Real Astronomy with Small Telescopes

Thesmallrefractingtelescopewithitssimpledirectdesignandconstructionand permanently aligned optics is the time tested standard for personal use. Easily portable, it can be taken out of the house and set up at a moment’s notice. Or, it can be packed conveniently into a small car for traveling to a dark observing site. With moderate care and minimal maintenance, the telescope and mount canlastforgenerations. These instruments provide sharp, crisp high-contrast images of the Moon and planets. They are less susceptible to the effects of unstable air than larger ones, and because of their low maintenance and durability they are ideal for the parent educator or lifelong learner. Until recently, however, the high cost ofsmalltelescopesofsufficientqualityforseriousastronomicalusehaslimited theiraccessibility. During the past decade, innovations in optical design and manufacture have loweredcostandimprovedquality.Currentdevelopmentsinlensdesignmakeit