items: 0
Your First Telescope for Astrophotography
Kamera Express
Handy Tips for Purchasing Your First Telescope
Buying your first telescope can be quite a big step, especially if you do not know exactly what all the terms mean, what the possibilities are, and what equipment is available. Celestron, for example, already has a very large range. To help you choose the right telescope for you, we have listed a number of tips below.
Tip 1: Start by Orienting Yourself
When you are interested in observing subjects or photographing astronomy and specifically in a telescope, it is good to first gather sufficient information; what types are available, what are the best accessories, and what can you observe with a telescope? This helps you find out what is important to others and gives you a feel for the quality, ease of use, and additional functions of a telescope.
Tip 2: Optical Tube or Complete Set
When buying your first telescope, you can pay attention to whether you are purchasing a complete set or only the optical tube. This means that you only buy the telescope itself, without a tripod or accompanying accessories. For your first telescope, it is useful if you purchase a set with which you are immediately ready to observe, including a tripod.
Tip 3: Use It for Other Applications
If you are wondering whether you can also use your telescope for observing and photographing, for example, birds and other subjects in nature, then the answer is; absolutely! Many night-time observers (usually those with smaller telescopes) also use their telescope for observing, for example, birds during the day. For this, you will need an erecting eyepiece that turns your image upright, since the image through your telescope is displayed upside down.
Tip 4: Ensure a Stable Base
In addition to the optical quality of a telescope, it is also very important that it stands on a sturdy and stable base. You may have the best telescope, but if it is very windy and the telescope itself moves back and forth a lot, this will disrupt your observation. Therefore, make sure you purchase a good tripod that provides sufficient stability, even when you are outdoors and it is a bit windier.
Tip 5: GoTo Telescope
If you want to automatically keep pointing at a particular subject while photographing, you can choose a so-called ‘GoTo telescope’. This type of telescope has a mounting system that is driven by a motor or motors and is controlled by a built-in computer. This allows you to programme in advance which astronomical objects you want to point at, so that the telescope automatically tracks them.
Tip 6: Ensure Electricity
With some telescopes, such as the GoTo telescope mentioned in point five, you need electricity. In most cases, these telescopes use direct current for the motor, which means that you can use batteries (including those in your car). With the help of an adapter, you can also connect your telescope to a wall socket.
Tip 7: Use the Right Accessories
Accessories are often an important part of your equipment when you are observing, and certainly if you want to photograph with your telescope. You may have the best telescope in the world, but if you cannot see anything through it, then naturally it is of no use to you. Moreover, accessories can be a valuable addition to expand your possibilities. Think, for example, of a Barlow lens to increase the focal length, an erecting eyepiece to turn the image upright, a tracking motor, or different colour filters. For astrophotography, a T2 ring and camera adapter are the most commonly used accessories to connect your camera to the telescope.
Tip 8: Practice Makes Perfect
If you have been able to make a choice about which telescope is most suitable for you and you have gathered your equipment, then you have already taken a big step towards being able to start photographing. You can now begin trying everything out and finding out which locations are best for, for example, seeing the most stars. Of course, there is a lot of information available about this on the internet, but also in books and even astronomy clubs where you can go for information, excursions, and events. Above all, however, it is important to practise a lot, because practice makes perfect. Often it is simply a matter of finding the right settings, and eventually you will get a successful photo.
Tip 9: Try and Discover!
Although your telescope is best suited to a particular type of object, you can view everything with any telescope. So why not try everything? People often say that they only photograph planets or galaxies, but it would be a shame to let a total lunar eclipse, a bright comet, or a rich meteor shower pass you by. The Moon has hundreds of targets on its ever-changing surface, and even with a small aperture you can see most of them. The planets spend a great deal of time in the early evening sky, making them easy to observe. A short trip out at night each month can yield dozens of galaxies. While taking it all in, you are sure to marvel at the magnificent universe and the richness of the hobby you have chosen.
