Optics Central - Telescopes, Binoculars, Microscopes & Telescopics SightsIf you’ve come to our blog to learn more about telescopes, you’ve come to the right place! Read through our collection of informative (and fun) telescope blogs below!
We’ve got guides on everything from the basics of telescopes and astrophotography to collimation of a Schimdt-Cassegrain Telescope.
Optics Central is Australia’s Optics Superstore, with a huge collection of Telescopes, Astrophotography Accessories, Binoculars, Microscopes, Field Optics, Night Vision & More.
This article is a step-by-step guide on how to collimate a Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (SCT). Like any other reflecting telescope, SCTs are vulnerable to shocks and drops causing it to go out of alignment. Therefore, collimating a SCT ensures its optimal performance. Continue reading to learn about the collimation process. Setting up for Collimation First, you […]
Collimation determines the alignment of all components in a telescope in order to transfer light into its best focus. Newtonian Reflector Telescopes are likely to go out of alignment if they are bumped around too much or from gradual wear and tear. However, they can be re-aligned via collimation. Follow these steps on how to […]
Telescopes are notoriously susceptible to dirt, dust and smudges and can hinder its ability to produce crisp images. So regularly cleaning and maintaining a telescope is of utmost importance as it will facilitate the longevity of the optics. This article will cover the basics on how to clean a telescope. Firstly, avoid touching the lenses […]
Just like with any tool or object used to perform certain tasks, telescopes need to be cleaned, maintained and stored away properly. If you’re a seasoned astronomer or just a novice enthusiast, you know that such a sophisticated device is not a toy. You will need to store and maintain your telescope to keep it […]
How I used the right type of Barlow to focus a DSLR on a small Newtonian telescope.
Bill, Optics Central’s astrophotography specialist – and general all-round enthusiast – gives his opinion of the top 10 telescopes for 2019. See what he thinks! My boss asked me to come up with a list of the top 10 telescopes for 2019. It’s a big ask, as they’re all so different, and have such a […]
Part two of the Celestron NexStar series. This guide is intended to help first time users and those who are experiencing difficulty with the Celestron SkyPortal (previously known as Celestron SkyQLink) Wifi module. Introduction In our previous blog we reviewed Celestron’s top-selling Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 Computerised Telescope. Now, this blog will go through the ins and […]
Jump Straight to the Verdict The Celestron Nexstar Evolution 8 Computerised Telescope The Celestron NexStar Evolution 8 Computerised Cassegrain telescope is a large Schmidt Cassegrain. It’s got a gaping 203.2mm (8″ aperture) and 2032mm focal length. Basically, it’s a bucket full of light. With these specifications, this telescope is capable of reaching high magnifications (480x highest […]
This blog shows you two different types of finderscopes. It describes what a finderscope is, how it’s useful, how it attaches to your main scope. Not all new astronomers know that they have to align the finderscope with the main scope. So most importantly, the blog shows you how to adjust your finderscope to help […]
The awful choice in astrophotography For astrophotography, some things in the sky, like nebulas, are surprisingly large but incredibly dim. These need telescopes with lots of light gathering ability but low magnification. On the other hand, planets are tiny objects which shine very brightly. Of course, they need the complete opposite, telescopes with masses of magnification […]