TELESCOPE & BINOCULAR BUYERS' GUIDE

Want to learn how to select a telescope, binocular, microscope, spotting scope, or accessory, like a filter, an eyepiece or other optical product? Scope City offers this free optics crash course for beginners to help them make the right choice and best buy. There is also information for the intermediate and advanced observers.

SECTION 1: SCOPE CITY`S GUIDE TO OPTICS

PART I: BASIC APPLICATIONS OF OPTICS

A. TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS FOR DAYTIME USE

• TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS USED ON LAND AND SEA
• TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS FOR VIEWING THE SUN

B. TELESCOPES & BINOCULARS FOR NIGHTTIME USE

C. TELESCOPES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY

PART II: TELESCOPES AND BINOCULARS

A: TOOLS OF THE TRADE (THE EQUIPMENT)

• TYPES OF SCOPES - REFRACTORS
• TYPES OF SCOPES - NEWTONIAN REFLECTORS
• TYPES OF SCOPES - CATADIOPTRIC TELESCOPES
• APERTURE AND FOCAL LENGTH OF TELESCOPES
• OPTICAL QUALITY OF TELESCOPES
• TRANSPORTABILITY OF TELESCOPES

B: TYPES OF OBJECTS TO VIEW IN A TELESCOPE

C: WHAT CAN WE SEE IN TELESCOPES?

D: ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

• THE TOOLS OF TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS
• PHOTOGRAPHIC TECHNIQUES
• PROCESSING THE IMAGES

E. CHARACTERISTICS OF TELESCOPES (OPTICAL TERMS)

• THE MOST FREQUENTLY SEEN ABERRATIONS IN TELESCOPES
• A SIMPLE CALCULATOR FOR MAGNIFICATION IN YOUR TELESCOPE
• RESOLUTION OF A TELESCOPE
• TRUE FIELD OF VIEW IN A TELESCOPE
• FOCAL LENGTH AND WHAT IT DOES
• SKY DARKNESS, MAGNITUDE, AND TELESCOPE SIZE
• URSA MINOR, THE LITTLE DIPPER

PART III: TELESCOPE MOUNTS

• TYPES OF TELESCOPE MOUNTS
• HOW TO USE THE TELESCOPE MOUNT

PART IV: EYEPIECES

• TYPES AND COATING INFORMATION
• HOW TO SELECT AN EYEPIECE
• CHARACTERISTICS, ABERRATIONS AND TECHNICAL TERMS
  • CHARACTERISTICS
  • ABERRATIONS

PART V: TELESCOPE FILTERS

PART VI: COMMON TELESCOPE ACCESSORY RECOMMENDATIONS

PART VII: HOW TO USE YOUR TELESCOPE

• MAXIMIZING WHAT YOU SEE
• OBSERVING AND WEATHER
• KEEP AN OBSERVING LOG

PART VIII. COLLIMATION OF THE TELESCOPE

PART IX. CARE OF OPTICS AND CLEANING

PART X. DEFINITION OF ASTRONOMY TERMS (GLOSSARY)

• A
• B - C
• D - E
• F - G - H
• I - J - K - L
• M - N
• O - P - Q
• R - S - T
• U - V - W - X - Y - Z

PART XI. ASTRONOMY BOOKS AND STAR CHARTS

SECTION 2: SCOPE CITY'S GUIDE TO THE SKY

A. STARS IN THE SKY TONIGHT - December, 2020

B. THE MONTHLY SKY GUIDE - STAR CHARTS

• Planisphere Early Morning
• Planisphere Mid Night
• Planisphere Late Evening

C. THE MONTHLY RECOMMENDED OBSERVING LIST

D. LUNAR / SOLAR CALENDAR FOR ASTRONOMERS

E. ASTRONOMY CALCULATORS