Lunarglow – Astronomy & Space

Posts Tagged ‘Telescope’

Before Galileo turned his telescope toward the night sky the act of astronomy was pretty much an astrological pursuit where objects and motions of object in the sky were explained using ancient and archaic understandings of the universe and how it works.

But he didn’t just observe and note new objects in the sky. He applied scientific methods, mathematical laws, and logical thinking to what he observed and it is this cross discipline approach that created the modern science of observational astronomy.

Galileo is often thought of as inventing the telescope. He didn’t invent the telescope but he was the first person to turn one toward the night sky. And the observations he made created the new science of modern astronomy where telescopes are used to help us understand our universe, our place in it, and how it works.

Galileo first heard about the mysterious telescope in 1609 and set out to make a copy for himself. This first telescope magnified images about three times. And over the course of a decade Galileo continued to make more telescopes and his most powerful one magnified images about ten times. This telescope enabled him to see things never before seen. And it enabled him to change our view of the universe and of the objects in the sky.

The first thing that Galileo turned his telescope to was the moon and by observing it over the course of many nights he made an important discovery. He saw that dark areas on the surface grew and shrunk depending on where the moon was in relation to the sun. From this he made the correct deduction that these dark areas were shadows cast by craters and mountains. He further explained with geometry that the height of the mountains and depth of the craters could be correctly calculated. This was an astonishingly important revelation in our view of the universe because it was previously believed that the moon was a smooth surfaced object.

Another extraordinary observation, and the most important, that Galileo made was the discovery of the four largest moons around Jupiter. They were previously unviewable but with his ten-power telescope he could see them. And after viewing them over the course of several nights he observed that they moved. With further careful observation and calculation he proved that they revolved around Jupiter. And this was a universe changing observation because it was previously believed that everything in the universe revolved around the Earth.

Galileo went on to make many telescopes and to make many other important observations in both the night and day sky including the discovery of spots on the sun and the discovery of the rings of Saturn. His observations in the sky spurred on many other telescope makers and astronomers to further explore the amazing and mysterious objects in the sky. But more importantly he also spurred on other astronomers to apply the laws and lessons of mathematics and logic to their observations in a quest to understand how the universe works.

This creation of the modern science of telescopic astronomy was clearly born in 1610 when he published his work called “Sidereus Nuncius” or the “Starry Messenger”. This work is still available to this day and is considered one of the most important written scientific works.

When we were children we were often taught that we could wish upon the first star that we saw in the evening sky. After that wish was made and if we believed hard enough our wish would come true. Eventually, our childhood fantasies gave way to fact as we became more educated. This education was accomplished through astronomy classes, space exploration and other educational means.

The word astronomy is comprised of two Greek words. The Greek word astro means star shaped or star and pertains to outer space. The word onomy literally means the study of. Therefore, astronomy is the study of the stars.

One of the major tools that assists amateur and professional astronomers in understanding and respecting the galaxy is the astronomy telescope. When looking to purchase a good astronomy telescope there are a number of factors that you can keep in mind. First, of all consider some practical suggestions, remember it is about the diameter of the lens, and make sure your telescope has a solid stand.

Practical Suggestions

Before you purchase your astronomy telescope it is important to conduct your research. One way of conducting this research can be accomplished by accessing the Internet and learning more about telescopes. Some of the questions that you should endeavor to answer surround what features to look for in a telescope, approximate cost, recommended brands, etc.

Another practical suggestion, before you purchase your astronomy telescope, is to “test drive” a telescope. This can be accomplished by joining an astronomy club. Often these clubs will have a stargazing event which will allow you to peer through the telescopes owned by the various members.

Another way of conducting research, prior to purchasing an astronomy telescope, is to ask the members in the club as to what telescope they would recommend. The key is education. Listen for the features they recommend, brand names, the diameter of the lens, price, etc.

Also, you may come across a member of the club who is considering the purchase of a new telescope. If so, you may be able to purchase their used telescope.

Diameter Of The Lens

When considering the purchase of an astronomy telescope it is important to remember what is the key feature surrounding your purchase. That key feature should focus on the diameter of the lens of the telescope and not its advertised magnification.

This is because the diameter of the lens equates to the amount of light that can be received by the telescope. Therefore, the larger the diameter of the lens the more light that is captured. This in turn allows for the image that you are viewing to become more visible.

Solid Base

Another very important feature when considering the purchase of your astronomy telescope is to ensure that it has a solid base. Generally, these bases or mounts are tripods.

It is important that when the telescope is mounted on these bases that the telescope does not shake or move. Obviously, any movement by the telescope, when peering into space, will distort the image being viewed and provide a negative experience.

Astronomy is thought of as something nerds do or those hidden away in towers with big telescopes and mysterious computations. However, you don’t need to be good at math a nerd or spend a long time learning to discover the stars. The ancients did that and learned a lot about their world that way. Given these times when money issues are foremost, it’s nice to know that there are simple things we can do to enjoy our world and learn more about it without having to spend a lot of money or do things that are too complicated to enjoy after all. It’s possible to have fun in your backyard with a little instruction and time, then get other folks around with you to enjoy it too.

We read how folks discover new planets and wax eloquently over stars and their speed, direction and relationship to one another. How many of us know that you can actually build your own telescope to appreciate those heavenly lights in the skies, those stars above us. That might even be a whole lot more interesting than watching the stars in other areas, those in television and the movies or in politics, those Bill Clintons, Sarah Palins, and Paris Hiltons, that all fade in time. Those stars in heaven won’t.

Joey Matheson in the town of Natchitoches, is a talented man, a retired clown from major circuses, who does odds and ends at a local church and teaches people how to build telescopes and enjoy looking at the stars. He is a Bible scholar also along with being an amateur astronomer, so in his own way he balances science and religion. Recently I spent some time with Joey as he explained the elements of the telescope. Looking at the heavens up close in the evening sky can be fulfilling and informative. Joey is not only adept with the telescope, he is also a master at explaining how it is used.

John Dobson, working in a monastery in San Francisco in the 1960’s, wanted to develop a telescope design that would be relatively easy to use. Joey has this type, which is called the Dobsonian telescope. The telescope originated with Isaac Newton. It consists of an eyepiece in the back, a secondary cage and mirror box. One looks through the eyepiece and sees the images that are brought through light that comes in and is reflected by a large mirror. Joey’s telescope is made for deep sky observing, for looking at galaxies, asteroids, and pinpointing stars. Through it one is able to see 18,000 galaxies.

The telescope helps one establish direction, iis used for navigational purposes and to establish the seasons for planting. Joey tells us that the telescope gives him certitude and understanding that there’s a purpose for everything in the relationship of one thing to another, in the earth and in the heavens. It has practical purposes as well as esoteric ones.

There are simple instructions the Internet for building telescopes and networks of people to talk with about them. Astronomy clubs are great groups to join because these folks are interested in nature and the heavens and like Joey see that purpose for everything under heaven.