COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT TELESCOPES AND HOW TO USE ONE.

 

 

Telescopes are fascinating instruments, enabling us to see faraway objects, hundreds of thousands of miles away from us, in the night sky. As you can imagine, to achieve that telescopes use very sophisticated systems of optics arrangement involving mirrors, lens, microcontrollers and sometimes even small computers that work in conjunction to bring to us the visual feed.

 

Handling a decent telescope often requires knowhow and a deep understanding of not just optics but also of astrophysics. But there are plenty of simple telescopes, what are otherwise known as table-top telescopes that require little to no knowledge and are perfect for beginners to get started in their journey to discover the skies.

 

If you are a beginner and are just looking to get into amateur astronomy, you’d most likely be full of questions.
“What telescope to buy?”, “what should my aperture be?”, “Should I get a refractive telescope or a reflective telescope?” – we get these questions all the time. Therefore, we’ve decided to compile the ultimate guide to the common questions that you might have about your telescopes for your perusal.

 

 

Top 5 tips for improving planetary views with your telescope.

Video by Astronomy and Nature TV

 

 

Should I choose a refractor telescope?

 

A refractor telescope is a wonderful choice as a first telescope. A refractor telescope uses a refractor mechanism to deliver visuals and looks like a typical telescope that most people instantly recognize. The front of the telescope houses a large lens that gathers light and then reflects it back on the mirror situated at the back.

 

They usually come as a ready-made telescope with a simple design, easy configuration and sturdy build. They are great for viewing objects on earth and can also be used to observe some celestial bodies in the night sky. However, astronomical objects that are too far away look fuzzy. Refractor telescopes generally need little to no upkeep but because of their huge lens in the front and a long barrel, they tend to be quite big and bulky.

 

Refracting vs Reflecting telescope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAW_6ukFO9w

Video by Randy Dobson

 

Is a reflector telescope better than refractor telescope?

 

Reflector telescopes are quite different in operation from their refractor counterparts and a key difference is the incorporation of a mirror at the end of the tube to facilitate image production. The mirrors assemble light which is then redirected to another mirror encased in the tube before hitting the eyepiece.

 

Reflecting telescopes produce significantly higher quality of images and are recommended for surveying faint objects in the night sky. However, reflector telescopes are generally more expensive than the refractive telescopes and require regular maintenance and upkeep. The lens tends to gather dust and smudges which it should be protected against and they are generally costlier than the refractive telescopes. However, if you are looking to observe faint objects and do not mind the monetary investment, reflective telescopes are a great asset to have.

 

 

What should I know about the workings of a telescope?

 

Before you find the telescope you want to buy, you should know how it works. The primary work for a wide range of telescopes is to gather light, and each sort of scope gathers light in a different manner in comparison to the rest. When you gaze toward the moon with your unaided eyes, you’ll see a substantial white circle, however you won’t most likely unravel any of the better subtleties.

 

By gathering light, telescopes enable you to look into the finer details of objects in the night sky, and Galileo said all that needed to be said when he depicted telescopes as instruments for uncovering the imperceptible.

 

 

Does the lens need cleaning?

 

The lens is a key component of the telescope and the way to decide to handle it and take care of it will directly impact the longevity of your telescope. Brushes made from camel hair are usually great for removing dust from lenses. You can find a variety of such brushes and other tools at stores that sell cameras or photography equipment.

 

If you ever happen to spill food or anything else on your lens, there are special solutions available in the market that can help you clean it. Most such solutions are derived from pure methanol. If you own a reflector telescope, however, things can get a little tricky due to its build and configuration and it is always advisable to only attempt to clean such telescopes if you have confidence in your ability to disassemble and reassemble the scope.

 

 

Do telescopes need regular maintenance?

Telescopes should always be seen as an investment and to that effect, taken care of properly. And the biggest part of telescope maintenance is perhaps caring for the optics of your scope. Since telescopes are mostly used for celestial observations where you are pushing the boundaries of your scope to get a perfect image, proper optics cleaning becomes supremely important.

 

The reason you bought a telescope in the first place is to look at the skies for very distant objects and that will not manifest if the optics of your scope aren’t squeaky clean. Often times with unmaintained scopes, the fine details of an astronomical boy are lost to a few particles of dust or worse, dust particles look like spots on the sky and can be confusing for absolute beginners.

 

Dust accumulation distorts the light that the lens captures and makes it very hard to observe planets and stars. And the best way to avoid this from happening is to enforce regular maintenance of your scope. If you are not using your telescope, the lens should always be covered with a lens cap which protects it from dust.

 

If your manufacturer did not include a cap with the package, you can order one online or make a DIY lens cap from everyday household items. It is also advised to keep your telescopes pointed towards the floor when not in use to prevent dust from settling on its’ optics. The lens and mirrors inside your telescope are very sensitive and should never be touched with bare hands. They can leave fingerprints and other smudges which can be difficult to clean and can ruin your nightly sky observation.

 

Also, extra eyepieces and any other equipment included with the package should be stored in a plastic bag to prevent moisture and dust from getting in.

 

 

What is the most important tip that a beginner should know before embarking on a journey to become an amateur astronomer?

 

One of the most important tips that I always share with people who are just getting into astronomy, astrophotography and such is to have realistic expectations. Most people are inspired to explore this field looking at gorgeous images of distant galaxies and star clusters that we often see shared on social media but it must be understood that those were taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, the biggest operational telescope in the world.

 

It is almost ridiculous to expect that quality of images from a general consumer telescope. There are plenty of telescopes today being used by universities and labs throughout the world that require incredible amounts of funding to build and maintain yet can only produce a fraction of the quality of the image that Hubble Space Telescope produces.

 

Modern consumer telescopes have come a long way and now offer spectacular power at pocket-friendly prices and if you know how to use it you will have a ball looking at the night sky but you must first acknowledge and be prepared for the fact that they wouldn’t look nearly as close or vivid as you see on space magazines.

 

 

What to keep in mind when setting up my first observation?

 

This tip is perhaps the most overlooked but can have a huge impact on your sky viewing experience. When using a telescope, you should always take care to stay away from buildings and other large objects. Even if said buildings are not directly on your line of sight, please choose a place that is relatively quiet and do not have megastructures around.

 

Buildings and other large objects release heat during the night and that can severely affect your telescope’s ability to produce pictures. The heated air distorts the image and it is almost impossible to observe stars or planets under that condition. It is usually best practice to use your telescope exclusively in large, open areas.

 

Another very common mistake everyone makes is to try to set up their telescopes to see through a window. It is not very useful to do so since it has the same problems as highlighted in the paragraph above with buildings. However, things can get really aggravated if there is a significant distance between the temperature of your room and the outside. And no, titling the telescope at an angle will not give you better images. That happens only in movies and TV shows.

 

What eyepiece should I use with my telescope for best images?

 

The basics of telescope eyepieces.

Video by Allan Hall

 

 

We say start with the lowest you got. You can find a number of eyepieces that go with your scope and many manufacturers do include multiple such eyepieces for convenience and additional value. When we say start with the lowest you got, we mean the power of the eyepiece, usually indicated by having been marked with the largest number.

 

Generally, images that are observed through a low powered eyepiece will be brighter and sharper and in most situations, a low powered eyepiece will grant you the best images. Once you have enough experience working with telescopes and understanding different eyepieces, feel free to experiment to see which one fits your needs the best. We have a written a article call the Beginners Guide To Telescope Eyepieces you can read it here.

 

 

Is it a good idea to buy a telescope? Can I get a telescope that doesn’t break the bank?

 

It is always a good idea to invest in a telescope and in today’s day and age, the choice of telescopes for enthusiastic beginners like yourself are endless. If you end up picking the correct one, it can completely change you and the way you look at the world. The incredible profundity of deep space affects the vast majority of us and the realization of how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of things is something that gets deeply ingrained. It is one thing to browse through images of galaxies in your phone or computer but seeing one through a telescope is life-changing.

 

Most of us, when we first have this experience come out with a newfound gratitude for our place in the universe and once this bug bites you, you’ll only want to explore more into such profound marvels of our wonderful universe and keep looking up. We have written a article called the Best Telescopes For Stargazing you can find it here.

 

 

 

How important is focal length when choosing a telescope?

 

Focal length is pretty important in determining the performance of a scope when attempting to see faraway celestial bodies. It is not as important as the aperture but comes a close second. A good focal length can genuinely improve the quality of an image.

 

Focal length is basically the distance from your scope’s point of convergence to the lens or mirror and can be of critical importance when looking at objects in other galaxies. It is always a good idea to go with a scope that has a bigger focal length since it would mean that the image produced would appear a lot bigger than if it were produced by one with a smaller focal length.

 

But if you were to choose between getting a telescope with a bigger focal length and a bigger aperture, choose the one with the bigger aperture.