Binoculars are devices that make small objects at a distance appear expanded and clear before your eyes. They are also known as binocular telescopes as they are basically two monocular placed together to allow perfect two-eye viewing. It is surprising to find that those objects, which are completely invisible to human eyes, appear so near and enlarged in the eyes of the binoculars.

Factors to consider while purchasing binoculars

When you want to choose the binoculars you should try them out and then purchase them. Although the enhanced image through binoculars might appear surprising, yet the working of binoculars is quite simple. You have the lenses at the end of the barrel called objective lens that gathers the light from distant objects and focuses it on the lens nearest to your eyes. With side-by-side two small telescopes fitted, the binoculars impart a great measure of depth of field, than single monocular glasses.

When you go to purchase binoculars you will be confused to hear two specific numbers “6 x30” or something similar. Do not get surprised. The first number always refer to the magnification power of the binoculars or how many times the image is magnified. This means that if the number is 6, the image that you view through the lens will be 6 times more magnified than its normal size.

However, the second number deals with the size of the objective lens at the end of the binoculars. You should know that the larger the diameter of the objective lens, the more light from the distant objects is attracted and the distant image can be viewed perfectly.

However, powerful the binocular is, you must be aware of the way to handle them. Holding the binoculars by the hand will be truly effective as shaking might make the magnification less useful. So if you are planning to use the binoculars for active activities, then get for yourself a pair of binoculars that has 4-7 times magnification. If your work demands using the binoculars in low light situation or indoors, then you should get larger objective lens with 30 power or above.

The weight of the binoculars should be considered before you purchase them. When you are using the binoculars for trekking, boating, fishing, or for astronomical purposes, you should see that the weight should not be very heavy. When you are going for these traveling purposes, you should plastic lens in binoculars that will help produce high quality and sharp image. Glass lenses can be available at lower cost but they are very fragile. So you should use plastic lens binoculars for better results.

Get a pair of binoculars to enjoy distant objects clearer and nearer to your eyes.

by Alexander Sutton

A reflecting telescope is one of two kinds of optical telescopes, refracting and reflecting. A reflecting telescope uses a single or combination of curved mirrors which reflect light to form an image. The reflecting telescope was invented in the 17th century as an alternative to the refracting telescope. The reflecting telescope was made to correct the server chromatic aberration that was part of working with a refracting telescope. Reflecting telescopes also create other aberrations, but they allow for a very large diameter which is helpful with research telescopes. The reflecting telescope comes in many designs which improve image quality. Reflecting telescopes are often referred to as “catoptric” telescopes.

There are many technical considerations to be aware of when using a reflecting telescope. Various aberrations are caused by the reflecting telescope, such as that the inner and outer zones of the telescope may not share the same focus. Spherical aberration can be eliminated with non-spherical mirrors.

Other aberrations are also common with reflecting telescopes. A coma may appear which is when a variation of telescope magnification may cause radial smudging which worsens at the edge of the visual field. Astigmatism may also occur around the focus of the aperture. Distortion of the field of view does not affect objects, but may harm sharpness. The best image plane is in general curved. This may not correspond to the detectors shape and may later cause focus errors. There are other reflector designs referred to as catadioptrics that correct some aberrations.

The majority of research-grade telescopes are reflectors. This is because, unlike a lens, the mirror does not need to be free of imperfections; it merely needs to be polished. Also, light of different wavelengths travels through a medium other than a vacuum at different speeds. The reflectors also work in a wider spectrum of light because certain wavelengths are absorbed when passing through lenses in comparison to reflecting off of them.

With this success under their belts, Galileo Telescope continued to innovate. First, they developed a reliable, easy to operate mount that allowed amateurs to have a stable platform for their telescopes. Then they stretched out to create larger telescopes for deeper explorations of space, while also creating portable models that made for easier carrying and transportation.

Additionally, Galileo Telescope is the only Indian company to offer its customers Dobsonian telescopes. This large, rugged and reliable design is well known and familiar to amateur astronomers, as it makes large-aperture telescopes an affordable option for the backyard skywatcher. While made from a simple, Newtonian design, its simplicity allows it to be a very reliable and very powerful option for people who want to peer into the vastness of space.

For those who want the challenge of building their own telescopes, Galileo Telescope also offers an excellent selection of lenses, mirrors, eyepieces that will allow amateurs to create a telescope to their own specifications and give themselves the view that they uniquely desire. And, for the nervous novices who want a little more help with their telescope building adventures, Galileo also offers telescope kits that will allow them to build their own telescope and learn the inner workings of optical instruments in a less risky situation.

In addition to their standard line of Dobsonian telescopes, Galileo Telescope also offers a wide range of equipment for a variety of needs. Whether it might be a spotting scope, binoculars, a tripod or a refracting telescope, the people at Galileo Telescope are always eager to use their expertise to stretch themselves into new areas. And, as Galileo expands their reach into new realms, rest assured that they are just as committed to crafting some of the finest optics available.

For people who want a telescope that has been created, tried and tested by people who use the optics they offer, Galileo Telescope is an excellent name to trust. They pride themselves on designing and creating excellent telescopes that they are willing to stand behind and support. And with their one-on-one support, they will be able to help anyone who has questions or needs assistance with their products. All of which makes Galileo Telescope a company that amateur astronomers can turn to when they want to turn their eyes to the heavens.

Telescopes act as windows to the universe. It is with the help of telescopes that we can study the solar system and view the conjunctions of stars. Not just that, the various planets, galaxies, satellites and asteroids that we get to see only in the books and magazines are made more familiar to us via the telescopes. They act as barrier- breaking instruments between the human beings and the outer space. The universe is no more a mystery to us that exists beyond our reach and we owe it all to the telescopes.

The modern day telescopes bring with them a wide array of accessories and it is with the aid of these accessories that it becomes much more easier to successfully put the telescopes into proper use. Let us see what are the important accessories that go well and are a “must-have” for most telescope users: -

Filters- These are very essential for telescope users because they reduce the glare on the eyepiece and scatter the light thereby making it less strenuous for us to view distant objects.

Eyepiece- this is a very important piece of equipment and its absence can render a telescope useless. Eyepieces come in a variety of sizes and if you add more than one eyepiece to your telescopes then you can have the pleasure of viewing even the tiniest and distant objects with clarity.

Mounts- Mounts are the stands for telescopes. It is a mount on which the telescope rests. Since a telescope wont function favorably in vibrations therefore you should ensure that it is placed on a stable mount.

Barlow lens- A Barlow lens helps in the magnification of telescopes. These lenses are available in different sizes and we must be careful in choosing the size that best fits the eyepiece.

There are two main types of telescopes, the refractor (Galileo) telescopes and the reflector (Newton) telescopes. The refractor telescope uses an objective lens that bends the light towards the eyepiece. While the reflector telescope uses a mirror, which collects the light and then directs it towards the eyepiece.

Though both the refractors as well as the reflector telescopes are easily available in the market we should take the following points into consideration before buying a telescope.

Do not get impressed by the magnification of the telescopes. This is because magnification alone is of no use if it just produces large but hazy images.

Aperture- This is the most important factor while deciding on a telescope. Aperture is the opening that collects light so its important to choose a telescope with a larger aperture that will ensure a clearer and a more detailed image quality.

Resolution- This enables the telescopes to produce a more detailed image. So always opt for a telescope, which has a higher resolution. Moreover since resolution is also determined by the aperture, therefore the larger the aperture the better the resolution.

Focal length- The distance between the optical center of the lens or the mirror and the optical center of the eyepiece is known as the focal length. The focal length is what determines the magnification in telescopes. Larger focal lengths imply more magnification.

If we are careful about remembering the above points then it wont take us long to choose a telescope the next time we want to buy one for ourselves.