Choosing the right telescope for you is as much about what you are interested in viewing as it is about your budget. Here are some considerations:
Size of the Telescope
Telescopes come in a variety of sizes, from tabletop to floor-to-ceiling. Tabletop models are convenient for beginners and casual observers because they are lightweight and easy to move around. They can be used by children, but they tend to be less stable than larger models, so they may not be appropriate for all ages or activities. Small telescopes may also have limited power, so they aren’t ideal if you want to see far-away objects.
Aperture (Diameter)
The aperture – also called diameter – of a telescope is an important factor when considering magnification power, image brightness and sharpness. Larger telescopes will deliver brighter images with greater detail than smaller ones, but they require more expensive materials and techniques to manufacture and can weigh up to several hundred pounds. The largest amateur telescopes have apertures up to 20 inches in diameter (50cm).
Reflector vs. Refractor: Which is Better?
Reflectors and refractors both use lenses or mirrors to gather light and focus it into a single point, but they do so in different ways. Reflectors use mirrors to collect light and reflect it onto a lens that focuses the image onto a secondary mirror situated at 45 degrees from the primary mirror (the one used to collect light), then through another lens that directs the image into your eye piece.
Refractors use lenses to gather light and converge it on one focal point. The difference between refractors and reflectors is how they gather light (refractors use lenses; reflectors use mirrors). This means that all refractors have fixed focal length (meaning the amount of magnification will stay constant no matter what part of the sky you’re viewing). This isn’t true for all reflector telescopes, however—some models offer variable-focus eyepieces with which you can adjust the amount. You can check Celestron for more information.
Telescopes come in many different sizes and shapes. They range from small hand-held binoculars to giant observatory instruments that can help scientists study the furthest reaches of space. The most common types of telescopes are refractors, reflectors, and compound telescopes. Each type has its own unique features that make it better suited for certain tasks than others.
Refractors use lenses to produce an image, which then travels to an eyepiece. Reflectors use mirrors to reflect light into an eyepiece or onto a screen where it is magnified and projected outward by a lens or mirror system. Compound telescopes are a combination of both refracting and reflecting optics that allows them to be used for both terrestrial and celestial viewing purposes as well as astrophotography applications. You can contact us for more information on Celestron Nexstar 8SE Telescope.
