Telescope Buying Guide

Chiemeka Utazi Chichi asked:


Reflecting telescope makes use of a concave mirror in place of the objective lens to bring a distant object onto focus. What is the magnifying power of a telescope that has a mirror with 250cm radius and an eye piece, whose focal length is 5.0cm?

Nigel asked:


I’ve been using binoculars for a year now and I am planning to get a computerized Catadioptric telescope.

Any suggestions? or should I get a reflecting telescope?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a catadioptric and a reflector telescope?

My main goal is to get any computerized telescopes which would help me learn more about astronomy

Thank you in advance!
So would be a Orions XT8 good enough for me?

raul asked:


diameter of 8mm, how many photons per second could newton detect with the telescope compared to without? 8? 17? 33? 38? 1089? I believe it is 1089 i sqaured the diameter of each and subtracted
Assuming 100% reflectivity of the mirror and he used only one eye

falling_starz asked:


I mean, when it says 10-cm telescope does it refer to its aperture (which, I think, is the light collecting area right?) or its the diameter of the primary mirror (for a reflecting telescope)?

louih25 asked:


Does anyone know of a good site where i can learn how to make my own reflecting telescope?

Or if you have instructions of your own, would you share them with me?

thedeanmanisback asked:


I have a report due next week on Sir Isaac Newton and the impact of the reflecting telescope. I really want to get it done this week because I have plans. =p I already have all the basics down. I just want someone to answer that question and I’ll be practically done with it. =D Please? I’m bnot asking you to do the report for me.

dealerschool2000 asked:


I have a meade 4.5″ reflecting telescope, but images are seen upside down.

Vincent L asked:


I can’t find any good scope seller or an optical shop in our place that sells customizable mirror. I’m planning to buy a magnifying mirror and use it as a reflecting scope’s primary mirror. I’ve heard that the focal length might be short. How short is an average focal length of a magnifying mirror? Is it too short to be used in a telescope or passable as an average quality scope mirror? I haven’t bought one and measured it.

Robert L asked:


Is it the reflecting telescope or the refracting telescope?
please include the source of your information if at all possible, thank you.