Light pollution is an artificial light that’s excessive and has a profound effect on astronomy. Artificial light sources hinder opportunities to photograph the night sky and alter the levels of natural light for the amatuer astronomer. Pollution from artificial light is disruptive for people living in urban areas, and the backyard astronomer who wants to […]
Magnitude is an astronomical term that is used to describe precisely how bright a stellar object is. It can be done with both objective scientific measurements and a more qualitative classification of how bright the object is in the sky. Magnitude is measured on an inverse scale where lower numbers equal a brighter object. The […]
Whether a telescope is large or small, it is one of three types: refractor, reflector or catadioptric, which is also called compound. The catadioptric category includes Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. Even though refractors, reflectors and Schmidt-Cassegrains are related historically and technologically, they function differently and have different purposes. They also have different advantages and disadvantages. Refractors A […]
The United States of America is home to some of the finest observatories and stargazing destinations. Professional and hobbyists alike gather in each state to seek out the great beyond and learn more about the mysteries in the night sky. When it comes to the backyard astronomer though, finding an area not filled with bright […]
A telescope will not operate without an eyepiece. The eyepiece allows light to be focused so that you’ll be able to see a sharp view of the object or area that you’re trying to study. When you install an eyepiece, you’ll be able to bring distant objects closer to you so that you can study […]
