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15x32 Best Optics Spotting Scope Monocular Telescopes
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TELESCOPE VIXEN OPTICS 1.25" 15MM NPL PLOSSL
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Testing optics of Celestron & Meade Schmidt telescopes
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TELESCOPE EYEPIECE 30MM VIXEN OPTICS PLOSSL 1.25"
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About Telescopes

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.

telescope tripod
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.
More Space Related Videos

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News About Telescopes

telescopes - Google News

Hubble Revisits Supernova 1987A - SkyandTelescope.com 3 Sep 2010 at 12:01pm

Hubble Revisits Supernova 1987A
SkyandTelescope.com
Fortunately, the Hubble Space Telescope started observing SN 1987A within months of its launch in 1990. Those first views revealed a ring of matter thrown ...

and more »


Telescopes eye universe in radio waves - The Free Lance-Star 3 Sep 2010 at 12:51am

The Free Lance-Star

Telescopes eye universe in radio waves
The Free Lance-Star
DEEP in the foothills of Puerto Rico, an advanced astronomical instrument known as the Arecibo radio telescope quietly probes the universe. ...

and more »


Impressively-Diverse NEO Found Around Earth - Softpedia 3 Sep 2010 at 2:58am

FOXNews

Impressively-Diverse NEO Found Around Earth
Softpedia
Astronomers have been proposing using various IR space telescopes to conduct surveys on NEO. They believe that hundreds, if not thousands of them may be ...
NASA Narrows Targets For Manned Asteroid MissionFOXNews
'Plymouth Rock' Human Asteroid Trek proposed for 2019Space Ref (press release)

all 27 news articles »


Now zoom into universe through Windows - Daily News & Analysis 3 Sep 2010 at 6:15am

Now zoom into universe through Windows
Daily News & Analysis
"As a virtual platform for the universe or outer space, it has huge data of images collected from Hubble and 10 other earth-bound telescopes," she said. ...

and more »


India to build world's largest solar telescope - Economic Times 2 Sep 2010 at 2:55am

India to build world's largest solar telescope
Economic Times
BANGALORE: India is inching closer towards building the world's largest solar telescope in Ladakh on the foothills of the Himalayas that aims to study the ...

and more »