Welcome

It’s wonderful that you have found your way to our resource about telescopes and astronomy. At Telescope Guru, we are passionate about everything to do with telescopes and astronomy.

Why Telescope Guru?

Here at Telescope Guru, we aim to supply all the information you need to get a start in astronomy. We do not sell any products, so the information is independent and honest.

We have easy-to-understand information about telescopes. You will find information on how to get the best out of your telescope and what astronomy objects you can target to start your new hobby. We also aim to provide information of the types of telescopes you should be using. Our aim is to answer as many questions as possible that you may have. We also hope that you find things that you never thought of.

Using a telescope has the potential to change your life. We were once like you in that our journeys began in the same place. Learning to use a telescope and understanding astronomy may appear difficult but we will make it easy for you.

How to use the site

The site is separated into three categories. One section is about telescopes, and one is about astronomy. The third category looks at some associated equipment. By far the first two categories contain the majority of the important information. Below is a brief description of each section. You can navigate to the section that you are interested in.

Also below is a brief description of what can be observed in the night sky.

Telescopes

Investing in a telescope is life-changing for some people. It is a tool that can be used to observe the wonders of the night sky. Viewing the night sky may spark a desire to learn more about the objects that you see.

A telescope is an instrument that collects light from dim objects. The concentration of light also makes it possible to magnify the object making previously invisible details visible. Some people describe telescopes as ‘light buckets’ as they collect light in a similar fashion as does a bucket collects water during a rain storm. However, a telescope collects photons rather than water.

A telescope works by refracting or reflecting light with the use of a lens or a mirror. Lenses are used primarily in refractor telescopes while reflector telescopes use mirrors. There are some types of telescopes that use both lenses and mirrors.

The telescope category aims to answer all the questions that you may have about telescopes.

Astronomy

Astronomy is the study of all objects outside the Earth’s atmosphere. It is a large and interesting area of study. Luckily for us, many of the principles of astronomy are relatively easy to understand at a conceptual level. While there is a lot of math at the pointy end of astronomy scientific research there is a lot to learn that does not require more than a basic level of math. Many of the concepts are well within the capabilities of most people.

But don’t get me wrong, it is perfectly acceptable to observe astronomical objects without learning the specifics of what they are. However, having some knowledge will enhance the pleasure.

Equipment

While telescopes are a major focus in observational astronomy, other tools are utilized. Cameras and binoculars are examples of other equipment that may be used to observe the night sky. The Equipment section of the website covers topics related to these items.

What is commonly observed with telescopes

There are many types of objects that you can observe with a basic telescope.

Solar System

The most obvious targets are the Moon and planets in our own solar system. All of the planets out to Saturn are easy to observe with a small telescope. In fact, all of the planets out to Saturn are visible with the naked eye. The Moon is an interesting object to study in detail. With the correct training and equipment, we can use a telescope during the day to study the Sun.

Deep Sky Objects

Stars are an obvious target however due to their vast distance they are no more than point sources of light. Even though they are point sources brightness and color variation can be observed. Stars also come in binary systems which some find interesting. Stars also form constellations and asterisms.

On a smaller scale, stars form clusters of varying types. The most common are globular clusters and open clusters. Globular clusters can be found orbiting the galaxy and typically contain old stars. Open clusters may form from a single dust cloud and can contain dazzling bright blue stars.

Other than stars you can use a telescope to observe nebulae. Nebulae come in three different types: emission, reflection and dark. Emission nebulae are the result of excited gas giving off light. As the name suggests, reflection nebulae reflect light from other bright objects. Dark nebulae block the light from objects that are behind them.

Galaxies are a popular object for observation. With the naked eye, it is possible to see our neighboring galaxy, Andromeda. Of all the objects in the night sky with the naked eye Andromeda is the only one that is not part of our own galaxy. Of course, we can also see our own galaxy as in snakes across the night sky if you are at a dark site.

For more information on what is visible with a telescope see: What Can You See With A Telescope?

The Astronomy section of this website contains more detailed information on these objects and a whole lot more.