How to Select the Best Telescope

Gazing at the stars is a hobby that many people have taken up. Now it is possible to see the stars up close with the use of a telescope. You can now examine the universe in a closer range than before because of technological advancements.

You should buy your own telescope if you want to view the skies as a hobby. This will help fulfil your ambitions of becoming an amateur astronomer. There are many telescope accessories that can help you pursue the hobby as a stargazer. Below are some tips that can help you find the best telescope for your needs when it comes to the features that you should look for.

The first thing you need to look at when buying a telescope is the aperture and the focal length. The most important feature of a telescope is the aperture. Aperture refers to the diameter of the lens that gathers light in the telescope which is also its main lens. If you have a large aperture, then your images will appear brighter and better and you will see deeper into space. The distance from the main lens to the eyepiece is the focal length The magnification of the telescope is affected by the focal length.

Magnification is another feature that should be considered when buying a telescope. magnification signifies the number of times the object increases in size compared to its size when you look at it with your bare eyes. A 24x magnification would make the object in space look 24x bigger than what you see when you look up at the sky without a telescope. Too high magnification would make your object less bright and it can easily hurt your eyes. This makes it difficult to view in the darkness. The ideal magnification for a beginner is low to moderate magnifications since smaller images are sharper and brighter.

Also check out the telescope coating. The application of telescope coating to optical surfaces has increase its performance. These coatings will not allow incoming light from being reflected and lost from the surface. It will help you get better viewing at night.

Another feature to consider is the telescope mount which is as important as the optical tube assembly. When there are objects in the sky that you want follow, a mount would help you do to so. The movement of the earth will cause us to look at the planets and stars as moving also You can then move your telescope according to the movement of the object in the sky.

You place your rig on a telescope support system. With a support system, your telescope will be stable and will not be affected by vibrations on the ground. A tripod is an example of a support system. For telescopes that are permanently set up, a pier is a stable platform.