Attentions all shoppers...
So you have decided that you have more than a passing interest in
amateur astronomy and you are now considering your first telescope
to view the wonders of the night time sky. Unfortunately like
everything else in life, you are finding it a little overwhelming
trying to decide which telescope is right for your needs. Here you
will find general details about the different types of astronomical
equipment, some of the terms used and helpful hints. This will help
you decide on the right telescope, to meet your needs for now and
into the future.
Some helpful hints
Before you even look at the ads in magazines or think about that
department store telescope, ask yourself four basic questions:
- What will I really see through an amateur astronomer's
telescope? Unless you have already looked through a amateur's
telescope, please review the Viewing
Page.
- How much do you wish to pay for your telescope? Telescopes
range in price from a few hundred dollars to hundreds of
thousands of dollars. The pricing rule for a telescope is very
simple; The more you pay, the more you will see. This does not
mean you will not have hours of fun with smaller telescopes,
just that a smaller telescope will become less useful faster as
you learn more of what there is to see in the night time sky.
- What do I really want to see with a telescope? If you only
wish to see celestial objects that live in your cosmic back yard
or objects so large that you can practically see them with your
naked eyes, then a smaller telescope or binoculars might be in
order. Binoculars and some smaller telescopes have the advantage
of being useful for watching Earth bound objects like birds and
wildlife. If you really want to see deep into space and marvel
at the unbelievable objects that are out there, larger aperture
size is very important. But remember that the bigger one's
telescopic aperture, the more money you will have to part with.
A good Newtonian 8 inch aperture telescope can cost between 700
to 900 dollars.
- Will I need to transport my telescope to a dark sky location?
If you live in an area with a lot of light pollution, make sure
to consider how hard it will be to disassemble and transport
your telescope. Some telescope types are heavy and very hard to
transport.
Before you buy anything, consider going to a few star parties. This is the best way to learn about many of the details
in amateur astronomy. At a star party you will find many different
types, sizes and makes of telescope. You will find people who know
the sky above, who are willing to teach and show you every little
detail. Even after you buy a telescope, you will most likely wish to
join the organization and continue going to the star parties. Click
here to see a list of the upcoming MAS star parties..
Do not forget the books!
There are many good books in print covering in greater detail
each of the topics within these web pages. Review the information
presented here and if you are still interested, stop by your local
library or book store.
It is hard to list a few good astronomical books since there are
so many. Here are several possible suggestions on books that are
valuable beginning astronomy books.
Night Watch - An Equinox Guide to Viewing the Universe by
Terence Dickinson (Published by Firefly Books ISBN 0-920656-89-7).
This is an excellent general astronomy book. It has gone though a
few updates and eight plus printings over the years and keeps
getting better. This book covers many astronomical areas like
Discovering the Cosmos, The universe in Eleven Steps, Backyard
Astronomy, Stars for All Seasons, Stargazing Equipment and much
more. The book also includes easy to understand sky charts and notes
on astronomical objects. If you have to by only one book, start with
Night Watch.
Another good general astronomy book is Skywatching by
David H. Levy (Published by The Nature Company/ Time Life Books ISBN
0-7835-4771-X). This book covers many general details about
astronomy but is not as strong in astronomical equipment and Night
Watch. It is a much richer book when it comes to astronomical
history and sky lore. Skywatching is better at covering each
constellation, letting you know what you can see in each
constellation and gives some brief background on the history behind
the consultation. This is the second most used book on any beginning
book shelf of astronomy. This is a colorful, easy to read and will
written book.
If you are looking for the ultimate amateur astronomer's
equipment only book, than I would suggest Star Ware by Philip
S. Harrington (Published by John Wiley.& Sons, Inc. ISBN
0-471-57671-9). This book drills down to the equipment used by
amateur astronomer's and gets in to great detail. It names names,
covers details and explains terms. This is not an easy reading book
and is more a reference book for the person looking to learn just
about everything about astronomical hardware. But do not be scared
off! This book is a great resource for anyone who is interested in
really learning what an eyepiece is and what an F8 telescope really
is. If you really need to know about amateur astronomy hardware,
this is the book for you.
Details, Details, Details...
Remember, there are three general areas of concern when you are
choosing a telescope. The type of telescope, finding the right mount
for the telescope and a set of good eyepieces to use with the
telescope. Select from the buttons to the left to learn more about
Telescopes, Mounts or Eyepieces. |
