If you use a refractor, SCT, or MCT more than likely you are using a telescope diagonal. While there are a lot of people who blow off the idea of upgrading their diagonal saying it is “just a mirror”, they must have never used a really bad, or really good, diagonal. Diagonals do a lot … Read more
Astronomy is an amazing hobby that anyone can participate in right in their own back yard, and a good astronomy book can help. Even if you live in a large city where there is a lot of light pollution it is likely you can still see a few astronomical objects in the night sky. Take … Read more
One of the main reasons it is so hard to see or image some objects in the night sky is light pollution. This is caused by all the street lights, signs, and other illuminations lighting up the particles and water vapor in the atmosphere. That’s why you need the best light pollution filter you can … Read more
There is a lot of fun to be had observing the heavens with a pair of astronomy binoculars but it can be confusing which pair would work well for what you want. Just like any astronomy equipment, there are several things we need to discuss before we just right in. Size matters When you are … Read more
What type of telescope camera adapter do you need to connect your camera to a telescope? Connecting your camera or phone to your telescope is something that a lot of people are curious about. Everyone wants to snap a quick shot of the moon, Saturn or Jupiter. Most people’s first try at this can be … Read more
Finding that best first telescope can be a challenge. There are not only so many different types of telescopes but so many different manufacturers and models that it can be overwhelming. Let’s break it down a little and see if we can find the perfect first telescope for beginners for you. How serious are you? … Read more
If you own a Newtonian reflector telescope then you know how important it is to have the mirrors in alignment. The easiest way to accomplish this is with a laser collimator. While most of them will do a reasonable job, finding the right one in your price range can be confusing. You could just order … Read more
A Barlow Lens is an optical device that allows you to multiply the apparent magnification of your telescope with the telescope eyepieces you already have. They come in a variety of powers from 1.4x to 5x and in both 1.25″ and 2″ sizes and are often included with telescope accessories for beginners. The advantage of … Read more
Why look for the best astrophotography book? There is a lot of information online about astrophotography, including some very interesting videos. Somehow it seems that I get more out of a good book than all this skipping all over the place trying to find answers to questions I didn’t know I had. That doesn’t mean … Read more
One of the most popular telescope types for beginners is Dobsonian telescopes. It is easy to use, provides good views and is one of the best values in astronomy. One of the major problems, however, is that there are a ton of them so which one is the best Dobsonian for you? You could sit … Read more