The lens in a 4-inch telescope has a much larger 12-square-inch light collecting area. A 2-inch telescope will have a primary or “objective” lens with an aperture of about 3 square inches. Manufacturers refer to the diameter of the telescope’s opening as its “size,” so an 8-inch telescope is 8 inches wide, not 8 inches long.Įven a small difference in diameter can have a huge effect on what you can and cannot see. The wider a scope’s opening or “aperture,” the more light it can take in. In general, a larger telescope collects more light, allowing it to show you brighter and clearer images, or bring faint celestial bodies into view. You don’t need to spend a fortune to get the best telescope for you. Picking the right one will ensure you get all the features you want, and that you have a good sense of how to get the most out of the one you buy. Even for hobbyists, there are many, many kinds of telescopes to choose from. An ultra-high power astrophotography setup would be useless to someone who simply wants to get a closer look at the Moon. There is no one universally perfect telescope. What to Consider While Shopping For a Telescope More Gear for Stargazers: Best Star Projectors Sky & Telescope has an extensive directory of local clubs. That way, you can learn some of the basics from experts and try out different types of telescopes before taking the plunge on one yourself. Not only will it take the weight of your binoculars out of the question, it will allow you to lower or raise the optics so that a family member or friend can share in the view without losing your target object.Īs with many hobbies, it’s also a good idea to connect locally and join an astronomy club in your area. A standard camera tripod will work, but consider splurging on the height-adjustable and true-pointing tripod add-on known as the Paragon Plus. This makes a bigger difference in what you can see than the magnification factor, which is the first number of those two.įor the upper weight class of binoculars like the Celestron Skymaster pair, you’ll want to consider a tripod. If you’re familiar with photography at all, you’ll know that’s what determines the amount of light the lens gathers. Play icon The triangle icon that indicates to playįor backyard astronomy, most experts recommend a 7 x 50 or 10 x 50 set of binoculars-or, as Ed Ting of notes, “ the largest lenses you can comfortably hold.” It’s the second number in that equation, the aperture of the lens (measured in millimeters), that’s the most important consideration. Even if your interest in astronomy wanes, you’ll still be able to use binoculars for things like birding, baseball games, and other outdoor activities. They’ll not only give you a great view of the lunar surface, but let you see things like Saturn’s oblong shape (due to its rings) and Jupiter and its moons-as well as distant galaxies and closer nebulae. In fact, what many astronomers advise is to not start out with a telescope at all, but with a good pair of binoculars. In my spare time, I also teach classes on stargazing under urban skies in the Bay Area to help share astronomy with everyone, everywhere. By day, I work as a public affairs specialist for NASA, representing the agency at events like air shows and conventions. The Expert I’m a lifelong space enthusiast who delights in sharing our connection to astronomy in both my personal and professional life.
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