How to Use a Telescope
What is out there beyond our planet? There is an easy way to get a glimpse.
“A group of people learn how to use a telescope” prompt, Canva, Magic Media, 23 Feb. 2024
“There are stories in the sky, and pictures painted by the stars above,” says Eddie Yates, an Aerospace Engineering graduate from University of Texas. He has spent many of his sixty three years of life admiring the sky not only with his own eyes, but also with the help of a telescope. “A telescope is a much larger and more expensive magnifying glass that anyone can use to analyze the stars and skies above.”
Of course, telescopes are most impactful during the night. “You’d want to set it up on a flat surface like a sidewalk,” Yates says. “Make sure it is focused on the object you wish to observe, such as the moon, and let your curiosity take control.” Keeping your telescope in focus and steady allows you to obtain a clearer picture of the sky above. If you are able to get your hands on a star map, you may even be able to see the different zodiacs or the Big Dipper.
Not everyone owns a telescope, and that is entirely okay. “I have yet to find a poor telescope. It is all up to the individual’s budget,” Yates comments when asked about what is the best telescope brand. “You don’t even have to own a telescope to observe space. There are plenty of observatories and large array telescopes in various cities and states that anyone can visit.”
“No matter what telescope you may have access to, I always believe the best thing to look out for is the moon.” Because the moon is such a large, noticeable object in the sky, it is one of the easiest things to spot. The moon also looks different almost every day of the month, because it goes through different phases.
If you are looking into owning a telescope because of your love for space, or just simply need a new lifetime activity, Mr. Yates believes that there is no wrong reason to own one. “In owning a telescope, one’s curiosity about the universe is greatly expanded and they want to know more about what is out there. My curiosity, thankfully, is one that was affected by space, which brings me where I am today.”