The Solar System
Telescopes heads the list of must haves of any stargazers as it�s the most used entity to explore the universe. Telescopes come in a plethora of shapes and sizes which are dependent of their functions. Bigger telescopes have the ability to gather more light and consequently have better resolution. A higher resolution translates to the ability of the telescope to differentiate between two close objects. Before you set out to buy a telescope it�s imperative that you do some serious research. The internet is an awesome resource and you could gather quite a lot of info about various telescopes. Another suggestion is to �test drive� a telescope. One way to do this is to join an astronomy club; often these clubs organize stargazing events where you could try out telescope brought of various members. You can even ask the members what sort of telescope they recommend based on the brands, price and diameter of the lens.
Choosing a telescope is no doubt a tough one for a beginner as they will be caught in the dilemma of how much to invest. Telescopes are basically semi-expensive investment; if you decide to invest too little you may not get the expected night sky which you were hoping for. Children are vacillating and they may lose their interest quickly and you would end up selling the telescope on eBay or worse on a yard sale. So try to make a wise choice and go for an intermediately priced telescope.
There are a few specifications you would have to look out for before investing in a telescope, the prime is the.
Diameter of the Lens
The diameter of the lens is a vital feature which influences your purchase. It�s always recommended to focus on the diameter of the actual lens and not the advertised one. The diameter of the lens directly influences the amount of light which enters the telescope. Larger the amount of light which enters the telescope, the clearer will be your image.
When purchasing a telescope, try to go for one with a solid base, commonly called as tripods. When a telescope is mounted on tripods, it ensures that it doesn�t move or shake. As to be expected any movement would cause the image to be blurred. If you have tried to look through a telescope sans a tripod to steady the sway, you�ll understand the difficulty of trying to focus on an object in the night sky. Add to this the fact that the object is actually moving through the sky and it becomes almost impossible to keep track of the object. A telescope mount can be fitted on virtually type of telescope a reflecting telescope, a refracting telescope, catadiotric telescope or a Dobsonian telescope. The two most commonly used telescopic mounts are Altazimuth and Equatorial .
Altazimuth telescope mounts
Altazimuth telescope mounts are normally used on Dobsonian telescope. The telescope can be adjusted in up, down, left and right directions. The range of movement is generally considered fine for a beginner and intermediate skywatcher.
Equatorial telescope mounts
Equatorial telescope mounts are more advanced and allows greater movements. Though it sounds good, there is a higher level of skills which is needed on the part of the user. The user needs to have a basic idea of planetary movement and make minor adjustments accordingly. However, with a bit of practice this can be mastered by most star gazers.