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(Image credit: Getty Images)Jump to:
- 1. Overlooking the planning phase
- 2. Anticipating views like Hubble provides
- 3. Failing to allow the telescope to adjust
- 4. Selecting the incorrect eyepiece or zoom
- 5. Believing the telescope is all you need
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A telescope, just purchased, can unlock the secrets of the cosmos — until you actually set it up outdoors and the view isn’t what you were hoping for. Employing telescopes isn’t always challenging, but it certainly calls for some forethought, some level of endurance, and knowledge of celestial movements.
If your initial few attempts have been more irritating than breathtaking, you’re in good company. Highlighted below are five typical blunders, along with advice on preventing them to maximize your time observing and minimize the time spent tweaking.
1. Overlooking the planning phase
Sky maps and star charts aid in the planning stage.
Many novices impulsively take their telescope, step outside, and anticipate amazing sights. However, astronomy depends on careful timing rather than spontaneity. The sky’s brightness relies on lunar cycles, and dim objects can be obscured by local light contamination. Your viewing options are even decided by the season.
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Take a moment to assess the visibility of the skies, the time of moonrise, and whether your atmosphere will cooperate before venturing outdoors. This is simplified with free apps — our favorite is Stellarium — and you can avoid a wasted attempt by taking a quick look at a cloud forecast.
Planning makes the difference between a concrete list of targets and just hunting randomly. Observing with a telescope gets much more satisfying when you are aware of where and when to watch.
Great beginner models
Celestron Inspire 100AZ
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Celestron Astromaster 80AZ
$350.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices2. Anticipating views like Hubble provides
Sadly, you won’t observe Hubble-quality images through the average telescope.
It’s typical to anticipate vivid galaxies and sharp nebulas akin to online images. Unfortunately, those are extended exposures obtained via specialized spacecraft or large professional observatories. A home telescope exhibits the real universe, which is considerably more subdued.
It doesn’t have to disappoint, however. Even with a smaller telescope, the moon can appear incredible; Jupiter and Saturn provide details; and star clusters appear exquisite. Typically, the problem is wanting drama and color instead of embracing the mild, inherent brightness that can be seen with the eye.
Consider visual observation as experiencing the universe directly, and once you align your expectations, you’ll start recognizing more. If spatial photography is something you want to pursue, consider mounting one of the premier astrophotography cameras right onto your telescope, or spend money on one of the greatest smart telescopes.
Another factor which can frequently trick new users is the fact that not all telescopes are optimal for every target. There are various types of telescopes, and certain designs are more appropriate for profound space objects such as galaxies and nebulas, while others are best for crisp planetary and lunar inspection.
Large aperture, low focal-ratio scopes (like Dobsonians) gather lots of light, which makes distant objects simpler to locate. Conversely, telescopes with extended focal lengths intrinsically offer more magnification, which works wonders for observing details of the craters of the moon and Jupiter, Saturn.
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For more impressive views
Celestron NexStar 8SE
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Celestron NexStar 6SE
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It is important to let your telescope adjust to the outside temperature.
One of the least fascinating yet most crucial steps is permitting your telescope to cool (or warm up) to equalize with the outdoor temperature. If you move a scope straight from a toasty living area into a frigid night, chaotic air currents will occur within the tube, which degrades the image. It will appear that your optics have immediately blurred.
Wait 20-40 minutes with your telescope outdoors prior to beginning any viewing — or potentially even longer with larger scopes. While waiting, you could calibrate your finderscope, configure a star chart, or pick your targets.
Things improve dramatically when the air settles inside the tube. Planets quickly enter focus, double stars split neatly, and lunar features display the distinct borders they’re supposed to. Although acclimatization isn’t particularly thrilling, it’s among the simplest methods for boosting your viewing without spending a dime.
Quick and easy setup
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Eyepieces are critical to the viewing experience.
It is commonly assumed that higher zoom automatically means superior images. Zooming in too much will actually cause a shaky, dim image.
Each telescope has a point where further magnification won’t help. This represents the maximum zoom where images will still look precise, which is determined based on sky conditions and the scope’s lens size. An overarching guideline is that the highest effective zoom is approximately 50x the aperture in inches, however this is dependent on the overall quality of your telescope. A 6-inch telescope, for example, will peak at around 300x magnification.
Commence with a lower-powered eyepiece, similar to the 20mm that most beginner telescopes include. You can find and track objects more easily, thanks to the wider field. Just after centering the target, swap over to an eyepiece with higher power; and even then, slowly raise it. On nights with unsatisfactory conditions, increasing the magnification will make items look fuzzier.
You can find an eyepiece’s magnification by dividing the telescope’s focal length by that of the eyepiece. With a 1,000mm scope, for example, a 20mm eyepiece produces 50x magnification. Over time, you’ll know intuitively which eyepiece is optimal for deep-sky objects, planets and the moon.
When magnification is optimized, items become sharp, stable, and remarkably more exciting.
Upgrade your eyepieces
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