About Telescopes

About Telescopes - Viewing The Universe

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Brass 25X30 Freebooter Monocular Telescope Box Optics*

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6X 18mm Optical Lens Mobile Phone Telescope Blk w Strap

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ORIGINAL LENSPEN OPTICS CLEANER - BINOCULAR & TELESCOPE

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Galileo G-5LTME 130mm Reflector Telescope w/all optics!!

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Astro Optics Economy 12.5mm .965" Eyepiece For Telescope - NEW

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A telescope is simply a tool that enables people to see objects that are very far away - beyond the range of the normal eyesight. The word telescope is formed from two Greek words that combine to literally mean 'distant-seeing' (tele means 'far' and skopein means 'to see').

History credits Galileo with coining the term when he christened the instrument he refined and made popular - that could be used to observe distant planets - as the 'telescope'.

Going by the dictionary, though, the word telescope can be used to imply a wide variety of instruments that are designed to extend the range of our normal senses. However, all these "telescopes" have one common attribute. They collect electromagnetic radiation and manipulate it so as to be able to study and analyze in detail the source of the radiation and/or what the radiation (light, radio waves, etc.) has interacted with.

Most commonly, though, when speaking of telescopes it is usually in reference to the optical telescope. These shiny instruments, which range from hand held telescopes, to larger telescopes found in backyards and giant instruments located on top of mountains all collect visible light and use an array of mirrors and lenses to focus this light, permitting the viewer to clearly see and even photograph distant objects.

Optical telescopes can further be categorized as reflecting and refracting telescopes. The differences between these two types of telescopes are explained in detail in other pages of this website.

Additionally on this website the history of the telescope is traced. And a an account is given of how Galileo came up with the first refined telescope that he then used to study the heavens.

There are several different accessories pertaining to telescopes such as telescope eyepieces, telescope mounts, telescope covers, etc. which are detailed on other pages. Modern camera telescopes and the famous Hubble space telescope are also discussed here.

If you want to scan the night skies, you may want to build your own home telescope. See our page on building your own. Or you can always purchase a telescope from our telescope store, Viewing the Universe.

About the Author: Scott Harker is the publisher of several websites including: Sherlock Holmes Pastiches, Harvest The Sun | Making Biodiesel, Samurai Weapons, Naming the Baby, and the Spotlight on Science Blog.

Video About Telescopes, Galileo to SLOOH

http://slooh.com This video looks at Galileo's important work with the first telescope and includes an overview of the SLOOH robotic telescopes. Robotic telescopes are accessed and controlled using the Internet an incredible evolution of technology from Galileo's first telescopes.

News About Telescopes