Telescopes
About Telescopes
Do you know that the actual inventor of the telescopes is still unknown? However, what we are sure about is that the word of it spread through Europe.
Around 1609, Galileo heard about it and built his version of the telescope. This modified version was used for observations of celestial objects. The telescope is an optical instrument that makes distant objects magnified. This is done by using an arrangement of curved mirrors and lenses or different devices. Since its beginning, humans are using this device to observe distant objects by their emission: absorption or reflection of electromagnetic radiations. However with the advancement in technology, there came a wide range of telescopes to meet different needs. Therefore before you head to buy one, it is important to know the possible options you can find during your hunt.
Different types of telescopes are available in the market now
Astronomy is an exciting science that benefits from advancements in technology. It is true even as a hobby, but the starting point is always to keep things simple. However, things again get complicated when one head to buy their first telescope. At first, it seems like there are so many types and factors of tele-scopes to consider, but they are all divided into three main categories in the base. Hence as a beginner, you need to decide between three basic types of tele-scopes. These basic categories are; reflecting, refracting and compound tele-scopes. Lets’ first know the characteristic features of a modern tele-scope. In the later discussion, we will present an insight into the construction and common use of these three types of tele-scopes.
Characteristic features of a modern telescope
A telescope that collects visible radiation uses a mirror or lens to gather light. At the same time, there are other types of telescopes that come with mirrors and lenses that we usually know. However, these unique mirrors and lenses serve the same way. All kinds of telescopes use light-gathering abilities to determine the area of the device that acts like a light-collecting bucket. As the lenses and mirrors are a common feature of almost all tele-scopes, they are used for comparing the powers. This is done by comparing the diameter, apertures, and tele-scope opening through which light travels. Hence, the aperture, the amount of light, and the tele-scope’s diameter are what you need to consider while buying.
Type 1 – Reflecting telescopes
Also known as Newtonian tele-scopes, these are best for novice enthusiasts. This simple design features mirrors to collect and focus light. These mirrors in these tele-scopes work similarly to the idea of the prism. Due to these features reflecting tele-scopes deliver better images because they reflect all wavelengths of light equally. This simple design is the reason why these tele-scopes are cheaper and best for basic zooming needs. Hence if you need a tele-scope to keep your passion for observation alive, here is your most straightforward and economical solution. However, what you need to be careful about is that these tele-scopes demand a high level of maintenance to stay with you for long.
Type 2 – Refractors
This type of tele-scope uses lenses instead of mirrors. They are great for novices because they demand little attention as compared to the previously mentioned type. The lenses of the refractor tele-scope are fixed; this won’t become misaligned like reflector’s mirrors can. The design of the refractor is hardier and will not get any damage due to shocks and bumps while transporting or handling the device. However, they do not have a secondary optic (mirror/reflector) obscuring the way of light to an eyepiece. Hence, they produce an image with a far better contract as compared to a reflecting tele-scope. However, here you can enjoy sharpening the image with no interference from outside air currents and temperature.
Type 3 – Catadioptric or handheld telescopes
They have termed a hybrid of refracting and reflecting tele-scopes that combine the best of both worlds. They have a shorter length and are easily portable. Moreover, they do well in correcting the aberration that separate tele-scopes suffer from. In the meantime, these tele-scopes are much more expensive as compared to reflecting tele-scopes. Moreover, they often experience issues like obstruction from secondary mirrors or having to collimate the tele-scope. For first time users, small to medium size reflectors are suitable. However, the selection also depends on the user’s level of experience, preferences, needs, and budget.
Tips on how to buy Telescope online in Dubai
One of the best ways to start exploring the night sky doesn’t demand any special equipment. Grab a friend on a clear night and head for hills. Find a spot far from city lights, trees and tall buildings, and just look up. You will enjoy seeing all the stars that are not visible in the glare of cities. If you need to find constellations, bring a current start chart alone. But if you wish to see more, you must bring a high-quality product. However, buying an accurate machine depends on your personal preferences and needs. No matter what reasons you need a telescope, finding one is equally overwhelming. This is why we are here with tips to help you with what to consider while looking for one such item.
- The purpose – As mentioned earlier, not all products are the same. Thus, the basic question to answer is for what reason you need a telescope. Do you need a simple handheld telescope to see random distant things, or do you want an advanced Celestron telescope for study? Find the answer and look for the product accordingly.
- Portability and other features – Agree or not, you will need to move your equipment from your home into the car and to an open space where you can enjoy the sight in peace. This is why additional features like mounting stands, packing, and portability are of great importance. So, visit the product description section to know what the product add-on is.
- The budget – Normally, general-purpose items cost from $60 to $2000 or more. The formula of pricing is simple. More advanced, the features more will be the price. Hence, if you are an occasional explorer or have a limited budget, look for a quality yet cheap item.
- The brand – Just like any other product available in retail search engines, both price and features of the product vary from one brand to another. You can either consider buying from your favourite brand or take advantage of Shops.ae price comparison tool to find the best price options from top global brands.
- Buying policies – Not all brands offer easy return and exchange services for their products. Thus, to secure the money you invest in buying telescopes online in Dubai, make sure you have easy policies. Easy terms and conditions can make it easier for you to secure your money until you get to hold on to a reliable and suitable product for you.
Remember, magnifying is not everything. Meanwhile, believing that a bigger item can give you a better view is also a false belief. What matters is the construction, aperture, and diameter of the tele-scope. And to know these capabilities of a tele-scope, you need to read the product details with attention. The best option is only the one that serves your needs without disturbing your budget. This is the reason why we at Shops.ae offers one-click access to top quality products in an individual’s budget limitations.
Question & Answer
Why are space telescopes better?
These telescopes offer the advantage of being above the blurring or fading effect of the earth’s atmosphere. Moreover, they can also absorb the wavelengths from the electromagnetic spectrum that cannot enter the earth’s atmosphere. These telescopes are also ideal to see a small portion of infrared, ultraviolet, gamma and x-rays outside the earth’s atmosphere. Hence, if you wish to see the most minute particles in and beyond the earth’s atmosphere, an advanced space tele-scope is the only solution.
What telescopes do astronomers use?
Astronomers are the one who uses tele-scopes the most. A deep space astronomical tele-scope is their core tool. However, they use different types of tools for different purposes. For instance, an optical tele-scope like “Hubble Space Tele-scope” or a radio tele-scope is used on both earth and space piles. However, if they need to study something within the earth’s atmosphere, the infrared tele-scope is a suitable option. But to study higher altitudes, an ultraviolet tele-scope is needed.
Are telescopes expensive?
Today tele-scopes come with many advanced features. The construction of this tele-scope increases the cost. A good quality tele-scope ranges from $150 to $400. If you are looking for a starter tele-scope to get your kids interested, you can get options under $100. Some other economical options are; Celestron Powerseeker 60 AZ Tele-scope, Celestron Inspire 70AZ Refractor, Celestron Astromaster 114 EQ Tele-scope and Celestron CPC 800 GPS (XLT) Computerized -scope.
Where to buy telescopes?
Here at Shops.ae you can find more than 500 brands selling beginner and advanced level tele-scopes. Some to name here are; Celestron, Spitzer, Kepler Tele-scope, Dobsonian, Bresser, and Gskyer. Here you can compare the price of products from brands and make a sensible choice. Hence, with better price comparison you can make a sensible choice of products that will last longer. You can also search for a wide range of branded sports and outdoor items for all your sporting and exploration needs on our retail search engine.