Week
6: Choosing and using a telescope
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Objectives
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By the end of this lesson,
you will be able to
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name three kinds of astronomical
telescope design
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check the alignment of the finder
scope
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focus an astronomical telescope
on a distant bright object (Moon, planet, star, street light if cloudy)
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change the magnification
of the telescope
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find and focus on another object,
including manipulating an equatorial mount
Remember that this lesson is
not formally assessed as the weather and sky conditions are so variable.
The main idea behind this lesson is to inform participants who may be thinking
of buying a simple telescope for use by children of the main features and
how to find some easy objects.
Web Links
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Telescope
Buying FAQ
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Essential information if you are
thinking of spending money. UK specific information is also available from
Steven
Tonkin's Web site.
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Telescope
Basics
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This Web page describes the various
kinds of telescope and mounting in common use.
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How
to use an equatorial mount
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Animation shows how to point a
telescope at various quarters of the sky. The Equatorial mount does make
things a bit easier when you want to hold an object in the field of view
and allow for the Earth's rotation.
Activity
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As mentioned, this activity
is not assessed as part of the qualification. I would challenge you to:
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Line the telescope on Polaris
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Sight the famous double star Albeiro
in Cygnus (just feasible early autumn) - it is a lovely double star
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Find and sight the Moon at some
stage in the course if available (typically low in the Western sky a few
days to a week after New Moon)
Keith
Burnett
Last modified: 10th June 02