Telescopes: The Instruments of All That is Beyond Earth

Telescopes

SITE MAP TELESCOPE DESIGNS AND THEIR VARIATIONS OTHER IMPORTANT PARTS OF A TELESCOPE ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY	Telescopes are instruments which are used to help us study and understand all that is beyond our planet. Although there are many different types of telescopes available today, they are all variations of the three main designs: the refractor, reflector and compound or catadioptric. �A common misconception often associated with telescopes is that power is everything. In general, "power" means magnification. However, in astronomy, there are three distinct types of power: light gathering power, resolving power and magnifying power. �Least important of these is magnifying power: the ability to make an object appear larger. This results in a larger, but dimmer and less sharp image. �Light gathering power is by far the most important element in a telescope. It is the ability to make a faint object appear brighter. When people speak of the world's most "powerful" telescopes and observatories, they are usually, whether they realize it or not, refering to light gathering or resoving power.

SITE MAP

Telescopes are instruments which are used to help us study and understand all that is beyond our planet. Although there are many different types of telescopes available today, they are all variations of the three main designs: the refractor, reflector and compound or catadioptric.

�A common misconception often associated with telescopes is that power is everything. In general, "power" means magnification. However, in astronomy, there are three distinct types of power: light gathering power, resolving power and magnifying power.
�Least important of these is magnifying power: the ability to make an object appear larger. This results in a larger, but dimmer and less sharp image.
�Light gathering power is by far the most important element in a telescope. It is the ability to make a faint object appear brighter. When people speak of the world's most "powerful" telescopes and observatories, they are usually, whether they realize it or not, refering to light gathering or resoving power.

Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes ( a type of catadioptric telescope, above) are prized for their sharp optics and compact tube which is usually about 50cm.
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