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TELESCOPE TIPS

4

FRONT PAGE

TELESCOPES & ASTRONOMY

BACKYARD VIEWING
ATMOSPHERE
AVERTED VISION
PLANETS

CONTENTS

PLANETS

There is a lot to see when viewing the planets. The planets which provide a lot of detail are Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. To see the intricate detail in these astronomical objects is different to looking at other objects. The ability to see the planets and Moon is different because they are closer, and we see them because the suns light is shining on them (reflection). Other objects omit their own light. The planets have enough light to for us to see their colours through even the smallest telescope.

TIPS LINKS:

TELESCOPE
IMPROVEMENT

GENERAL

FAINT DEEP SKY

Rising Heat
Try to use a position which is not looking at the planets over the top of the house especially if the house heater is on. The heat flucuations coming off the top of the house get between you and the planets.

ADVANCED

Atmosphere

The best time to observe is just before dawn, when the air is stillest after the Earth has given off it's heat over night. Looking through the least amount of atmosphere by observing when the object is overhead or at it's highest.

As you use a telescope on different nights, you will find every night is different depending on the weather, pollution, heat, humidity and dust.etc. One night you won't be able to use more than 200x magnification, then on the next night you can. There are different ways to tell roughly. How much the stars twinkle is one way or finding out the UV (ultra-violet) rating for the day on the weather is another. After a while you can tell just by looking at an object you know.

Mount
Ensure the telescope mount is rock solid.

View the

Mounts

improvements to telescopes

page for tips.

Averted Vision

By looking to one side of an object, your eye uses it's averted vision. The object is seen by a different part of the eye and picking up some details otherwise not seen looking directly at it. In astronomy averted vision can become a skill. Experiment with it sometimes and it will become easy.