Skywatch - 2021 - 64

Intro to Scopes

Making Choices
Given all the options described here,
you're probably wondering what scope
is best. That really is one of those questions that only you can answer. But here
are a couple pieces of advice.
First, figure out your budget and
stick to it. Don't forget that in addition
to the scope and mount, you'll probably
want to set aside some money for a good
star atlas and perhaps an extra eyepiece or two. Second, start basic. A doeverything instrument can seem really
appealing, but it can also be overwhelming until you've racked up some experience under the night sky. Third, make
sure your scope is a good match for your
circumstances. A large Dobsonian is a
fi ne choice for a suburban backyard, but
if you live in a city apartment and have
to carry your scope down a fl ight of
stairs or transport it to a remote viewing
site, something more portable would be
a better choice.
For beginners seeking an instrument
that can show a wide range of objects
well, it's hard to go wrong with an
8-inch Dobsonian. If you feel you can
handle the extra weight and expense,
a 10-inch Dob is even more capable.
That's what I usually suggest to most
64 SK Y WATCH 2021

First Target
A close-up view of the
Moon's battered surface
is usually high on a beginner's list of must-see
telescopic sights. It's
also a target seasoned
observers can't resist
returning to again and
again.

beginners. If, however, you prize portability over everything else, a smaller altazimuth reflector or refractor is a sensible choice. If your budget allows and
you enjoy technology, a Go To scope
can be a fun option as well.
Do seek out a local astronomy club
or attend a star party or two so you can
try out a few scopes before taking the
plunge. It's amazing how much clarity
even a little experience can bring to the
decision-making process!

Finally, bear in mind that there is
no one "perfect" choice. All telescopes
represent compromises of one sort or
another. Indeed, I've often said that the
best thing about my fi rst telescope was
that it taught me all the things to avoid
with my second one. But if you choose
wisely, you may never desire another
telescope.

p Tabletop

pA

Telescope This 5-inch
Newtonian reflector features an open-tube
design and is fitted with a tabletop, alt-azimuth
mount. This style of mount sounds great in
principle, but only works well if you use it with a
sufficiently sturdy table.

GARY SERONIK is a Sky & Telescope
editor and lifelong telescope nut.

Dob For All Seasons Plenty of
aperture and ease of use are the calling cards
of the Dobsonian telescope. This 10-inch Dob
is surprisingly easy to transport: Its optical tube
assembly simply lifts off the mount, allowing each
component to be carried separately.

DOBSONIAN: KEN HEWITT-WHITE

So, what's not to like? Go To mounts
tend to be more expensive and complex
than their non-computerized cousins,
and require electricity, usually provided
by a set of batteries or a DC power pack.
And some observers simply enjoy the
thrill of the hunt. There's an undeniable
sense of accomplishment that comes
with tracking down an elusive galaxy or
nebula with just a star chart and a flashlight (red, of course).
Regardless of what kind of mount
you choose (or your scope comes with)
keep one basic truth in mind: A steady
view is an enjoyable view. Be sure that
your telescope and mount are a good
match. Few things in stargazing are as
frustrating as a mount that jiggles and
vibrates whenever you touch the telescope's focuser, causing objects in the
eyepiece to annoyingly bounce around.
An undermounted big scope shows less
than a small one with sturdy support.



Skywatch - 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Skywatch - 2021

Contents
Skywatch - 2021 - Cover1
Skywatch - 2021 - Cover2
Skywatch - 2021 - 1
Skywatch - 2021 - Contents
Skywatch - 2021 - 3
Skywatch - 2021 - 4
Skywatch - 2021 - 5
Skywatch - 2021 - 6
Skywatch - 2021 - 7
Skywatch - 2021 - 8
Skywatch - 2021 - 9
Skywatch - 2021 - 10
Skywatch - 2021 - 11
Skywatch - 2021 - 12
Skywatch - 2021 - 13
Skywatch - 2021 - 14
Skywatch - 2021 - 15
Skywatch - 2021 - 16
Skywatch - 2021 - 17
Skywatch - 2021 - 18
Skywatch - 2021 - 19
Skywatch - 2021 - 20
Skywatch - 2021 - 21
Skywatch - 2021 - 22
Skywatch - 2021 - 23
Skywatch - 2021 - 24
Skywatch - 2021 - 25
Skywatch - 2021 - 26
Skywatch - 2021 - 27
Skywatch - 2021 - 28
Skywatch - 2021 - 29
Skywatch - 2021 - 30
Skywatch - 2021 - 31
Skywatch - 2021 - 32
Skywatch - 2021 - 33
Skywatch - 2021 - 34
Skywatch - 2021 - 35
Skywatch - 2021 - 36
Skywatch - 2021 - 37
Skywatch - 2021 - 38
Skywatch - 2021 - 39
Skywatch - 2021 - 40
Skywatch - 2021 - 41
Skywatch - 2021 - 42
Skywatch - 2021 - 43
Skywatch - 2021 - 44
Skywatch - 2021 - 45
Skywatch - 2021 - 46
Skywatch - 2021 - 47
Skywatch - 2021 - 48
Skywatch - 2021 - 49
Skywatch - 2021 - 50
Skywatch - 2021 - 51
Skywatch - 2021 - 52
Skywatch - 2021 - 53
Skywatch - 2021 - 54
Skywatch - 2021 - 55
Skywatch - 2021 - 56
Skywatch - 2021 - 57
Skywatch - 2021 - 58
Skywatch - 2021 - 59
Skywatch - 2021 - 60
Skywatch - 2021 - 61
Skywatch - 2021 - 62
Skywatch - 2021 - 63
Skywatch - 2021 - 64
Skywatch - 2021 - 65
Skywatch - 2021 - 66
Skywatch - 2021 - 67
Skywatch - 2021 - 68
Skywatch - 2021 - 69
Skywatch - 2021 - 70
Skywatch - 2021 - 71
Skywatch - 2021 - 72
Skywatch - 2021 - 73
Skywatch - 2021 - 74
Skywatch - 2021 - 75
Skywatch - 2021 - 76
Skywatch - 2021 - 77
Skywatch - 2021 - 78
Skywatch - 2021 - 79
Skywatch - 2021 - 80
Skywatch - 2021 - Cover3
Skywatch - 2021 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312_aus
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202304_qr
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/skywatch_2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_mars
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/aas/st_201001
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com