Telescope Basics

GETTING STARTED

• Introduction
• What you can see with a telescope

TYPES OF TELESCOPES

• Introduction
• Refractor
• Newtonian Reflector
• Catadioptrics

OPTICAL TERMS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF TELESCOPES

• Aperture (Diameter of the lens or mirror)
• Focal Length
• Resolution
• Resolving Power
• Contrast
• Light Gathering Power (Light Grasp)
• Airy Disk Brilliance Factor
• Exit Pupil
• Power (Magnification)
• Limiting Magnitude
• Diffraction Limited (Rayleigh Criterion)
• Focal Ratio (Photographic Speed or F/Stop)
• Near Focus
• Field of View
• Optical Design Aberrations
• Collimation

MECHANICAL TERMS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF TELESCOPES

• Telescope Mounts (Stability)
• Wedge
• Clock (Motor) Drive
• Setting Circles
• Finderscope
• Star Diagonal
• Eyepiece (Ocular)
• Accessories

GENERAL INFORMATION

• "Seeing Conditions"
• Portability
• Versatility
• Quality
• The Celestial-Coordinate System