Telescopes

When selecting a telescope, consider which target objects you plan to explore as well as your level of experience. For viewing most night sky objects, you'll want a telescope with as much aperture as possible. Keep in mind that as the size of the objective lens or mirror increases, so does the size of the telescope. So be sure to select a telescope that isn't too heavy to manage or too complicated for you to set up - especially if portability is a necessity.

Eyepieces
Lower-power eyepieces provide a wider field of view and a brighter image, making them ideal for viewing the full moon and planets, star clusters, nebulae and constellations. To focus in on the finer details of the moon and planets such as mountains, ridges and craters, use an eyepiece with higher magnification.

"Go To" Computerized Star Locator:
This exciting feature utilizes an onboard computer and advanced motorized technology to allow you to quickly locate and automatically follow over 20,000 pre-programmed astronomical objects with the touch of a button. Educational descriptions of each object are also provided.

Real Voice Output:
Talking telescope describes the night sky with the touch of a button in a real human voice -- an interactive and educational way to explore the heavens.

Reflectors:
Reflectors feature larger apertures for a wider range of viewing options at an affordable price. Designed with the eyepiece located at the top of the tube, reflectors are more comfortable to use for viewing night-sky objects such as nebulae, the moon, planets and galaxies. Reflectors tend to be heavier and larger than refractors.

Refractors:
Refractors are less affected by atmospheric instabilities, making them perfect for observing the moon and planets. Perfect for first-time and novice astronomers, small refractors are lightweight, portable and require very little maintenance. And, if you're interested in viewing both land and celestial objects, refractors are equipped for both uses.

Sky Tour Talking Handsets:
The talking handsets included with our new Sky Tour series telescopes are the ultimate way to learn the lay of the universe. While the voice highlights your choice of constellations, planets, mythology or amazing facts, the telescope's illuminated Smart Mount lights up to get you dialed in on the celestial object. The buttons are illuminated for easy nighttime use. It's the ultimate way to keep first-time telescope users and amateur astronomy enthusiasts engaged, entertained and learning.

Tripod:
A tripod serves as a steady platform for the telescope to allow hands-free use. Because of its powerful magnification, even the slightest jiggle of the telescope is enough to move it from its target. Tripods feature three adjustable legs so the telescope can be used even when the ground is uneven.

Mounts:
There are two basic types of telescope mounts, the altitude-azimuth (or Altaz) and the equatorial. Altaz mounts are the easiest to maneuver and are ideal for first-time astronomers. Equipped with a manual control or motor drive that allows you to follow the movement of objects across the night sky, equatorial mounts are ideal for more experienced astronomers.

Objective Lens Size (or Aperture):
The aperture relates directly to how bright images will appear and how much detail is revealed. The larger the objective lens, the better. The size of the telescope's objective lens, or aperture, limits the amount of power that can be used effectively.

Magnification (Power):
With a 100x telescope, the object being viewed appears to be 100 times closer than you would see it with the unaided eye. The magnification on the telescope is determined by dividing its focal length by the focal length of the eyepiece being used. For example, a 500mm telescope with a 5mm eyepiece would magnify objects 100x. Thus, a telescope can provide nearly any magnification required depending on the focal length of the eyepiece used. Since most objects in the sky are rather large, high magnification isn't necessary. Rather, a telescope that gathers lots of light is needed to make dim objects appear brighter and sharper. The power, or magnification, contributes to the overall size and bulk of the telescope. This is because as the power increases, so must the physical size of the objective lens.

Resolution:
Resolution, or definition, is the ability of the telescope to distinguish fine detail and retain clarity.