Basic Telescope Accessories
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Basic Telescope Accessories
A telescope, as a piece of specialized optical equipment, will function on its own, without any additional parts or gadgets. However, there is an array of basic telescope accessories that very beginning astronomy enthusiasts to the serious astronomy hobbyists use with a telescope to make the whole stargazing experience an enriched one, or in the very least, easier.
Tripod – The tripod is a standard three-legged support which holds your telescope. Most telescopes come with a tripod which has been designed specifically for use with that telescope. An altazimuth mount, will allow you to move your telescope with horizontal and vertical movements. An equatorial mount allows you to adjust quickly by rotating your telescope on an axis.
Eyepiece – Your telescope will also come with one or more eyepieces, the component allowing you to view objects. In order to increase your viewing experience, you can upgrade the performance of your telescope by choosing a quality eyepiece, such as a Plössl or Orthoscopics eyepiece.
Finderscopes – This piece of equipment is the small secondary telescope attached to the main body of your telescope. Basic telescope accessories usually come with a budget finderscope. A 5 x 24 finderscope is a basic version usually seen in less expensive optical equipment. You can upgrade your finderscope to a 6 x 30 or 8 x 50 version to better view hard to see objects in the night sky.
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| Lynne Christen |
