Telescopes (1)

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Eastern Michigan University *

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MISC

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Astronomy

Date

Oct 30, 2023

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docx

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Uploaded by diontaelt

Telescopes There are different types of telescopes that are commonly used today that each have their own advantages and disadvantages. For this activity, you will learn basic information about three different kinds of telescopes and some telescope mounts. Then, you will set a hypothetical list of objects to “buy” based on what you’ve learned and how you would like to view the skies. You are not actually expected to buy anything for this activity, so you can hypothetically spend as much money as you’d like, or you could potentially plan for a future purchase! You can include your total spent and your items list on the following page. The rest of the pages of this activity contain information about telescopes and basic mounts. Some common sources (links to external sites): • Orion telescopes • Agena HYPERLINK "https://agenaastro.com/"AstroProducts • High Point Scientific • OPT Corp • Astronomics • ScopeStuff • Cloudy Nights • Sky and Telescope • And, of course, Amazon and eBay

Please briefly explain what you hope to see with your telescope in the following space. In other words, please think about which type of telescope you should choose, and share your thoughts here. • I would like to see the stars in a better resolution and even up closer. I've always loved the moon and would like to see the whole of it in a bigger picture. Total spent: • [Include how much you spent total] -$260 Telescope: • Eclipse Plus Telescope Kit • https://www.telescope.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=138055&src=row1col3- prodimage • $259.99 Mount (ignore/delete this section if your telescope comes with a mount, unless you want a second one): • Orion VersaGo E-Series Altazimuth Mount • https://optcorp.com/collections/alt-azimuth-mounts/products/orion-versago-e-series- altazimuth-mount • $119.99 Other optional accessories (e.g. eyepiece sets, covers, filters, astrophotography equipment, charts, etc.): • Orion 51919 MoonMap 260 (Black) • https://www.amazon.com/Orion-51919-MoonMap-260-Black/dp/B00G4MRCAO • $10.39 • [Include name/type of object] • [Include the link] • [Include the price] • [Include name/type of object]

• [Include the link] • [Include the price] Types of Telescopes Refracting Telescope This telescope primarily manipulates light using a lens, which is located at the top of the telescope (the right side of Figure 1b). The diagram on the right shows how light travels inside the telescope to form the image. The eyepiece and the lens of the telescope are on opposite sides of the body of the telescope. Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages • Easy to maintain – lenses are hard to knock out of alignment; the closed cavity keeps out dust • Higher resolution with planetary objects and the moon (compared to deep sky objects) Disadvantages • Long tube length – difficult to transport; hard to observe high-altitude objects • Chromatic aberration – image may blur since different colors of light are bent differently by lenses (i.e. different colors have different focal points) Reflecting Telescope This telescope primarily manipulates light using a mirror, which is located at the bottom of the telescope (the right side of Figure 2b). The diagram on the right shows how light travels inside this telescope to form the image. The eyepiece is located near the opening of the telescope, near the top of the telescope. Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages • Cheapest telescope – the assembly is cheap and, if mounted on a Dobsonian mount, is

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the cheapest telescope/mount combination • No chromatic aberration – good for imaging deep sky objects Disadvantages • Planet and moon images can be degraded by the secondary mirror • Regular maintenance is required • Primary mirror can be knocked out of alignment easily • The open cavity means dust can easily accumulate on the mirror • Mirror surfaces need to be recoated every 10-20 years Catadioptric (Compound) Telescope The mirror contains a lens (“corrector” in Figure 3b) as well as a mirror, located at opposite ends of the cavity from one another. The lens is on the left side of Figure 3b and the mirror is on the right side. The diagram on the right shows how light travels inside the telescope to form the image. The eyepiece and the lens of the telescope are on opposite sides of the body of the telescope (like a refracting telescope). Advantages and Disadvantages Advantages • Medium cost – somewhere between a reflecting and a refracting telescope • Small cavity – easy to transport while still having a large focal length • The sealed cavity keeps out dust Disadvantages • Narrow field of view • Typically come mounted on motorized mounts, which are more expensive • Images of the moon and planets are degraded due to secondary mirror • Require maintenance • Mirrors can be easily knocked out of alignment • Dew accumulates easily in the cavity; there is a collar that can be used to reduce/eliminate the dew

Telescope Mounts Altazimuth Mounts These mounts are able to move up and down perpendicularly to the ground to easily adjust height/altitude, and the base can be rotated to change the direction faced/set the azimuth. This telescope mount is best used with the horizon coordinate system. Tripod mounts can be used as altazimuth mounts, but sometimes a tripod mount can be used to hold another mount type. Equatorial Mounts This mount is best used with the equatorial coordinate system and has a distinct tilt on which the telescope rests; this tilt allows the telescope to easily point toward the North Celestial Pole. These mounts often have counterweights built in to help make sure the telescope system is secure.