Stargazing 101: Telescopes and a night under the stars
We are dead stars. Everything we are — the iron in our blood, every element we’ve ever heard of — is made from a star, a dust cloud collapsing under the force of gravity- Astronomer Dr. Michelle Thallar
Ahhh, I know what you're all thinking, but today's post is based on my love and interests and definitely on telescopes! If you ever think about dating a stargazer, they're the easiest to appeal to, I swear! Want to impress one? Just ask for a walk in a dark alley (if you share that sort of trust) and ask them about the stars ;). People who know me in real life, especially during my bachelor's, know how obsessed I was with talking about telescopes, even during my secondary and higher secondary. Now, I rarely get time to pull all the strings together, which is seldom demonstrated by my presence in this blogging space, but hey, I do like observing celestial objects using a telescope. I used to handle the 6-inch Newtonian so fine that during my stay at university, that was one of the things I missed like anything!
Now, you might wonder what I mean by 6 inches and what a Newtonian is. Don’t worry, my friends! Today’s blog post is for you.
Aperture
The diameter of a telescope's primary mirror, or main lens, is measured in inches. This measurement is referred to as the aperture. The aperture is usually specified in inches for 4-inch or larger instruments and millimeters for smaller ones. So, when I say 6 inches, I mean that the diameter of the telescope's primary mirror is 6 inches.
The aperture defines how much light a telescope can capture.
The greater the aperture, the more light the telescope can capture and the finer the details it can see.
For example, an 8-inch telescope can gather twice as much light as a 6-inch telescope. This means you can see more, particularly fainter objects like galaxies.
The above picture gives us a brief idea about the aperture comparison.
A brief history
The history of telescopes has significantly contributed to our knowledge of the universe. A significant aspect of this field is the shift from refracting to reflecting telescopes. Initially, refracting telescopes, which used lenses to gather and focus light, were dominant. However, as their limitations became evident, scientists began exploring different designs. The breakthrough came with the invention of reflecting telescopes, using curved mirrors to gather and focus light. Sir Isaac Newton is credited with developing the first practical reflecting telescope in the late 17th century. Reflecting telescopes have advantages over refracting ones, eliminating chromatic aberration and offering larger apertures for better light-gathering capabilities. The Cassegrain design, named after Laurent Cassegrain, has been a significant development in reflecting telescopes, enabling the construction of larger and more powerful instruments. This transition from refracting to reflecting telescopes has paved the way for unparalleled clarity and detail in observing celestial objects, leading to new possibilities for scientific exploration. Continuous technological advancements promise an exciting future for telescopes and the discoveries they will facilitate.
A telescope is a stargazer’s guilty pleasure
(in my opinion, of course)
Generally, I prefer using reflective telescopes over refracting, as I find them easier to handle for amateur astronomy, but choosing which serves your wants and needs is a personal decision. One might also check factors like light pollution and the sky's visibility (PS: There are multiple apps and brochures available over the internet to check these parameters free of charge).
A little off-topic, the sky now (South Kolkata, India) is pure bliss and a perfect observational delight.
Telescopes and types!
Below, I'd give a bit of elaboration on the types of telescopes:
Telescopes are available in various types, each designed for specific purposes and observations (Chen, 2023). These include optical telescopes, radio telescopes, infrared telescopes, X-ray telescopes, and ultraviolet telescopes. One type of telescope that has caught my attention and ignited my passion for public astronomy is the optical telescope. Optical telescopes, such as refracting and reflecting telescopes, utilize visible light to capture images of celestial objects. These telescopes allow us to gaze into the vast expanse of the universe and witness the beauty and wonder of distant galaxies, nebulae, and other astronomical phenomena. Telescopes have played a crucial role in astronomy, allowing scientists and enthusiasts alike to study and understand the universe beyond what is visible to the naked eye.
They can be broadly classified as:
Reflecting Telescopes:
Reflecting telescopes have a primary mirror that gathers and reflects light to a secondary mirror, which directs the light to an eyepiece or a camera. With their larger apertures and improved light-gathering capabilities, these telescopes provide exceptional image quality and clarity. Additionally, reflecting telescopes offer the advantage of being more compact and portable than their refracting counterparts, making them ideal for amateur astronomers who enjoy observing celestial
Refracting telescopes:
On the other hand, refracting telescopes use a lens to gather and focus light onto an eyepiece or camera. One of the most remarkable aspects of telescopes is their ability to reveal the hidden wonders of the universe. Telescopes have revolutionized our understanding of the cosmos, allowing us to explore objects and phenomena otherwise invisible to the naked eye.
Radio telescopes:
Radio telescopes detect and analyze radio waves emitted by celestial objects. These radio waves provide valuable insights into the composition, structure, and behavior of galaxies, stars, and other cosmic phenomena. When it comes to public astronomy, telescopes play a crucial role in engaging and inspiring people to explore the wonders of the universe.
Now that I think about it, telescopes have always fascinated me, making me think about what's beyond my knowledge barrier and the cosmos. The more I grew, the more I was sure that if I ever went for a Ph.D. or postdoc, I would study about the stars—the only friends who never left my side! The one who stayed after every breakdown, breakup, failure, rejection, and numb moment. I have recently been very off from blogging because of such stuff. I have been trying to land a PhD at my desired Uni’s, but I guess this isn't the correct time yet, so I am hustling. The past year was fun, but when I talk about it it was very different compared to the one before. I went to many outreach programs, handled the telescope, met new people, fell in love with one another, and made new friends. But the sky was always there for every teary night of expectations. Since I started with this thought of loving a stargazer, they are the hardest to hold and understand. The one who made the night sky their friend is the most independent person you would meet. They might love to hold you and be the most romantic, and if you love them right, they will keep you preserved like the moonlit quartz, as Dr Michelle Thaller felt after her husband died of cancer.
She was left feeling utterly disconnected from the people and places around her, as if the fundamental nature of reality had shifted and Earth was no longer her home
She told BigThink, and she found solace in the stellar bed.
Bonus Read!
As many may not know, Dr. Michelle Lynn Thaller is an American astronomer and research scientist. Dr. Thaller is the assistant director for science communication at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.[3] From 1998 to 2009, she was a staff scientist at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center and later manager of the Education and Public Outreach program for the Spitzer Space Telescope at the California Institute of Technology.[4] She is a frequent on-camera contributor to The History Channel and Science Channel programming. Dr. Michelle Thaller is an astrophysicist with over two decades of science communication experience. Her research involves the lifecycles of stars, and she has worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Goddard Space Flight Center. She has appeared in many television science programs, including How the Universe Works and Space’s Deepest Secrets. Dr Thaller has done many TEDx talks about astronomy and has hosted the podcast Orbital Path on public radio.
Telescopes have the power to captivate and fascinate people of all ages, connecting them with the vastness of the universe and igniting a sense of wonder and curiosity. Space belongs to all, and so does the study of it, as it judges no race, gender, or character. Public astronomy events, where telescopes are made accessible to the general public, have become increasingly popular. These events aim to promote the excitement and beauty of astronomy, and telescopes play a central role in providing direct observations of celestial objects. One can witness the intricate details of planets, moons, and distant galaxies through telescopes, observing the vibrant colors and mesmerizing patterns that adorn our night sky. I will be boasting with a few pictures, but enjoying the sky is the goal❤
That's it for today! Before I forget again, about a year ago, I proposed making an all-girls Cosmo-Math online journal/discussion club. I did get a few responses, but I have lost all of them due to some issues in my mail system. I would love to talk about it; if you have any ideas, discuss anything! just hit me up, e-mail me at gsreya@gmail.com and put the subject line “Cosmo-Math Journal Club," or ping me on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bloggers_perspective/?hl=en
Have a great weekend and a mind-blowing week ahead❤❤
