What to Consider When Choosing an Achromatic Telescope

The right telescope can make a world of difference in the way that you view the universe. When you are deciding what kind of telescope that you want to purchase, there are a few things to consider. It's good to know how the type of telescope that you are considering buying works to give you a better idea of if it is the right telescope for you. In this article, I'd like to discuss achromatic refractor telescopes with you, to give you a better idea of the advantages and how this particular telescope design works.

An achromatic telescope is a telescope that refracts utilizing two lenses.  Refraction is caused when light is bent through a series of clear lenses to reach a fine point in the shape of a cone.  The lens in the front of the telescope, called the "objective lens," creates an upside-down image of the item. The lens closest to the eye, called the "eyepiece," then amplifies the image.  Typical refracting telescopes will use at least two groups of lenses and referred to as doublets. The addition of more than two lenses helps to correct a natural distortion of light known as chromatic aberration or purple fringing.  Chromatic aberration occurs when the light passing through the lenses is not bent into a perfect cone shape before reaching your eye.  When looking at bright objects violet light, the last in the color spectrum, fails to focus on the same plane as the other colors of light and creates a purple halo around the object you’re viewing.  Achromatic refractors utilize extra low dispersion or ED glass and precision assembly to eliminate this bizarre coloring. 

One of the benefits of the lenses on an achromatic telescope that they don't require recoating like mirrors do. They can also utilize aluminum telescope tubes, which can be better than fiberglass and cardboard for durability and longetivity.  Many users will own their achromatic refracting telescope for decades.  

Achromatic refractor telescopes are great for daytime viewing as well, are easy to maintain and are generally lightweight making them great travelling companions.

If you are looking for a refractor telescope that is achromatic, you there are several places you can look. One of the easiest and most affordable options is Telescopes.net. They have a great selection of achromatic refractor telescopes from various brands and in a range of different prices. Whether you are a telescope enthusiast or a casual stargazer, you can find the right telescope for your needs and at your price point at Telescopes.net.

A Short Guide for Selecting the Best Reflector Telescope

There are many different telescopes available, which may leave you wondering which one to pick. You'll want to make sure it's a telescope that's right for you and for your needs. If you are new to astronomy, it's particularly important to go with a telescope that you can easily learn for to use, but will also give you an amazing view of the heavens. If you are looking for a telescope like this, you may want to look into reflector telescopes.

If you haven't used a reflector telescope before, it's important to understand the mechanics of how they work, so you can better understand if you'll want to use one. Reflector telescopes utilize a mirror to gather and concentrate light. Reflectors are available in a wide range of apertures or sizes.  A lot of models of reflector telescopes have a 4.5 inch reflector, which means a good size aperture that translates to better sharpness and brightness. 

When you are shopping for a reflector telescope, you'll want to consider the aperture or size of the largest reflecting mirror and the overall length of the optical tube.  The distance light has to travel to reach your eye is known as focal length.  This measurement is most commonly given in millimeters. By dividing the focal length of your optical assembly by the diameter of the largest mirror (also known as the primary mirror), you will find your focal ratio.   Smaller focal ratios, below f/5, are considered ‘fast’ telescopes and are favored by astro photographers.  The light has to travel a shorter distance to reach your eye or camera than longer focal lengths.  f/10 is the most commonly found focal ratio and is a good proportion for crisp, clear images for both observing and imaging.

Also keep in mind that with a reflector telescope, you will need a mount. There are two main mounts that you should consider: Alt Azimuth and EQ or Equatorial. Each have their advantages.  Do a little research to see which is right for you.

If you are looking for an amazing reflector telescope and a high quality mount, check out telescopes.net. They have a wide variety of different brands and models to choose from and the knowledgeable staff, allowing you to find the perfect reflector telescope for your needs.

Reflector telescopes are the perfect telescope for any stargazer whether you want to observe star clusters or the planets and moon or are an astroimager wanting to capture the beauty of the night sky above. To get a better feel for them, try one out for yourself!

Purchasing a Newtonian Telescope

Staring up at the stars has been a popular pastime for years. Over time, the technology has improved and high end telescopes have become more readily available. Stargazing used to be a hobby that could end up costing quite a bit, but as the years have passed, telescopes have become more affordable. This has allowed people to start looking up at the stars through a telescope without breaking the bank.

High-end telescopes also help budding astronomers and scientists to study the stars and to learn more about the nature of the universe. Having a personal telescope can be very helpful if you are going to school for a related field and allows you to do more studying on your own. Remember, in order to collect the best data, you need the right tools for the job.

When it comes time to purchase a telescope, you want to make sure that you go with a trusted company that has a good understanding of different types of telescopes. You also want to go with a company that has a variety of different brands to choose from. This way, if you want to purchase an Orion telescope (for example), you'll know they have it in stock. Luckily, there are specialty stores like Woodland Hills Camera and Telescopes that have a vast assortment of different telescopes and equipment to help you with your stargazing.

Whether you are looking for a refractor, solar, reflector or Newtonian telescope, when you go with Telescopes.net you can rest assured that you will find a brand name telescope that will last you for years.

They carry an extensive amount of accessories as well, such as: binoculars, microscopes, radio astronomy equipment and more. 

When you are looking for a Newtonian or any other type of telescope, go with a company with a knowledgeable staff that will point you in the right direction—go with Telescopes.net.