Category Archives: User Guides and Tutorials

Telescope filter basics. #12 Yellow

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Reviewer

A #12 Yellow is ideal for viewing Jupiter and Saturn. It helps bring out detail on the planets disc by darkening the cloud belts, and so making them stand out more against the rest of the bright disk. The #12 yellow … Continue reading →

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What is a telescope dew cap

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Reviewer

A Dew cap is tube extending forward from the front lens of a telescope. It prevents dew from forming on the lens as it cools down, and acts as a sunshade to reduce reflections during the day.

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What is a Globular Cluster

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Reviewer

A Globular Cluster a very old, large, dense cluster of stars, bound by gravity. Many form spherical clouds around galaxies. Our galaxy is surrounded by at least 130 globular clusters. Messier 13 (M13) in Hercules is a fine example that is visible … Continue reading →

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What is a Celestial Sphere

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Reviewer

A Celestial Sphere is a imaginary ball with the Earth at its centre. All astronomical bodies, disregarding their true distance, are assigned a two-dimensional location on the surface of this ball.

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What is a Celestial Sphere

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Reviewer
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What is a refractor telescope

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Reviewer

      What is a refractor telescope There are three basic ways to bring light rays to a focal point. The earliest method used by telescope makers, was to bend the rays by passing them through one or more … Continue reading →

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Astrophotography (part 1)

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Reviewer

Astrophotography is a most rewarding hobby for many amateur astronomers. It is a wonderful way to capture and hold on to the beauty of the celestial objects we most admire, and provides us with a way to easily share them … Continue reading →

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Dark Sky Etiquette

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Reviewer

A dark sky site is an observing area where we can avoid and be free of light pollution. It enhances our view of the night sky from about a few hundred naked eye stars to over many thousands. There are … Continue reading →

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What does Absolute Magnitude mean

Posted on November 28, 2011 by Reviewer

Absolute Magnitude the apparent brightness a star would have if placed at a distance of 10 parsecs from the earth.

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What is an Asterism

Posted on November 26, 2011 by Reviewer

An Asterism is a group of stars that appear to make an easily recognized shape, such as the “Big Dipper” or the “Coathanger”. They are in effect a well know shape within a Constellation.

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