The focal length determines how big your objects will look. As a general rule, the larger the aperture, the better you can see. The amount of light determines how much you can see. It’s determined by the diameter of the mirror or lens inside the scope. These scopes are usually big and bulky and are more expensive than the other two types.Īperture is the amount of light that gets into your telescope. The optics are protected in a sealed tube and are great when you’re trying to view faint objects. The compound telescope has a mirror at each end and a lens that the light must pass through before it reaches the eyepiece. These telescopes will give you much better quality images than refractor types, but they do require some maintenance to keep the optics clean. They’re compact and lightweight, but they have open tubes that allow dust to collect on the optics. The light enters through one end, reflects off the first mirror into the second, and then goes into the eyepiece. Even with light pollution in the atmosphere, you will see faint nebulae that are not visible with smaller scopes.A reflecting telescope has two mirrors in it. Now you are able to view sharper and clearer images. See more detail of the rings of Saturn, the separation of double stars, and precise details of deep-sky objects. You will see details of nebulae and star clusters. Planetary details like textures, color, and surrounding clouds are apparent. Use this scope to view craters on the moon. But, keep in mind that very high magnifications can also cause blurring of objects. The larger the magnification, the more you will see. Most Schmidt scopes offer a magnification of between 50x to 80x. This allows clearer viewing of deep-sky objects and those that are further away. The larger the aperture, the more light the scope will collect. Those at the higher end have an aperture of 200mm (8inches) or more. Scopes in the lower price range have an aperture of 150mm (6 inches). There are 2 main issues you may want to consider, and it is related to price. Schmidt Cassegrains are at the upper end of the scale, so you will get amazing views with all the models. When it comes to stargazing, the size and strength of your telescope will make a difference. This may be an issue if you plan on traveling with your scope. If you want to try your hand at astrophotography, you can connect a simple DSLR camera or webcam to the scope.Īlthough the scopes themselves are compact, the mounts are usually quite heavy. What a great way to easily learn about the night skies! View the surface of the moon, planets, stars, galaxies, star clusters, solar system objects, and nebulae. By simply focusing on a few key objects, the telescope will find what you want and provide all the info you need. These scopes have a design that allows the light to ‘fold.’ This means that the tubes are shorter and more compact.Ĭomputerized telescopes come with database software of celestial objects, often as many as 40000. When it comes to lenses, you have a choice of smaller models with a 150mm (6 inch) lens. This allows the scope to plot longitude and latitude, time, and date without you having to enter the data manually. Most come with computerized GoTo mounts that track objects as they move across the sky. Schmidt telescopes offer exceptional clarity, color, and crisps views. The cost is higher due to the correcting lens, motorized tracking, and the innovative GoTo functionality of the mount. But, this will certainly be a telescope that will last a lifetime. You will expect to pay more than other brands. When considering buying a Schmidt Cassegrain, the first issue is the price. Like most high-end electronic devices, telescopes come with pros and cons.
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