Beginner Set Up – Page 2

Crescent Nebula Stacked Image by Mike Ducak

Astro-Jargon Explained: What Are Subs, Lights, Darks, and Flats?

Like any worthwhile hobby, astrophotography is full of jargon. In this article we’ll look at some common terms which get thrown around when discussing astrophotos. What are Subs in Astrophotography? This term is shorthand for sub-exposure, and it refers to the individual photos we use to create astro-images. Most deep-sky photos are made up of…

$Reflector Vs Refractor$

Newtonian Reflector Vs. Refractor Compared: Why everyone should get a reflector.

Every beginner should start out with a Dobsonian mounted Newtonian reflector. These telescopes allow you to see deep into space, they are intuitive to use, they are sturdy and can be used for years to come. Now, I know that there are pros to refractor telescopes, but for a beginner I can only recommend a…

7 Reasons You Can’t See Through Your Telescope

1. Dust Caps On The first reason you may not be able to see through your telescope is that you forgot to remove the dust cap or eyepiece cover. Your dust cap may have a hole in it and you may have just removed the small cap, but the whole cap should be removed. Some…

How to Use a Finderscope: No matter your set-up

The finderscope is an important and often overlooked piece of equipment in a telescope kit. New telescope owners are faced with several questions regarding these devices: How do I align the finderscope? Why is the view through the finderscope backwards or upside down? How do I use it to find objects? Should I upgrade the…

How to Create a DIY Eyepiece Case: Two Methods

Eyepieces are expensive and they should be stored away from dust and moisture. While there are plenty of eyepiece cases available from manufacturers, there are a few easy ways to make one at home. When considering how to store your eyepieces you have a lot of options and all it needs to do is keep…

All the Knobs and Controls on an Equatorial Mount

How Do Equatorial Mounts Work? 7 Things To Know

First-time telescope buyers typically focus most of their attention on the telescope itself—that is, the optical tube—without paying any mind to the mount and tripod. This is a mistake. Equatorial mounts track objects smoothly across the sky by Your ability to use and enjoy your new purchase will depend a lot on the type and…

Why Do I See Crosshairs In My Telescope?

Telescopes do not have crosshairs in most cases, however there are certain eyepieces and finder scopes that are designed with them. Crosshairs that you see through your telescope are almost definitely the spider vanes. Spider vanes are the plastic or metal pieces that hold the secondary mirror in place in reflector telescopes. If your scope…

Why are telescopes so expensive?

Telescopes are surprisingly expensive, just ask my wife, she was surprised. Telescopes are precision instruments that must be constructed with precision. The materials used and the methods used in construction make telescopes very expensive. The glass surfaces, mirrors and their alignment must be correct and of high quality for a telescope to work well. Telescopes…

Does Transporting a Telescope Ruin the collimation?

Collimation is a skill to learn and if you have finally gotten your scope aligned, you may not want to ruin it. After transporting a telescope will you have to collimate it again? Transporting a telescope can change the position of the mirrors very slightly which will impact collimation. Check collimation wherever you set up…

How To Store Telescope Eyepieces: A Handy Guide

Once you have played around with your plossl (the eyepieces that come with your telescope) you will want to start ordering a higher quality eyepiece. Plan to protect that investment by storing them properly. Keep your eyepieces in a hard case lined with foam, store them in a place free of moisture with the dust…