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US $85.57
tips on buying telescopes/spotters for astro and terrestrial viewing?
Hi,
I am an amateur hobbyist photographer. I am looking to buy a spotter or a telescope that can let me see astronomical objects and as well as act as zoom scopes to see terrestrial objects. I went through couple of forums and figured out that refractor telescopes are suitable to see both astro n land...See this one
http://orders.ebay.in/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ImportHubViewItem&itemid=290398143498
it claims view of 40 miles??! Is that even possible??!
and I am eyeing this
http://orders.ebay.in/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ImportHubViewItem&itemid=330467662652
Now, my doubt is, will I be able to use these telescopes for astro images and as well as like binoculars??
Thanks for the help in advance 
OK dude, here's the drill. The first one is a spotting scope. It is basically half a pair of binoculars. Some of them go up to around 60X magnification or more, while typical binoculars are in the 10X to 20X range. But the drawback for astronomy is that they don't have a very big objective lens (aperture). So they are not really good for deep space observation because they don't have a very big aperture, which is what you need for faint stars and planets. Spotting scopes are typically used for terrestrial daylight viewing, such as "spotting" for target practice, viewing wildlife, and other distant objects. Similar to what you would use binoculars for, only more powerful. It is easy to see 40 miles, or even more. The trick is how much you see at 40 miles, which is a function of magnification, lens quality, and atmospheric conditions.
The second one is an actual telescope. Note that it has a larger objective lens which gathers more light, and therefore allows you to see fainter objects.
Both of these units can be used for either terrestrial or astronomical viewing, but the spotting scope is more suited to terrestrial viewing and the telescope is more suited for astronomical viewing. Both can be used for imaging if you can figure out how to attach your camera to them. There are telescope adapters for many cameras. I use a piece of electrical tape to attach my camera to my telescope.
I have a reflector telescope, which is worthless for terrestrial viewing, which is why I am in the market for a spotting scope.
You are correct in saying that refractor telescopes are more suitable for terestrial viewing, for a couple of reasons. First, they don't invert the image you see, and second, they are not nearly as delicate as reflectors. Spotting scopes can be tossed in the trunk of your car and transported easily, whereas a telescope requires extreme care and some tedious setup before you can see much, and they are harder to transport because of their size and delicate nature.
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100 hours of Astronomy Evansville Indiana
As you already know, a telescope is a device used to make far objects appear closer. But how do telescopes work? Well, there are several types of telescopes, but most of them generally function the same way.
How do telescopes work?
Light is gathered from a distant object (such as a star) through the objective lens (used in Refractor scopes) or the primary mirror (used in Reflector scopes). The light then travels through the body to the eyepiece, which is similar to a small magnifying glass, enhancing the size of the image!
Who invented the device?
Despite what many people think, the telescope was NOT invented by Galileo. Although there has been much controversy, Hans Lipperhsey has been given credit for the invention, as he was the first to patent the device in 1608. Galileo realized the potential of the device for astronomy; many great discoveries were made soon after.
Buying a Telescope
There are many factors to consider before purchasing a telescope. The most important aspect of the device is the diameter of the objective lens (or primary mirror), as this determines the amount of light that enters the scope body. More light = a larger and more detailed image. So the bigger the objective lens (or primary mirror) the better!
The eyepiece also plays a very important role in producing a quality image. If the lens is low quality, then the amount of light entering the scope is going to waste! A good lens is needed to enlarge the image accurately and without distortion.
Cost may be the deciding factor, as well all know, good technology is not cheap! Fortunately, you can get a pretty good telescope for less than a hundred bucks. Many of the low cost ones will be perfectly sufficient for looking at detailed images of the Moon's craters, Jupiter, and even the rings of Saturn!
Explore the universe and learn about the cosmos the fun and easy way. Astronomy for kids...and kids-at-heart (adults!) at Astronomy-Kids.com
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