If you decide to buy a telescope, then you first need to understand what it is, what types of them are, and which option is better to choose. This is what we will try to help you figure out.

If you decide to buy a telescope, then you first need to understand what it is, what types of them are, and which option is better to choose. This is what we will try to help you figure out.

What is a telescope and why is it needed
A telescope is an instrument that allows you to observe various celestial objects that are very far from the point of observation. Most often they are used to observe celestial bodies, but sometimes terrestrial objects are also considered with their help. Previously, they were very expensive, and only astronomers and ufologists could afford them. Today, devices of this kind are much more affordable, and even ordinary people can afford them. For example, the Stargazer store can help you buy them.

Optical telescopes
Different telescopes can operate in different ranges of electromagnetic spectra. The most common optical telescope. Almost all amateur telescopes today are optical. Such devices work with light. There are also radio telescopes, neutrino, gravitational, x-ray and gamma telescopes. However, this all applies to scientific equipment, which is not used in everyday life.

Types of telescopes
Optical telescopes, both professional and amateur, are divided into three types. The main criterion here is the telescope lens, or rather the principle by which it works. You can find various types of telescopes on the website www.astronom.ru.

lens telescope
Lens refractors are called refractors, and they were the very first to be born. They were created by Galileo Galilei. The advantage of such telescopes is that they almost do not need special maintenance, they guarantee good color reproduction, a clear image. Such options are well suited for studying the Moon, planets, and double stars. It is worth noting that these devices are most suitable for professionals, since they are not so easy to use, and besides, they are quite large in size and high in cost.

mirror telescope
Mirrors are called reflectors. Their lenses consist only of their mirrors. Like a convex lens, a concave mirror collects light at a specific point. If an eyepiece is placed at this point, the image can be seen. Among the advantages of such a telescope stands out the minimum price per unit diameter of the device, since large mirrors are much more profitable to manufacture than large lenses. They are also compact and easy to transport, while giving bright pictures with little distortion. Of course, the mirror has its drawbacks. This is additional time for thermal stabilization, lack of protection from dust and air, which can spoil the image.

Mirror-lens telescopes
They are called catadioptric, and they can use both lenses and mirrors. The advantage of such a telescope is its versatility, since with their help it is possible to observe both planets with the Moon and deep space objects. They are also very compact and cost effective. The only point is the complexity of the design, which complicates the self-alignment of the device.

You have decided to purchase a telescope for your child so that he can explore the world and explore the mysteries of the universe. Or wanted to try their hand at astrophotography. For each purpose, you need to choose a special instrument, since there is no ideal telescope that could simultaneously help you in various astronomical observations. Next, we will understand the types of telescopes according to their optical design.

The principle of operation of refractors

The front part of the tube of such a device has a lens that acts as an objective. If we compare the refractor with other systems, then it has a large length. The price of the device is determined by the quality of the lens and its ability to increase.

The disadvantage of refractors is the presence of aberration, leaving halos over objects of contemplation and distorting the image. To prevent the negative effect, modern lenses are used, their smart ratio, low dispersion glass. Such telescopes are ideal for contemplation of different planets, stars and even the Moon.

There are three different types of refracting telescopes - ED refractors, apochromats, achromats.

The lens of achromatic devices consists of two lenses, which consist of a flint and a crown. The varying composition and air gap between the lenses helps prevent distortion.

Today you can buy long focus (opening 1/10-1/12) and short focus (1/5-1/6). The latter are easy to transport due to their compact and lightweight design. These telescopes are often mounted on a pole to view comets, nebulae, and the Milky Way.

ED-refractors and apochromats are presented in the expensive segment. They give a more detailed image of objects that are in deep space.

ED refractors are built in the same way as apochromats, but instead of a crown and a flint, a different material is used for the manufacture of lenses - low dispersion ED glass, which helps to see planets and stars better without distortion. The high cost of such a telescope is justified by the strength of mechanical components and suitability for astrophotography.

Apochromats, according to reviews of experienced astronomers, give the most accurate image of space objects. The chromatic aberration of the telescope is corrected in the wavelengths of the spectrum. The design of apochromatic refractor lenses can consist of 3-5 different lenses made from the most expensive optical fluorite glass.

Attention! Apochromats are great for experienced astrophotographers looking for perfect images of stars, moons and planets. Therefore, they are expensive.

Choosing a reflector

The reflector lens is a concave mirror at the bottom of the tube. It has become much cheaper and easier to make mirrors for manufacturers, so reflector-type telescopes cost less than refractors.

The thinnest reflection layer of mirrors needs to be carefully handled with the telescope - not subjected to sharp temperature changes and stored in a case so that moisture does not condense on the surface of the mirrors.

Attention! There are many lens diameters - from 76 to 250 mm. A small price for a device does not mean that it works worse than others. It is designed for contemplation of distant star clusters, has a good luminosity.

The most famous and inexpensive reflecting telescopes are instruments operating on the Newtonian system. In it, light, falling on a spherical mirror, is refracted on a secondary flat one. You can purchase such devices with a diameter of 76 to 400 mm.

There are also reflectors that perform their functions according to the Doll-Kerkem, Cassegrain, Ritchie-Chretien systems. They differ in the concavity of the mirror lenses and their placement in the lens. Such devices are presented in mass production, but are subject to aberrations. Ideal for astrophotography and optical planetary observations.

Telescopes based on Maksutov-Cassegrain and Schmidt-Cassegrain systems

Catadioptrics (the general name for telescopes in this category) have embodied the dream of all amateur astronomers - combining the advantages of lens and mirror instruments for observing stars and planets.

The most popular are the devices of the Schmidt-Kassergen system. They are lightweight, compact, do not require a rigid tripod and produce high quality images.

To correct the possibility of distorting the visibility of a celestial object, manufacturers have installed correction plates and lenses in these systems.

Choosing the right mount

During long-term observation of the stars and planets, it becomes necessary to use a stand for the telescope - the hands get tired and begin to tremble, which leads to image distortion.

There are several types of stands:

• Equatorial is designed for accurate observations, astrophotography, allows you to direct coordinates;
• Azimuth - more convenient to use reflectors, children;
• Dobson system - simple, often comes with large reflectors.

The support for the telescope will become a reliable assistant for you and you do not need to save on it.

The perfect tool for your needs

In accordance with the wishes of the novice astronomer or experienced photographer of celestial objects, we have divided telescopes into categories:

• First. For a non-choosy user, a 70-90 mm refractor telescope or Newton's reflectors with a lens size of 120 mm are suitable.
• For a child. When choosing a telescope for a child, you can not go in cycles in the characteristics of image accuracy and its high quality. For this purpose, you can buy a reflector or refractor from an inexpensive segment.
• Universal. Manufacturers offer this kind of telescope for people who wish to observe objects on Earth and in space. Buy a 120 mm refractor, 140 mm reflector, Maksutov-Cassegrain 110 mm.
• For photography of astronomical bodies, choose telescopes with a high objective lens. It is also mandatory to have an equatorial type mount with electric drives.
• Contemplation of the planets. A bright image can be obtained using a 150 mm refractor.
• For surveying objects in deep space, 240 mm reflectors with an equatorial support or a Dobson tripod are suitable.
• For frequent movements, refractors with a short focus and working according to the Maksutov-Cassegrain system are suitable. They are light and small and will not create inconvenience during transportation.

When buying a telescope for a novice observer of stars and nebulae, you do not need to pay a lot of money, even the simplest device with minimal magnification and aberration will be a gift for him. And in the near future, when he becomes a professional astronomer, you can think about purchasing more expensive models.

How to choose a telescope - video

The starry sky will never cease to amaze fans with its mystery, incomparable beauty and, of course, numerous theories and assumptions.

Astronomy is a hobby for the intellectual and inquisitive, and thanks to modern powerful telescopes, everyone can satisfy their curiosity and carefully examine all the celestial bodies.

We decided to collect all the useful tips that may be useful for beginners and more experienced astronomers, and also picked up 5 high-quality telescopes.

What is the right way to look at the stars?

We have selected five of the best telescopes: for children, novice astronomers, amateurs, experienced users and professionals, with the help of which it is very easy and pleasant to observe the starry sky.

The best telescopes

For kids: Levenhuk Strike 60 NG

Price: 9 108 rubles

A Levenhuk Telescope can be an ideal educational tool for a child who is interested in astronomy. In addition to the telescope itself and eyepieces, a detailed manual is included in the kit. From it, the child will be able to learn about 280 of the most fascinating and interesting celestial objects. Plus, the telescope comes with colorful posters of stars and planets that are incredibly easy to learn from, and a virtual planetarium disc.

Levenhuk Strike 60 NG is very light and easy to use as it is designed specifically for beginner astronomers. The tripod is adjustable, which allows you to position the telescope at a comfortable height for the child. Levenhuk Strike 60 NG does not require pre-configuration and can be used immediately after unpacking. High-quality lenses with a special anti-reflective coating provide a bright and contrasting image. Thanks to the finder, which is also included in the kit, the child will cope with the search for objects in the sky. The telescope can be used both at home and on the street or outside the city.

Beginners: Celestron AstroMaster 90 EQ

Price - 17 680 rubles

This refractor telescope is suitable for both adults and children. With it, you can observe both terrestrial objects and stars. The Astro Master series of telescopes successfully combines quality and a set of necessary accessories.

All optical elements of this telescope are made of glass and equipped with special coatings. It allows not only to consider the brightest space objects, but also distant ones. Celestron AstroMaster 90 EQ gives you the ability to see objects 13 times smaller than those that can be seen with the naked eye. The telescope objective has a diameter of 90mm and a focal length of 1000mm.

Celestron AstroMaster 90 EQ Telescope Kit Includes 2 eyepieces giving 50x and 100x magnification. The built-in StarPointer will help you locate objects. For convenient installation, the telescope is also provided with a tripod with a shelf for accessories.

Well, especially for beginner stargazers, the package includes the TheSky X planetarium program, the database of which allows you to access more than 10,000 objects. In addition, it makes it possible to print star charts.

This telescope is perfect for learning and first steps in astronomy, and will not become obsolete with further exploration of space.

For fans: Bresser Messier NT-130/1000 (EXOS-1)

Price - 68 400 rubles

The Bresser Messier NT-130/1000 is an excellent telescope for those who like to observe celestial bodies. 130mm is the aperture of the telescope, and 1000 is the minimum focal length.

This device is equipped with a Plössl 26mm wide-angle eyepiece, which provides a 36x magnification and allows you to view the surface of the moon, and deep sky objects. Quality glass lenses with multi-layer coating ensure that the image is clear and contrasting.

The Bresser Messier NT-130/1000 is also suitable for astrophotography - you can attach a SLR camera to it and enjoy shooting.

Make no mistake, this telescope may be suitable for beginners, however, it cannot be called a budget telescope, and the specifications are designed for those who plan long-term observation of the stars.

The tripod of the telescope is made of stainless steel, so it is ideal for outdoor observation. In addition, it is very stable and suppresses vibrations, which makes it incredibly comfortable, and the observation process is quite simple.

The Bresser Messier NT-130/1000 is the perfect choice for the astronomy enthusiast.

For advanced users: Levenhuk Strike 1000 PRO

Price - 50 310 rubles

For those who have been passionate about space for a long time and prefer more advanced technology, the Levenhuk Strike 1000 PRO is an excellent choice. With this telescope, you can observe both planets and deep sky objects outside the solar system. The focal length of this telescope is 1300mm, so you can see the surface of the Moon in detail, see star clusters and nebulae.

The brightness and contrast of the image is provided by a lens with an aperture of 102mm. In addition, you can install a reflex camera on the telescope and take pictures of space objects.

In addition to the standard set of materials, the kit includes a 2x Barlow lens, a Plössl 6.3mm eyepiece, a set of filters - color, solar and lunar, and a cover for the telescope.

Thanks to its mirror-lens design, the telescope delivers excellent image quality. And with a sturdy and stable tripod, you can use Levenhuk Strike 1000 PRO outdoors even on uneven surfaces.

For professionals: Meade 8" LX90-ACF

Price: 219 900

The telescope of the highest class is designed for true fans of astronomy. If you love space for a long time, and have seen enough of the stars through other telescopes - this is a godsend just for you! With the Meade 8" LX90-ACF you can set up a true home (or field) observatory.

The optical scheme of this telescope stands out among analogues - it is a modified Schmidt-Cassegrain scheme with corrected comatic aberration. In other words, the telescope is based on the most advanced optical design to date.

The light diameter of this telescope will allow you to easily observe deep space objects.

A separate advantage that will please the user is the ability to start observations immediately after unpacking - the telescope does not require assembly and additional installation or configuration.

The Meade 8" LX90-ACF is built with quality parts, not to mention what a high-quality image you can get from this telescope!

Well, now you can approach the matter with skill, arm yourself with a telescope suitable for your purposes and go ahead to unknown constellations!

A telescope is a unique optical instrument designed to observe celestial bodies. The use of instruments allows us to consider a variety of objects, not only those that are located near us, but also those that are thousands of light years away from our planet. So what is a telescope and who invented it?

First inventor

Telescopic devices appeared in the seventeenth century. However, to this day there is a debate about who invented the telescope first - Galileo or Lippershey. These disputes are related to the fact that both scientists at about the same time were developing optical devices.

In 1608, Lippershey developed eyeglasses for the nobility, allowing them to see distant objects up close. At this time, military negotiations were underway. The army quickly appreciated the benefits of the development and suggested that Lippershey not assign copyright to the device, but modify it so that it could be viewed with two eyes. The scientist agreed.

The new development of the scientist could not be kept secret: information about it was published in local print media. Journalists of that time called the device a spotting scope. It used two lenses, which made it possible to enlarge objects and objects. From 1609, pipes with a threefold increase were sold with might and main in Paris. Since this year, any information about Lippershey disappears from history, and information about another scientist and his new discoveries appears.

Around the same time, the Italian Galileo was engaged in grinding lenses. In 1609, he presented to society a new development - a telescope with a threefold increase. Galileo's telescope had a higher image quality than Lippershey's tubes. It was the brainchild of the Italian scientist who received the name "telescope".

In the seventeenth century, telescopes were made by Dutch scientists, but they had poor image quality. And only Galileo managed to develop such a technique for grinding lenses, which made it possible to clearly enlarge objects. He was able to get a twenty-fold increase, which was a real breakthrough in science in those days. Based on this, it is impossible to say who invented the telescope: if, according to the official version, it was Galileo who introduced the world to a device that he called a telescope, and if you look at the version of the development of an optical device for magnifying objects, then Lippershey was the first.

First observations of the sky

After the advent of the first telescope, unique discoveries were made. Galileo applied his development to tracking celestial bodies. He was the first to see and sketch lunar craters, spots on the Sun, and also considered the stars of the Milky Way, satellites of Jupiter. Galileo's telescope made it possible to see the rings of Saturn. For your information, there is still a telescope in the world that works on the same principle as Galileo's device. It is located at the York Observatory. The device has a diameter of 102 centimeters and regularly serves scientists to track celestial bodies.

Modern telescopes

Over the centuries, scientists have constantly changed the devices of telescopes, developed new models, and improved the magnification factor. As a result, it was possible to create small and large telescopes with different purposes.

Small ones are usually used for home observations of space objects, as well as for observing nearby space bodies. Large devices allow you to view and take pictures of celestial bodies located thousands of light years from Earth.

Types of telescopes

There are several types of telescopes:

1. Mirrored.
2. Lens.
3. catadioptric.

Galilean refractors are classified as lens refractors. Reflective type devices are referred to as mirror devices. What is a catadioptric telescope? This is a unique modern development that combines a lens and a mirror device.

Lens telescopes

Telescopes play an important role in astronomy: they allow you to see comets, planets, stars and other space objects. One of the first developments were lens devices.

Every telescope has a lens. This is the main part of any device. It refracts rays of light and gathers them at a point called a focus. It is in it that the image of the object is built. An eyepiece is used to view the image.

The lens is placed so that the eyepiece and focus match. In modern models, movable eyepieces are used for convenient observation through a telescope. They help to adjust the sharpness of the image.

All telescopes have aberration - a distortion of the object in question. Lens telescopes have several distortions: chromatic (red and blue rays are distorted) and spherical aberration.

Mirror models

Mirror telescopes are called reflectors. A spherical mirror is mounted on them, which collects the light beam and reflects it with the help of a mirror onto the eyepiece. Chromatic aberration is not characteristic of mirror models, since light is not refracted. However, mirror instruments exhibit spherical aberration, which limits the field of view of the telescope.

Graphic telescopes use complex structures, mirrors with complex surfaces that differ from spherical ones.

Despite the complexity of the design, mirror models are easier to develop than lens counterparts. Therefore, this type is more common. The largest diameter of a mirror-type telescope is more than seventeen meters. On the territory of Russia, the largest device has a diameter of six meters. For many years it was considered the largest in the world.

Telescope Specifications

Many people buy optical devices for observing space bodies. When choosing a device, it is important to know not only what a telescope is, but also what characteristics it has.

1. Increase. The focal length of the eyepiece and the object is the magnification of the telescope. If the focal length of the lens is two meters, and the eyepiece is five centimeters, then such a device will have a magnification of forty times. If the eyepiece is replaced, the magnification will be different.
2. Permission. As you know, light is characterized by refraction and diffraction. Ideally, any image of a star looks like a disk with several concentric rings, called diffraction rings. The dimensions of the disks are limited only by the capabilities of the telescope.

Telescopes without eyes

And what is a telescope without an eye, what is it used for? As you know, each person's eyes perceive the image differently. One eye can see more and the other less. So that scientists can see everything they need to see, they use telescopes without eyes. These devices transmit the image to the monitor screens, through which everyone sees the image exactly as it is, without distortion. For small telescopes, for this purpose, cameras have been developed that are connected to devices and take pictures of the sky.

The most modern methods of space vision is the use of CCD cameras. These are special light-sensitive microcircuits that collect information from the telescope and transfer it to a computer. The data received from them is so clear that it is impossible to imagine what other devices could receive such information. After all, the human eye cannot distinguish all shades with such high clarity, as modern cameras do.

Spectrographs are used to measure the distances between stars and other objects. They are connected to telescopes.

A modern astronomical telescope is not one device, but several at once. The received data from several devices are processed and displayed on monitors in the form of images. Moreover, after processing, scientists receive images of very high definition. It is impossible to see the same clear images of space with the eyes through a telescope.

radio telescopes

Astronomers use huge radio telescopes for their scientific developments. Most often they look like huge metal bowls with a parabolic shape. Antennas collect the received signal and process the received information into images. Radio telescopes can only receive one wave of signals.

infrared models

A striking example of an infrared telescope is the Hubble apparatus, although it can be optical at the same time. In many ways, the design of infrared telescopes is similar to the design of optical mirror models. Heat rays are reflected by a conventional telescopic lens and focused at one point, where the device that measures heat is located. The resulting heat rays are passed through thermal filters. Only then does the photo take place.

Ultraviolet telescopes

Film may be exposed to ultraviolet light when photographed. In some part of the ultraviolet range, it is possible to receive images without processing and exposure. And in some cases it is necessary that the rays of light pass through a special design - a filter. Their use helps to highlight the radiation of certain areas.

There are other types of telescopes, each of which has its own purpose and special characteristics. These are models such as X-ray and gamma-ray telescopes. According to their purpose, all existing models can be divided into amateur and professional. And this is not the whole classification of devices for tracking celestial bodies.

The structure of the telescope

In the 20th century, astronomy took many steps in the study of our universe, but these steps would not have been possible without the use of such sophisticated instruments as telescopes, which have a history of more than one hundred years. The evolution of the telescope took place in several stages, and it is about them that I will try to tell.

Since ancient times, humanity has been drawn to find out what is there, in the sky, beyond the Earth and invisible to the human eye. The greatest scientists of antiquity, such as Leonardo da Vinci, Galileo Galilei, attempted to create a device that allows you to look into the depths of space and lift the veil of the mystery of the universe. Since then, there have been many discoveries in the field of astronomy and astrophysics. Everyone knows what a telescope is, but not everyone knows how long ago and by whom the first telescope was invented, and how it was arranged.

Telescope - an instrument designed to observe celestial bodies.

In particular, a telescope is understood as an optical telescopic system not necessarily used for astronomical purposes.

There are telescopes for all ranges of the electromagnetic spectrum:

b optical telescopes

b radio telescopes

b x-ray telescopes

gamma-ray telescopes

Optical telescopes

A telescope is a tube (solid, frame or truss) mounted on a mount equipped with axes for pointing at the object of observation and tracking it. A visual telescope has a lens and an eyepiece. The rear focal plane of the objective is aligned with the front focal plane of the eyepiece. Instead of an eyepiece, a photographic film or a matrix radiation detector can be placed in the focal plane of the objective. In this case, the telescope lens, from the point of view of optics, is a photographic lens. The telescope is focused using a focuser (focused device). telescope space astronomy

According to their optical design, most telescopes are divided into:

ü Lens (refractors or diopters) - a lens or lens system is used as a lens.

b Mirror (reflectors or catoptric) - a concave mirror is used as a lens.

b Mirror-lens telescopes (catadioptric) - a spherical mirror is used as an objective, and a lens, lens system or meniscus serves to compensate for aberrations.