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A focuser is part of the telescope mechanism which allows the telescope to adjust its focus, done by either turning a knob or gear in the telescope; thereby adjusting its eyepiece or mirror. There are many different types of focusers, varying in design, use, and models. The most common and most basic focuser is the […]
The stars you see at night can possibly be illusions, or that they are not as many as they actually are. This happens through a process called gravitational lens or gravitational lensing. It is also one of the consequences of Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity. A celestial object, for example a quasar, that is
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Nucleus, known as a center, may mean a lot of things. Reviewing your Biology, it is also known as the control center. Going to Chemistry, it is the center of an atom that has the protons and neutrons. Now, in Astronomy, you should know that the galaxy also has a nucleus. And it is called
Gravity is the force which pull everything around us down towards the ground. Objects feel heavy because of the force of gravity on them. Isaac Newton realized that gravity is important not just for everyday objects around us, but also for the motion of planets and stars. He was able to explain the orbits of
The Maksutov telescope is a catadioptric type of telescope with a unique design that combines a spherical mirror and a weak negative meniscus lens. As a result, the telescope fixes the off-axis aberration problems usually encountered in other designs. The Maksutov telescope was named after the Russian inventor, Dmitri Dmitrievich Maksutov, who came up with
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For thousands of years, ancient civilizations have thought of the earth as the center of the solar system. Had Copernicus failed to challenge this belief, Galileo would not have concluded that the solar system is indeed heliocentric. If his proponent theory gathered much of a dispute, imagine the disbelief it would cause by suggesting that
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When you look at the stars, you will notice that some of them are brighter than the others. The differences in brightness are assigned with specific numbers that correspond to their magnitude. Magnitude starts from -1, which is considered as the brightest star. The dimmer a star becomes, it gets a number with a higher
A star is a large mass of plasma matter held together by gravitational forces. Near the end of its life a star can also have a significant portion of degenerate matter. Sun is the star nearest Earth. At night other stars become visible when not obscured by the Sun’s light or atmospheric interference. In the
A fork mount is a type of telescope mount designed like a fork with an axis attached to its base. The telescope is attached to each end of the fork, allowing the telescope to swing in declination. Most mass-produced catadioptric as well as many mid-sized professional telescopes have fork mounts as its mount. Among the
Seeing comets is an awesome experience. Being able to see a very rare comet in one’s lifetime is truly one unforgettable moment. Comets despite its very bright and seemingly burning appearance are actually bodies of ice in the Solar System. When these comets get near the Sun, a coma may be visible to stargazers or
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