Have you been wanting to get intimate with the sky, well you are in the right place; we don’t know what made you go out at night but you somehow ended up with your head tilted upwards and realized you want to know what goes on up there. We also know that you want to get straight to the information that you can use as a guide to get your telescope.

But do you have the basic information at your fingertips that will ensure you reap the full benefits of stargazing? Most probably you don’t, so let us just get a sneak peek into the basics of stargazing, for one you need to ensure that wherever you are viewing from, you don’t get distractions from buildings, and that is why you see enthusiasts with their telescopes at the beach or in the last and topmost room of the building.

When stargazing the streetlights are not your friend and you should do your best to avoid them. And what exactly are you looking for in the sky, the thing is, for as much as we want you to invest in a reliable and effective telescope, it is also good to know how to use it and know what exactly it is that you are gazing at. To which we advise you to first identify some of the anchor objects that will help you navigate the sky.

If you are a newbie in this venture then it would be best if you first invested in a binoculars and in case you didn’t know, you will have to contend with the cold, this is so because the best time to go sky gazing is on the winter nights when there is zero humidity in the air or rather when the moon is in a gibbous phase.

So don’t waste your time or expose yourself to cold when there is a full moon, because it normally produces a lot of light thus covers everything else. And if you are still green on matters stars, the best advice we could offer is that you get a star chart, just download it to your phone or tablet and hit the roof.

There are also some useful applications that you could use to identify the position of the planets, such as the Exoplanet, the Starwalk, and the Google Sky Map.

Now that you know what to look for in the sky and have brushed up some of your stargazing skills with the binoculars, you must be eager to get your first new star gazing partner. Important to note is that the information that we offer as regards the use of the telescope is not from some flashy press release rather from personal experiences with the actual gadget.

Telescopes

We all agree that you get what you pay for when it comes to purchasing an effective telescope, but let’s be honest also that there are some souped-up telescopes that are less effective that will do great damage to your bank account. And there are also some great telescopes out there that are not only affordable but are also fairly priced. We, therefore, present you with credible information on the best telescopes that money can buy whether pricey or budget-friendly.

For example, we have the best telescope under $100, which is the Zhumell Z100, the telescope has incorporated all the basic features but cannot be compared with the high-end telescopes. The unit can best be utilized by the younger generation or the newbies that are still getting acquainted with how to use a telescope.

The magnification of the Zhumell is a bit too high, however, don’t expect to achieve very clear images because the primary mirror cannot be collimated. However, it is very portable fairly priced and easy to use. The Zhumell Z12 is a very expensive piece and will capture crisp clear images because of the effective parabolic primary mirror. The telescope features a sturdy design and can, therefore, give you a long service.

Kids Telescopes

As parents, we strive to provide the best for our kids, and are always eager to know what picks their brain, what is their interest and would, therefore, go to any lengths to know their passion. If your kid asks you for a telescope, you are bound to get puzzled because, for the one, you have never used it and don’t know how to go about choosing the best.

Well, don’t worry your head because we have prepared a guide that will help you get a proper telescope that your kid could use. However, if they are way younger and just want it for fun, don’t make holes in your pocket trying to invest in a professional telescope yet it may never be used. But if they are above eleven years of age, then they know what to look for and might put it to good use.

Some kids may want to use the telescope during the day, which isn’t a bad thing but then again you will have to get a refractor. Some of the suggested telescopes that you can invest in for your child are the Celestron FirstScope Telescope that is not only portable but also light in weight, which means storage and movement with the unit will not be cumbersome.

The telescope does have an attractive design, and kids would definitely love it. Stargazing using the Celestron FirstScope is super simple as the user will just have to move the tube towards the object that they wish to get a closer view on. There is also the Meade Lightbridge Mini114, the unit does have a professional look that is sure to arouse curiosity.

And just like the previous telescope, the Meade Lightbridge has been constructed with a simple point and look design, so that the kids don’t have to struggle to use the telescope. Portability has been enabled by the removable optical tube, and your kids stand to have a nice time viewing the nebulae, the star clusters, and the planets.

One downside with the Lightbridge mini 114 is that you shouldn’t expect it to zoom much on the object that you are observing.

And as we discussed earlier before, you go searching for the appropriate telescope for your child to ensure that they can actually use a telescope before you spend so much on something that will be forgotten the next day. Also, invest in a telescope that doesn’t have a steep learning curve when it comes to usage.

Portability should not be compromised unless you want to use the gadget yourself. Kids would want to move around with their new equipment, as they discover the sky. Besides investing in a good unit might actually build your child’s interest and thus create a career path or lead them to do further research and amass so much knowledge.

Solar Telescopes

If an opportunity is presented to you to engage the solar system, the answer would definitely be yes, because you are sure to get a rare coveted opportunity to observe the activities of the sky. And with that in mind, we provide you with information on some of the best solar telescopes that you can adopt in 2020.

However, you have to know that this is a very risky affair and if you intend to gaze at the solar system better ensure that your telescope is either CE or ISO certified. Another thing is to ensure that your filter is effective with zero coating errors or pinholes; light leaks should be obliterated by ensuring that the telescope has a snug fit.

The reason we provided you with the above information is because we care for your sight and if you fail to observe the above basic facts, then you may end up with either a temporary or permanent loss of sight or an eye injury.

The best telescopes to use while gazing at the solar system are such as the Meade Eclipse view 114, which can be utilized both at night and during the day. The unit comes equipped with a removable white-light solar filter, and to capture the crisp image of the nebulae, or the sun the Meade 114 has incorporated the parabolic Newtonian reflector that comes with a large 4.5-inch aperture.

And to ensure that you are able to achieve both the low and high magnifications, you have been provided with both the 9mm and the 26mm eyepieces. One downside, however, with the telescope is that there are problems with the alignment of the different parts.

Astrophotography

Do you have a passion for photographing the nebula and the galaxies and have no idea of how to find the best astrophotography telescope, fret not because you are in the right place? At Telescopic watch we will provide you with conclusive information on the best telescope complete with its prices so that you can make an informed choice?

One thing to keep in mind though is that your knowledge of Astrophotography has to be laser sharp because you risk obtaining mediocre results by not knowing how to process your images. So, if you are still at the learning stage our best advice would be that you invest in the refractor type of telescopes.

The reason being that you will not have to struggle with flexure, cool down or collimation, beside the refractor telescopes are normally not on their best behavior as regards focal lengths or the focal ratios but now that you first have to sharpen your skills before you do a massive damage to your account balance, the unit will suffice.

Some of the best telescopes for astrophotography are such as the Orion 6” f/4 Newtonian astrograph. The refractors in the latter, allows a user to take the short exposures under bright light and still get high-resolution results.

The problem with this unit is that users are most likely to experience balance problems because it features a short tube such that if you put on it heavy accessories such as the camera, the guide scope, and the coma corrector balancing would be a problem, because of the inability to slide the tube rings forward.

We then have the sky Watcher ProED 100 that features a very professional design but is rather slow, however, be informed that you will be able to achieve fine photos without necessarily using a field flattener. The unit is also versatile and can be utilized in astrophotography or for visual purposes.

Another option if you happen to dislike the two above, you have the Sky-Watcher Evoguide 72, which will be effective if utilized in wide-field deep-sky imaging, however, the unit has been compromised when it comes to obtaining the sharpest images. The manufacturers were also not very kind enough to equip the unit with a finder, but then again the unit features a short focal length.

Telescope Mounts

Now that you have an idea of which telescope you would want to invest in, you will also need a telescope mount that will support your telescope, not only that but it will also enable you to accurately point it to the sky. We have, therefore; provided you with information on the different telescope mounts that you can invest in.

Remember before the mount can do its work efficiently you will have to stabilize it by tightening the wing nuts that are located at the top of the tripod, you will then lower the tripod legs, and suspend the weight from the tripod head. You will then find a triangular piece of wood that can be used as a brace which will then stiffen the three tripod legs.

And to get rid of the vibrations, you will have to put some sand on the aluminum legs. You will also need to absorb the vibrations in the tripod legs and this you will achieve by using the suppression pads that are characteristic of round rubber discs.

Now that you have gotten your telescope and ready to start, don’t expect to get clear pictures like the one that you normally see in photos. The reason being that the images are achieved by cameras that have been set up for extended hours, and use other accessories like films and CCD detectors, that tend to be more sensitive than the eye.