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Often, the first name that pops into a users mind is that of Meade telescopes & the reason behind this is that Meade is well known for selling quality telescopes at reasonable prices, and is especially suited for the home astronomer.

Before selecting a Meade telescope, you should consider the intended application & for the beginner or amateur telescope user, one may opt for a Meade telescope to see the many astronomical objects with the help of either refracting or mirror lens telescopes.

The reflecting Meade telescopes are more suited for all those who are interested in astronomy as these have larger apertures & provide good value for money… In any case, the Meade telescope is easy to set up & is a sturdy instrument that one can use & enjoy for years to come & grow with, while learning a lot more about the night skies in ones area.

A World Leader in Design of Telescopes for Amateur Astronomers

Meade telescopes are instruments that are made by Meade, which was founded in 1972 & is a world leader when it comes to the design as well as manufacture of telescopes & accessories for amateur astronomers.

The products that this company sells are innovative as well as incorporate the best in technology to give to the user an advanced product that is arguably one of the best that can be easily found anywhere in the world. With a Meade telescope, one can expect to get quality viewing at a budget price.

There’re high performance 70mm refractor telescopes which would make any beginning astronomer proud to own one is it for use in terrestrial observations or for astronomy. With one of these telescopes, one can view the rings of Saturn & the satellites of Jupiter with sharpness, as well as clarity of images.

The Meade RCX400 Advanced Ritchey-Chrtien Telescopes are the best in optical design in telescopes that helps produce large, coma-free field of vision from edge-to-edge, and allows astrophotography to get the best in imaging technology & capture crisp as well as sharp images over a wider field.

Through such a Meade telescope, viewers are now able to pinpoint stars as well as extended objects, however far they may be. In fact, almost every professional reflector telescope, including the Hubble Space Telescope is a Ritchey-Chrtien.

Such is the quality & price/performance benefits of the Meade telescopes that most experts as well as users give them the thumbs-up & are the first choice when it comes to choosing their telescopes. Of its many useful features, the Meade telescope will also offer users AutoStar automatic location, automatic leveling as well as more to make stargazing an experience to draw much pleasure from.

By: Ann Marier -

Ann Marier has written many articles on health questions providing help-ful tips & advice. Read all about her latest articles on telescopes & how to use a child telescope to generate their interest in the universe

Ann Marier -

Astronomy & space is all about lust for learning. Did you know that astronomy is one of humanity’s oldest sciences? In actual fact, astronomy is one of the earliest sciences that humanity has ever pursued. So the study of our universe isn’t new but you should remember that astronomy is a science. A science for the masses. And, astronomy is a field about which most of the world knows very little.

Astronomy is really an outdoor nature hobby. Astronomy is also a place where international boundaries blur. It’s as pure a science as one can find as it studies the Universe & what’s in it… It’s also an observational science that requires observations & precise calculations, particularly of positions of celestial objects. Astronomy is truly bigger than all of us.

Most of modern astronomical research involves a substantial amount of physics & can be actually considered astrophysics. Right. What is the basic difference between Astrophysics & Astronomy? How stars form is one of the central unknowns of astrophysics. Astronomy is more a matter of making observations.

The telescope is undoubtedly a very important investigative tool in astronomy. Did you know that Galileo was the first human to use a telescope for astronomy? Purchasing a telescope is something that most people who get interested in astronomy need to do. If you want to buy you a telescope, but it all looks confusing to you, be sure to do some analysis. Because purchasing a telescope, like purchasing a automobile or stereo equipment, is subject to your tastes as a buyer. But your choice of a telescope is critical as the telescope is focused on space & astronomy access for all of us.

Telescope parts & accessories can be a very useful addition to your astronomy experience. If you are just starting out, look for a quality, affordable telescope for beginning astronomy students & casual observers. You might even ask friends if any of them have a telescope for sale. But the aim is to take advantage of the latest developments in telescope technology to make the next giant leap forward in observing. Many people use the telescope regularly for star parties, astronomy workshops, and casual observing.

Public curiosity in astronomy is unlimited. Astronomy is our tool for unlocking the knowledge of the heavens. As mentioned above, it may be a science, but it also is an outdoor nature hobby. But do not worry, you will see that astronomy is more than just a branch of science, it is cool too. Astronomy is a wonderful field of science for the family to study. Astronomy is all about curiosity, & fulfilling that curiosity.

Yvonne Volante, the author, is a big fan of the art of astronomy & writes for yesastronomy.com, which is the premier astronomy resource on the internet. You can see all of the articles over at http://www.yesastronomy.com

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Harald Anderson

Houston, Texas, is probably most famous for its featured role in space travel movies as NASAs Mission Control Center is based here inside the Johnson Space Center. However, there’re hundreds more reasons to book your airfare to Houston, the 4th largest city in the United States. Come get a taste of southern rodeo, Americas gulf coast, some Spanish history, & one of the most medically & technologically advanced cities in the country.

Houston: Mecca for Science & Technology

One of the most visited places in Houston is Clear Lake, the site of NASAs Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. Space Center Houston is open to tourists, offering educational exhibits & hands-on displays highlighting Mission Controls long history of success & tragedy. Do not miss out on the tram tour through the actual Johnson Space Center facility. Clear Lake is also a popular recreation retreat for the city, positioned on a bay just off the coast of the Gulf, offering a variety of outdoor activities.

The Texas Medical Center is located near downtown Houston & happens to be the worlds largest medical district, servicing over five million patient appointments annually. The campus grounds feel like a city within a city, hosting residential towers for employees & all the necessities of daily life. Notably, the Medical Center gives the largest proton therapy clinic for cancer treatment & the Cancer Prevention Center, established by the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Houstons Hotbed of Style, Sophistication & Soul

Houston is one of the most international cities in the United States, attracting tours of Broadway productions, major art exhibits, and consistently a stop on each major musicians tours. Houstons Theater District offers more theater space per capita than most major cities & even has permanent professional opera & ballet companies (only five other cities in the United States can make such a claim). The Museum District gives a centralized neighborhood for all of Houstons major museums, including the Houston Zoo & the Museum of Health & Medical Science.

Houston is also a vibrant center for alternative art & culture. The streets of the city are filled with incredible motorized creations resembling spaceships, fantasy creatures & other extraordinary structures once a year during the Art Car Parade. Also, travel to Houston during the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo to catch the largest & longest running event of its kind. Major artists perform in concert & there’re many arts & crafts vendors & activities for the entire family.

Secure your airfare to Houston now & enjoy the most modern & dynamic city in Texas, and possibly the entire country. The major shipping Port of Houston adds incredible diversity to the massive metropolis as the sixth-largest port in the world. Experience the down south flavor of a Texas town against the backdrop of the major multiculturalism of a bustling urban center.

For lots more information on Houston & cheap airfare & flight tickets, go to http://www.cfares.com

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Frank Johnson

The difference between a telescope & telescope binoculars is one eye. And so… So far so good. With a telescope you peer through the lens with one eye & with telescope binoculars you use them both. Additionally, telescope binoculars are similar to traditional binoculars, only with a much longer focal length.

It has been said that an actual person can see more in the sky with a good pair of binoculars than with a cheap telescope, and telescope binoculars are designed with star gazing in mind with wider aperture opening to allow more light into the lenses, offering a brighter view of the viewing subject. There’re many binoculars on the market which can serve as telescope binoculars with the right focal length & magnification power, along with a reasonably wide lens opening.

Porro prism binoculars are better suited for night time gazing as they absorb less light through the prism path as do roof prism binoculars & will render a much brighter image when used as telescope binoculars in the typically low light conditions of nighttime viewing. However, upgrading optical quality & lens coatings are rapidly allowing the manufacturing of roof prism binoculars to meet the quality of porro prism units & they’re gaining in popularity despite the higher cost.

Mount Telescope Binoculars For Stability

When using traditional binoculars as telescope binoculars it’s best to have a unit with the capability to mount to a stable object such as a tripod or wooden deck to allow for better stability as well as in keeping them pointed in the same direction. Much like a telescope, they can be often used to spot smaller objects in the sky, but can rapidly lose sight of the object if moved & you’ll have to start the search all over again.

When searching for binoculars to double as telescope binoculars the numbers are important to know & understand. Binoculars are usually listed with two numbers, for example ten X 50. This would indicate a magnification factor of 10, meaning the object will appear to be ten times larger than the original & the diameter of the objective lens, in this case 50, determines the light gathering capability of the lens. Right. While an objective measure of thirty is good for daytime use, a fifty would provide typically good views at night.

To be effective as telescope binoculars, a magnification of 100 with an objective opening of seventy or more would be preferred. Remember that the longer the magnification & lens opening the more the unit is subject to shake when being held in the hands. A tripod or mount will reduce this & is virtually necessary with longer lenses.

Ann Marier writes informative articles about family life & general health issues, Her lastest are about telescopes & the start world. Click on http://childtelescope.com to read all the different telescope articles Click on http://ultimatehealthinfo.com to see the other general health articles.

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Ann Marier

Look up! Just do it… What do you see? Stupid question, eh? You see the ceiling of course. And so… So far so good. When you look upwards during a sunny day while picnicking how ever, you see the blue sky. Ever wondered why the sky isn’t green nor but blue?

Before answering this question, lets go back to the basic physics of light. OK. Sorry, but here I go

Light is a kind of energy, which travels in waves. Clear? In actual fact, light is a wave of vibrating electric & magnetic fields. Light forms only one small part of a larger range of vibrating electromagnetic fields called the electromagnetic spectrum. Electromagnetic waves travel through space at an amazing 300 00km/s. Therefore this is also the speed of light.

When you see white light from the bulb, you’re actually seeing the seven colours of the rainbow! This is because white light consists of a combination of these seven colours.

Each of these colours has a different wavelength, frequency & energy. Wavelength is the distance between the crests of the waves. The frequency is the number of waves that pass by each second. Note that the longer the wavelength, the lower the frequency & the less energy it contains.

Violet: Shortest wavelength, highest frequency & energy

Red: Longest wavelength, lowest frequency & energy

Now back to our main topic. That blue colour of the sky is due to an effect known as the Rayleigh scattering. As light from the sun moves towards Earths atmosphere, not all the colours are actually able to pass through that atmosphere. Most of the longer wavelength colours do pass (red, orange & yellow for sure) but the shorter wavelength ones however are mostly absorbed by gas molecules found in the atmosphere. Absorbed blue light is then bounced back (radiated would be a better word) in all directions. This makes the shy to appear blue!

You would however ask me why its the blue rays, which get scattered, & not the indigo nor the violet rays (the other colours pass through the atmosphere remember theres also blue that pass through but it then gets scattered). Well in actual fact, the shorter the wavelength, the more the colour gets scattered. Violet, which has the shortest wavelength of all colours of the rainbow thus gets scattered more than blue rays do. Our eyes however are much more sensitive to blue than to violet & the sky therefore doesnt appear to be violet but blue (in reality the sky is violet-indigo!).

Now do take the time making the following:

Take a look at the horizon (if youre at the seaside) & note the skys colour there. No, its not as blue as the rest of the sky, is it? Its much paler. This is because for the blue light to reach your eye, it has to travel more. Blue light will thus pass through more air consequently getting scattered more. Conclusion: less blue light reaches your eyes than compared to blue light from just above you.

K.A.Cassimally is the editor in chief of Astronomy Journal & Astronomy Journal Ezine. He is also the co-founder of the RCPL Astronomy Club. K.A.Cassimally is best known for his article ‘Harry Potter & the Moons of Jupiter’.

He is also Senior Columnist at BackWash.com where he writes ‘Not Scientific Science’.

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K.A.Cassimally

The Bible says the heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands (Psalms 19:1). You do not have to be religious for the night sky to grab your attention & wonder. Many of us settle for simply looking into the night sky, unaided by the superb technology available to us. That’s a shame. There are many great choices for the backyard astronomer, let us consider what the high quality Celestron NexStar series has to offer.

Keeping in line with the Celestron’s tradition of quality & performance, the NexStar SE series combines state-of-the-art features with the classic orange tube technology, a computerized system for operations, upgradeable hand control, premium StarBright XLT coatings, the SkyAlign alignment technology & other features.

New to the night sky? No problem, just select any object in the menu & the telescope automatically finds it for you… With the NexStar technology, the scopes have the amazing ability to find almost 40,000 objects. All you need to do is select & view. That’s hot.

Not sure what to look at? Then let the NexStar SE show you the way! The NexStar’s “tour” feature offers a list of the best objects to view with regards to your exact location & time. It’s like a field trip through the sky, without that annoyingly perky tour guide, of course.

Forgot to read your Astronomy text? Yeah, so did I. The NexStar does more than show you the sky, it tells you about every object you pass by. Information on the object can be viewed from the LCD screen on the telescope. This feature makes it ideal for children & beginners.

Each NexStar SE includes the Level 1 Planetarium software of The Sky. This program allows you to explore the night sky on your computer & even print out customized star charts. Aside from The Sky, the NexStar SE also includes a NexRemote software that will allow you to control your telescope through your computer, upload images, publish them online, and send them to your friends.

Bottom line - the new NexStar SE is simple & easy to use. You can set it up in a matter of minutes with the user-friendly instruction manual. With the SkyAlign system, you do not even have to know the stars before you can find them. Of course, after using it for a while, you will be a real expert & you will not even need the guides! So, whether you are a veteran searching for a telescope that is portable & smart, or you are just beginning your journey through the world of astronomy, the NexStar SE can definitely help you.

Doug Garrett is a writer for a Celestron Telescope Review site where you can find reviews of top selling Celestron telescopes, such as the premium Celestron NexStar Telescope series, and others. If you’re looking to compare the latest offerings in telescope technology, please visit www.best-telescope-reviews.com right now.

Doug Garrett

Earth, our mother planet, is being attacked everyday by about 25 tons of dust & sand-sized particles. An asteroid, the size of a small car, hits Earths atmosphere about once in every year.

Fortunately she knows how to defend herself. When that small car-sized asteroid enters her atmosphere, she burns the asteroid up before the latter touches her surface. And so… So no damage is done.

But what exactly are asteroids? Asteroids are fragments from the formation of the Solar System some 4.6 billion years ago. Fortunately, most asteroids are found in the Asteroid Belt found between the planets Mars & Jupiter, the gas giant. OK. Scientists think that asteroids found in the belt can be as big as 940 km across.

Like everybody though, Earth can not cope with each & every one of the asteroids.

If an asteroid has managed not to be completely burned up while sprinting into Earths atmosphere, then ???? Scientists think that the collision would cause local damage to the surrounding area.

If that same asteroid however measures more than 1 km across when it touches Earths surface, disaster is on its way. Scientists believe that this impact could have worldwide effects. Man however is helping or trying to help our mother Earth.

Astronomers are now observing & tracking asteroids, which are at an average distance from Earth to Moon. By immediately tracking potential dangers & learning a lot more about their orbital paths, scientists have more time to study potentially threatening situations. Clear? In the next few years, NASA hopes to discover more than 90% of all Earths threatening objects larger than 1 km across.

But we have to stop these threatening asteroids from hitting Earth so as to save ourselves.

In some movies, we see a missile being launched straight towards a big asteroid. The latter then explodes & the film usually ends. But in reality, its not that simple. Did you ever think what might happen to the biggest remains of that big asteroid? Maybe it would go & enter Earths atmosphere or maybe not. If it does pass this first test, maybe it will cause big damages or maybe not. You’ll agree with me that man can not take such a risk.

An idea suggests that if a small asteroid is indeed intending to hit Earth, an engine is to be anchored in it… This engine is simply going to push the asteroid away.

Yet another strategy to put the asteroid out of the way is to attach solar sails to it… The gentle pressure of sun light on the sails will deflect the asteroid away from Earth.

Luckily an asteroid the size of a football field manages to hit the Earth only every thousand years or so but mind you I do not know when such an asteroid did hit Earth last.

K.A.Cassimally is the editor in chief of Astronomy Journal, a small publication of the RCPL Astronomy Club, Mauritius.

Here is the new website(to be launched in February 2004): http://www.rcplastronomyclub.zik.mu

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K.A.Cassimally

Once Galileo discovered the telescope, there was a sudden leap from fantasy & legends to reality. And reality was so much more fantastic than the world had ever dreamed of. So quickly, planets & stars which were specks in the sky, some of them not even visible to the naked eye, came close & shared their secrets with us. Clear? It was a whole new voyage of discovery into the heavens & the wonders that were in it… It was the bridge that connected the world with the rest of the universe. It was the connection between man & space.

Since Galileo gifted the world with this wonderful instrument, technology has driven it along to becoming very hi-tech & very modern. There’re two types of telescopes that are available today. They are the Galileo or refractor telescope & the Newton or the reflector telescope. The basic difference is that the refractor telescope uses an objective lens. This makes the light bend towards the eyepiece. The reflector telescope on the other hand uses a mirror which reflects the light towards the eyepiece. Both are available so how do you know which one to buy?

First of all, whichever telescope you decide on, do not go by how much it magnifies as this is no criterion. Viewing large hazy pictures doesn’t mean much. There’re three factors you have to take into consideration when you’re shopping for a telescope. The most important of these is the aperture. This is the opening through which the light comes in so a larger one will mean better clarity & better details. Next comes the resolution. This is what enables the telescope to give you an image with details. Go for one with a higher resolution. This together with a bigger aperture will ensure good images. The third factor is the focal length. This is the distance between the optical center of the eyepiece & the optical center of the mirror or the lens. This is what’s responsible for the magnification. A longer focal length means better magnification.

Besides these, a telescope also has accessories. Let us take a look at what are the important ones & what are the ones it would be very good for you to buy. Very essential are filters which reduce glare & make it easier to view objects which are distant. Also important is the Barlow lens which comes in different sizes & must be carefully chosen to fit the eyepiece. The eyepiece of course is crucial to the telescope. They come in various sizes & you can add more than one to see even very distant objects. You should also select your mounts carefully for this is what the telescope stands on. It should be stable to give you the best possible view without any vibration or shaking.

Owning a telescope is like going on a voyage of discovery to worlds unknown, while you’re standing in one place. It is a window to the whole universe & as you gaze through it, you feel you are a part of that too.

More information about how telescopes work

how telescopes work

www.telescopetech.com

Ray La Foy

Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector

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The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is like nothing on this Earth! Now theres no need for a clear night to gaze at the beauty & mystique of the Universe! The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is a startling & mind-blowing light show of twinkling & shooting stars! There’re even cosmic clouds floating about, but dont fret they wont rain on this parade of mind blowing beauty! Imagine the ceiling opening up & swallowing the skies whole! Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector give a constant dazzling array of spectacularly sparkly stars, you’ll be taken back by the breath-taking effects of this realer-than-real exceptional laser star-show!

Click below to see the Laser Stars Projector

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About Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector

The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is an astounding piece of laser equipment, which illuminates a whole room of any size with an enchanting green glow of thousands of little stars & cloud formations!

The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector comes with built-in-key-hole slots for optional wall mounting.

The dimensions of the Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector are 28 x 24 x 21cm (approximately)

The suitable age range for the Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is open to anyone able to plug in this fascinating star laser show!

Red sky at night, Sheppards delight Star Laser at night, your delight!

Behold! The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector, a shimmering addition to any starless room!

Regardless of whether your room is big or small, wide or tall, the Laser Stars Projector will fill them all! Featuring the most brilliantly bright & clear display, you & your friends will not believe your eyes & may have to wipe the stardust from them at the end of the night! When you wish upon a Star Laser, your dreams really do come true!

The gloriously green glow that shines from the immaculate Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector makes up thousands of tiny random stars & a blue cosmic cloud patterns! The cloud formations look like nebular gases, and can be brightened, dimmed or removed.

Bizarre! Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector will even occasionally launch out a shooting star! Wow!

The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector requires no set up, just plug the mains adaptor in, lie back & relax! The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector is fully adjustable & will be the most interesting & incredible light show youve ever seen!

Exciting! Enjoyable! Enchanting!

This ones out of this universe! So buy the star of the show today!

Whats in The Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector Box?

One Laser Cosmos Laser Stars Projector which pivots to any angle, including; green lasers, 2 Built-In Precision Glass Lenses & a Adjustable Cloud Dimmer

Mains AC Adapter

http://www.find-me-a-gift.co.uk/laser-cosmos-laser-stars-projector.html

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New Hubble pics - how exciting! The latest of the new Hubble pics is of a black hole, which they have captioned as being in need of a home.

To get these new Hubble pics a team of astronomers, all from Europe, combined the power of the Hubble Space Telescope with that of the VLT (Very Large Telescope at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) in Cerro Paranal.

The new Hubble telescope pics are of a bright quasar that has no discernible host galaxy. The new pics show many quasars, strong radiation sources. The astronomers honed in on these quasars to study them by means of the Hubble because they know that quasars are often associated with active black holes. Only one of the many quasars they found delivered a black hole without a galaxy. Thus the new Hubble telescope pics.

Other new pics show the other quasars that these European astronomers found. In one you can clearly see the black hole’s host galaxy with its large spiraling tendrils.

In the past ten years the problem getting new Hubble telescope pics of black holes has been that the quasar shines so much more brilliantly than the host galaxy that observers can not always see, or get new pics of, the black hole & its galaxy. This problem has been resolved now so new Hubble telescope pics of host galaxies are possible.

With the recent observation of twenty quasars, 19 were found to have host galaxies. One did not. What this means is that if the host galaxy really does exist it has to be no more than one sixth the brightness of traditional host galaxies, or have a radius that is at least twenty times smaller than most host galaxies. New Hubble telescope pics of this find are being studied now.

By: Anne Noonan

Anne Noonan makes it quick & easy to find the best telescope. Read expert information here.

Anne Noonan