Who isn’t mystified and awed by the wonders of the universe? From the ultimate dream of becoming an astronaut, visiting a space station, fascination with the planets, moons, stars, galaxies, and the potentiality of extraterrestrial life, astronomy is an enchanting, complex, and entirely rewarding subject to embrace and explore.
If you want to grow your interest in the night skies or have kids who want to delve deeper into the mysteries of space, getting an Edu Science Land and Sky Telescope is your best. It’s a simple but powerful tool that will bestow you with glorious views and make distant celestial objects feel like something you can almost touch without much fuss and all from the safety of your backyard.
To help you further, let’s discover more about this equipment and why should you be buying an Edu Science Land and Sky Telescope for you and your loved ones.
Types of Telescopes
There are three main types of telescopes: the reflecting telescope, refracting telescopes, and compound telescopes.
Reflecting Telescopes
Reflecting telescopes uses mirrors to collect light from the object you’re viewing. The light enters the tube and hits the primary mirror. From there, it’s reflected towards the secondary mirror to the eyepiece, where you’ll see the magnified image. This telescope type provides more clarity, allowing you to better view distant objects in space. However, they aren’t meant for magnifying objects on the ground. Thus, are not usable for Earth viewing.
Refracting Telescopes
Unlike its counterpart, refracting telescopes use specially designed lenses instead of mirrors. Light enters the tube and passes through the objective lens, which produces the distant object’s image in its focal plane. The eyepiece then magnifies the image, bringing it closer to you than it actually is. This type of telescope is versatile and works both on the ground and in the skies, making it perfect for birdwatching or stargazing.
Compound Telescopes
Compound telescopes simply combine all the optical advantages of mirrors and lenses into a compact tool. You can use them for getting clear, sharp images here on Earth or in the sky. However, this tool comes with a hefty price tag and is more suitable for professional use, which means it’s better to opt for a reflecting or refracting telescope, depending on your viewing needs.
Parts of a Telescope
When buying a telescope, it’s vital to learn more about its different parts, so you can distinguish a good telescope from a bad one and make a smarter purchase. Learn more below:
1. Optical Tube
The optical tube is the main piece that holds the lenses, mirrors, or both. It’s the biggest and more obvious part of the telescope that gathers the light and where the eyepiece and other accessories go.
2. Finder Scope
A finder scope is an invaluable mini-telescope that attaches to the main telescope. It’s basically an assisting tool that will aid you in locating celestial objects you want to view in the night sky before looking at them in the bigger telescope. Without this accessory device sighting, it will be difficult to see things in the main telescope.
3. Eyepiece
It’s the part of the telescope utilized for actual viewing. Also called ocular lenses, eyepieces come in different magnifying power, which means you can change them depending on your preferred result.
4. Mirrors and Lenses
Mirrors and lenses also vary in terms of magnification. Devote extra caution when checking or choosing them as they dictate the quality of the telescope.
5. Tripod and Mount
The tripod and mount provide your telescope stability, mobility, and control. The former is the three-legged stand that helps your telescope stands still, so you may easily observe the night sky. Meanwhile, the mount allows you to move the telescope side to side and up and down, so you can see direct it freely to the celestial object you wish to view.
What Features to Check when Buying A Telescope
There are three main things that you should look at when buying a telescope: the aperture, focal length, and magnifying power.
1. Aperture
Aperture is highly deemed as the most significant specification of a telescope. It is basically the size or the diameter of the mirror or lens that collects the light. The bigger it is, the more light it can gather. Thus, producing a clearer, brighter, and better image. Typically, an aperture running between 80 to 300 mm is already ample for an amateur telescope.
2. Focal Length
Focal length refers to the distance between the mirror or lens and the focal point of the optical tube. A longer focal length results in increased magnification but a shorter field of view. On the other hand, a shorter focal length has a wider field of view, making it better for observing galaxies, nebulas, and other deeper objects in the skies.
3. Magnification
Magnification simply refers to how far the telescope can zoom. Chances are you might have seen this specification in your own phone’s camera. It’s measured in units like 10x, 20x, 30x, etc. Note that a telescope with higher magnification doesn’t always mean it’s a better telescope. Magnifying power should be balanced with aperture and focal length to produce great images.
For most purposes, experts suggest getting nothing more than 50x of the telescope’s aperture size in inches. It’s the maximum useful magnifying power, and anything over that will only give you dark and blurry images. If you ever come across a telescope with 200x or 400x magnification, don’t bite it, as it’s mostly likely unrealistic.
4. Price Range
Like in any new hobby or interest, the price will always be part of the picture. Of course, you’d always want to end up with a telescope that will provide you the optimum performance for the money it costs. Remember, more expensive price tags don’t always mean they’re the best. Strike a balance between the features you’ll need and your budget, and you can still end up with a product that will provide you with the best experience.
5. Ease of Use
Telescopes can be complicated, so it’s best to assess the specs you’re getting. If you’re planning to use your telescope personally, you can opt for more complicated telescopes. However, if you are still a newcomer to this hobby or choosing a telescope for your kids, your best bet is to get a basic and age-appropriate telescope.
Why Buy an Edu Science Land and Sky Telescope?
Searching for which telescope to buy can be a daunting task and cost you hours of scrolling, given the innumerable options available in the market. Luckily, you don’t need to waste time and effort as you can buy an Edu Science Land and Sky Telescope instead. Packed with amazing features and inclusion, it’s the perfect telescope for exploring the skies above, discovering moons, planets, and other celestial sites.
Features and Inclusions:
- Wide-angle glass eyepiece for better viewing
- Great focal length and magnification
- Sturdy, full-length aluminum tripod base
- Durable, lightweight optical tube
- Focus knob for easily adjusting image clarity
- Red dot finderscope for quickly location objects in the night sky
- Ideal for viewing distant sights in the night sky or on land during the day
- Comes with a star chart, educational software, and an instruction manual to better locate and identify celestial objects
- Suitable for all ages
Final Words
A telescope is an indispensable tool you’ll need in Astronomy. It will be your way to reach the star, planets, constellations, and other objects in the far places of space. Get the perfect tool and continue feeding your sense of wonder and exploring our vast, engrossing universe.