How To Choose A Spotting Scope
Many people getting into nature study for the first time wonder whether they should start by purchasing a spotting scope or a binocular. Of course the answer to this depends on many things. Two of the most important factors concern the nature of the subjects to be observed and the distance between them and the observer.

Short Tube vs Long Tube- What's the Difference
Telescopes come in many different shapes and sizes. In recent years, "short tube," or "rich-field," reflectors and refractors have become popular. Their short-focal-length optics fit in stubbier tubes, making them lighter and more portable than "long-tube" scopes.The physical differences are obvious, but how do short-and long-focal-length scopes differ in performance?

How to Choose a Telescope
We take the mystery out of deciding which telescope design and features are right for your particular interests, budget, and lifestyle. Whether you're looking for a scope for yourself

Choosing a Telescope for Astronomy - The long Version
Given the bewildering array of telescopes on the market, how does an enthusiastic but inexperienced consumer choose the right one? To answer this question we will explain the differences between specific telescope types.

Image Orientation
Every beginning astronomer has to grapple with the topsy-turvy topic of image orientation in the telescope. Depending on the type of telescope and whether or not it is used in combination with a star diagonal, the image you see may be either upside-down, backwards, rotated, or normally oriented.

Telescope Power (Magnification)
Of those two functions, the first one - gathering more light - is by far the most important. This comes as a surprise to many people, who think that magnification, or power is the linchpin of telescope functionality. The higher the power, the better, one would think. But this isn't so.

The Dobsonian Story
The Dobsonian is a simple, low-cost telescope design popularized by San Francisco amateur astronomer John Dobson in the 1970s. It consists of a Newtonian tube assembly riding on a simple, wooden altazimuth base.

Apparent Field vs. True Field
An eyepiece's apparent field of view is the angular diameter, expressed in degrees (°), of the circle of light that the eye sees.

What Will You See Through a Telescope
Even the smallest telescope will reveal breathtaking close-ups of the Moon's rugged, battered surface. New features are highlighted every night along the terminator, where the light and dark portions of the lunar disk meet. Craters, smooth lava plains, and jagged mountains abound, providing endless fascination.