Please go to our YouTube video on how to align your telescope.
FAQ Group: Telescopes (page 2)
What is focal length?
Focal length is the distance between the optical element and where the image of the object is in focus. Shorter focal lengths mean the light focuses even more, which corresponds to higher power optics.
How is magnification calculated for telescopes?
The magnification of an astronomical telescope changes with the eyepiece used. It is calculated by dividing the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece (focal length of telescope / focal length of eyepiece = overall…
Why can’t I focus my telescope?
Please make sure you are starting with the lowest power (highest focal number) eyepiece and looking at an object that is over 100 feet away. If your telescope includes an erecting prism, make sure it’s inserted before the eyepiece. If…
What is a refractor telescope?
Refractor telescopes use lenses to bring an image into focus. A simple refracting telescope is made up of two lenses, which are called the objective and the eyepiece. The purpose of a lenses is to bend the light in such a way…
What is a reflector telescope?
A reflector telescope uses two mirrors instead of lenses. The concave primary mirror is located at the bottom of the telescope. It reflects the inbound light to a focal point, while a second flat mirror set at 45 degrees sits…
What is a Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope (SCT)?
This is a compound type of telescope, neither a reflector or a refractor, it combines lens and mirrors to produce a shorter telescope design. Carson currently does not offer Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes (SCT), but we do offer a wide range of…
Do I need to know the focal length of my Barlow lens?
No. Although the focal length of an eyepiece is important for calculating the magnification of the telescope, a Barlow lens simply multiplies the total overall magnification. Therefore, a focal length of a Barlow lens is not needed to determine magnification,…
What can I see with a telescope?
This depends heavily on your telescope’s aperture (diameter of the opening that allows light to enter), type (refractor, reflector, etc.) and optical quality, in combination with any environmental factors such as light pollution or weather. Typically, with most telescopes you…
What is light pollution?
Light pollution is from various sources such as streetlights and any man-made lighting that gets directed to the night sky. Think of how the Earth may appear lighted from a view from orbit. This light pollution combined with actual air…