What to look for: Telescopes come in various designs and sizes, so what must be considered for the best deep-space stargazing? The biggest question is, 'Which telescope type should I buy?' Here is one explanation to help. Refractor vs. reflector vs. catadioptric telescopes:
White Star Outdoors 13 Belmont Road, Berwick, VIC 3806, Australia
Website https://whitestaroutdoors.com/
Email wbreakwell@yahoo.com
The Best Telescopes
and Accessories For
Viewing Planets and
Galaxies
What to look for: Telescopes come in various designs and sizes, so what
must be considered for the best deep-space stargazing? The biggest
question is, 'Which telescope type should I buy?' Here is one explanation
to help.
Refractor vs. Reflector vs.
Catadioptric Telescopes: There are
some critical differences between
how they work, and each type of
telescope is helpful for different
observations.
Before purchasing one of the best telescopes available, it is essential to consider the desired
outcome. Want to observe distant star clusters, nebulas, and galaxies? A reflector telescope is the
best option. Alternatively, a Refractor telescope is the best choice for seeing the Moon
Another option would be a Catadioptric
telescope, which can work as a happy middle
ground. Some models have computerized
motors that make aligning and tracking targets
easy and can even capture images which is
excellent news for astrophotographers.
The aperture size is one of the most important things to consider when
purchasing a telescope, and next is the consideration of the focal length.
The main thing to remember here is that bigger is not always better.
It all comes down to what subjects are in
view. Shorter focal lengths say about 20
inches (500 mm), will provide a field of
view of the Milky Way and showpieces
such as the Pleiades (Messier 45) and
Orion Nebula (Messier 42).
Meanwhile, high-power objects like the Moon, planets, or double
stars need a telescope with a longer focal length of about 80 inches
(2000 mm).
High-power objects like the Moon,
planets, or double stars need a
telescope with a longer focal length
of about 80 inches.
Still undecided, there are plenty of compromises between aperture and
focal length, but there must be a willingness to make a few trade-offs in
terms of the instrument weight and the field of view, and its 'power.'
The aperture is the number one factor in deep-
space viewing. Larger apertures collect more
light, making fainter objects