Telescope

So you always like to watch and observe the heavens and the stars, and really want to engage yourself in astronomy. Of course, there are many ways on which you can further your education and general knowledge about this science. There are many local and college libraries that have astronomy sections that would surely assist you in finding the right astronomy books, especially the ones that are easy reading for beginners like you. There are also tons of website about astronomy and refracting telescope and star gazing, all of which are just waiting for you to log on to and visit.

Another yet excellent way is joining any local astronomy club. You may also join them in their visits to observatories for some stargazing with the use of the observatory’s refracting telescope. Most club members are just too willing to share their comments, views and opinions about the science of astronomy, the refracting telescope or any other related topic.

You yourself can have your own telescope to do some personal star gazing. You do not have to spend a lot of money to be able to buy a competent refracting telescope or any other type of telescope for that matter. However, a good advice is never to buy a cheap telescope, especially the ones that are sold on a department store’s toy section.

Refracting Telescope: Basic Parts

The refracting telescope is perhaps the most recognizable astronomical telescope we have today. Most students and even children, if they are asked to describe a typical telescope, the description that they would give is that of the refracting telescope. A tube with glasses on both ends; that is the general description of the refractor telescope.

The refracting telescope has three basic components or parts, all of which are very important. The first component of the refractor is the long tube, which is usually black or dark in color. This tube is usually made of wood, plastic or metal. The second component of the refracting telescope that is very important is the combination lens made of glass found at the front part of the tube. This is what we call the objective lens.

Last but not the least is another combination of glass lens which is found on the other end of the tube of the refracting telescope. We call this lens as the eyepiece.

Even if there are now many modern telescopes that exist today, the refracting telescope has very much secured a place in the history of astronomy.