The vast expanse of stars and galaxies can leave us in awe as we look at the night sky. It’s a natural tendency to want to get a closer look, and what better way than to invest in a telescope? However, with so many options available, choosing the best telescope for viewing planets and galaxies can be overwhelming, especially for beginners. In this article, we’ll guide you through selecting the right telescope and give you tips on how to use it for optimal viewing and astrophotography.
Two Main Types of Telescopes
Before we dive into the specifics, it’s essential to understand what to look for in a telescope. The two main types of telescopes are refractors and reflectors. Refractors use lenses to gather light and produce an image, while reflectors use mirrors. Generally speaking, reflectors are better for viewing deep-sky objects like galaxies, while refractors are better for viewing planets. However, this is a relatively easy and fast rule, and many telescopes are designed to do both.
Best Telescopes for Viewing Planets and Galaxies
Now, let’s talk about the best telescopes for viewing planets and galaxies for beginners. One option is the Celestron NexStar 5SE. This telescope is a compact and portable Schmidt-Cassegrain that offers an outstanding balance between portability and power. It has a 5-inch aperture and can be controlled via a computerized hand controller, making it easy for beginners to navigate the night sky. Another option is the Apertura AD10 Dobsonian 10″ Telescope. This telescope has a 10-inch aperture, which makes it great for viewing deep-sky objects like galaxies. It’s also relatively easy to set up and use, making it an excellent option for beginners.
Apps like SkySafari
Once you’ve chosen your telescope, knowing how to use it for optimal viewing and astrophotography is essential. First and foremost, make sure to familiarize yourself with the night sky. Get to know the constellations and where to find planets and galaxies. You can use apps like SkySafari or Star Walk to help you navigate the night sky.
Next, make sure your telescope is aligned correctly. Most telescopes come with a finder scope, which helps you point the telescope in the right direction. Make sure to align the finder scope with your telescope’s primary lens or mirror.
When viewing planets, it’s essential to use a high-magnification eyepiece. It will allow you to see the details on the planet’s surface. However, remember that high magnification also means a smaller field of view, so it may be harder to find the planet in the first place. Start with a lower magnification and work your way up.
Viewing Galaxies
When viewing galaxies, it’s essential to use a low-magnification eyepiece. It will give you a wider field of view, allowing you to see more of the galaxy. However, remember that galaxies are faint objects, so you may need a longer exposure time to capture them in astrophotography. Speaking of astrophotography, invest in a good camera and tripod. You’ll also need a T-ring adapter to attach your camera to your telescope. Start with short exposure times and work up to longer exposures as you become more experienced.
Pick the Location
Some locations are better than others for stargazing, but you can still do it anywhere—from your window, balcony, backyard, local park, or somewhere a bit more remote.
Wherever you decide to observe from, it’s worth looking up that location’s Bortle class. The Bortle scale, named after its creator, amateur astronomer John E. Bortle, is a measure of a sky’s darkness. It runs from Class 1, the darkest skies available on Earth, through Class 9, inner-city skies. Even in Class 9 locations, there is much to see in the night sky. You can use an application like clearoutside.com to look up your location’s Bortle class, which will help you determine what sky objects you should be able to spot.
Learn Directions
If you need to know, learn where north, east, south, and west are from your vantage point. The planets rise in the east and set in the west, just like the Sun, and the Moon also rises in the east and sets in the west, although its position will shift north or south depending on where you live and the time of year.
You can also learn shortcuts to help estimate positions in the night sky. Sky positions are commonly measured in degrees, where 0 degrees is the horizon, and 90 degrees is directly overhead. The width of your outstretched fist held at arm’s length covers about 10 degrees of the sky. If Venus is reported to be 15 degrees from the Moon at a given time, you’ll know that means roughly one and a half outstretched fists.
Bright Stars and Constellations
Learning which bright stars and constellations are visible as the seasons’ change will also help since the position of planets and other objects will often be described concerning these standards. Planets shine brighter than most stars, making them easy to recognize once you start looking up. Even in major cities, planets are usually still visible since they are brighter than most stars.
Equipment Selection
You don’t need a telescope to get acquainted with the night sky. The most valuable equipment for stargazing these days is a good smartphone application. These apps can tell you what is visible from your location on a night and where to look. There are many to choose from, and the best are updated regularly by their developers to keep the information accurate and up-to-date. You can also see what’s visible from your location via websites like timeanddate.com and Stellarium-web.org.
Binoculars
Binoculars are the next step up from naked-eye astronomy. You don’t need astronomy-grade binoculars, although these are also available. Binoculars will help you see the Moon’sMoon’s craters, Jupiter’s moons, and reddish Mars. They’ll also allow you to see distant Neptune and Uranus, which are generally invisible to the naked eye.
Telescopes
A telescope will allow you to see many more night sky objects and stunning planetary features like Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s stripes. We recommend that beginners start with smaller telescopes which are generally easier to transport and operate. Once you get hooked on telescope astronomy, you can begin researching bigger and better telescopes to use.
Helpful Ideas
Observing the Moon is one of the easiest ways to get started with astronomy. You can track the lunar cycle and use binoculars or a telescope to see how your view of it changes. When the Moon is complete, it tends to be dazzlingly bright and one-dimensional. In contrast, when the Moon is a crescent shape (around the first or last quarter phase), you’ll get a more dramatic view of its craters since they’ll be well-defined by shadows.
The Planets
If you aren’t planning to observe the Moon itself, it’s best to watch during the month when the Moon is a little full. The best time is during a new or crescent Moon. This way, the Moon’s bright light won’t blind your view of fainter objects like planets.
Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and Venus are all reasonably easy to spot in the night sky when they are up. If you see something brighter than all the other stars, it’s a planet. With even a small telescope, you can see Jupiter’s four large moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Their positions change from night to night, which makes them all the more exciting to observe.
Night Sky Objects
If you’re hunting for particular night sky objects, it’s helpful to look up what those objects look like through your method of observation (eyes, binoculars, or telescope) so you know what to expect when you find them. Most popular space photos are processed to bring out colors and texture, so it’s good to know what they look like raw and unprocessed.
Natural objects aren’t the only things to look for. You’ll often see satellites passing overhead, and you can even see the International Space Station as it passes above you. Several apps and websites will give you exact times for your location, and you can sign up for email alerts directly from NASA.
Share the Excitement and Fun
Once you’ve familiarized yourself with objects visible to the naked eye, you can point them out to other people. It’s very satisfying to point to a bright dot in the night sky and confidently say, “That’s Jupiter!” You can also show others how to use the tools you’ve been using, whether stargazing apps, binoculars, or a telescope.
In conclusion, choosing the right telescope for viewing planets and galaxies can be overwhelming, but with a bit of research and practice, it can be a rewarding experience. Remember to choose a telescope that fits your needs and budget, and be bold and ask for help from more experienced astronomers. With these tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to exploring the wonders of the night sky.
