I was a complete noob when i just bought my new telescope as a first time user. My telescope was just a very basic model and it just costs $80. It came with 20mm lens, 6mm lens and barlow lens (3x) along with a small stand. At first i struggled to understand the concepts of optics and telescope.

After experimenting quite a while i understood the setup and working of telescope. Here is what the most important points you have to remember when buying a telescope.

1. The most important point with telescope is the more the lens size number, you get lesser the magnification and very importantly only with less magnification the better the clarity and brightness of objects in the sky like moon, stars etcc. The greater the magnification diminishes the brightness and clarity of objects. Thats the fundamentals of optics.

Dont get fooled if somebody says the telescope will give you 100 times or 200 times magnification. Magnification means nothing. This is a valuable lesson i learnt with my telescope.

The magnification of telescope is calculated by focal length divided by lens size. Just look at your eyepiece and there will be a marking of number written on the side like 6mm or 20 mm. Consult your manual for the focal length.

Magnification = Focal length / size of lens

which gives 360mm/20mm is 18times magnification which is written by 18X.

Any good telescope must come with

- Eyepiece (1 small size lens, 1 big size lens)
- 1 Barlow lens
- Long Stand

2. By attaching the barlow lens gives 3X times more magnification to your eyepiece. It usually sits in between the eye piece and the telescope. For example if your 20mm lens gives you 18x magnification, and by attaching the barlow lens you get 18x multiplied by 3x which is 54x magnification.

I had a look on the moon and i couldnt spot much on the difference attaching barlow lens with my telescope.

3. Before using the telescope make sure you place the telescope in your outside place for about 30 min and it can adjust to the outside temperature and atmosphere conditions.

4. I would like to share one disadvantage of telescope when compared to binoculars. With telescope you have use only one eye unlike binoculars and it may be often difficult for you as it might strain your body by leaning and eyes. It would be a good idea to binocular telescope as looking with both eyes are far easier than using a telescope with one eye.

Just remember!
The greater the lens number, smaller the magnification giving best viewpoint!

Good luck telescoping!

Similar Posts:

• GTA 4 PC Graphics is much better than in PS3
• Best quality video format for Youtube!
• Nokia Mobile Predictive Text Typing Tutorial
• How to print long excel sheets?
• Shrink High Resolution Photo to small size for Upload
• PS3 vs Xbox360? which is best console?
• how to get selected textarea value using javascript
• Tracking Adsense cheques sent by Bluedart for Indians!
• FIFA 09 tips to win hard opponent teams!
• GTA 4 Blur Problem with PS3!