If you are wondering how a telescope and camera can enhance your stargazing experience, just read on.  Telescopes have been around for centuries, revealing many of the mysteries of the universe.   Until the last few decades, the skies and celestial bodies were logged with hand written charts.   Today, a telescope camera makes recording the heavens a much simpler task.

With telescope cameras you are able to not only look at what you are seeing in the sky, but also take a picture of the image. This is very important, because you can take photos of the night sky and you can use a computer to put these files somewhere that they can be recorded, and checked against what has been seen in the past. You can upload the photos that you have taken of the night sky and put them into a grid where the usual stars are shown, and by this you can find out when the picture was taken and from where.

Why Use a Telescope Camera

One of the primary uses of a telescope camera is simply to learn. Through taking photographs of what you see in the night sky, you can go back and study these at a later time. There is only so much studying you can do when you are looking through a lens at the stars.

There is often limited light where you are, and it is hard to interpret what you are seeing.   Also, if you have a question about a specific object, it is hard to isolate the subject because your lens is going to be full of different things.   So, with a telescope camera, you can use it to take a picture that you can analyze at a later time.

The Benefits of Digital Images

When you have taken a digital image of the sky, you can study it to your heart’s content.  It also allows you to share your experience with other amateur astronomers.   Having a telescope camera can take your stargazing experience to the next level.  Why not preserve your images of your favorite celestial bodies and special events with a camera designed for your telescope?

Online telescope viewing is another marvel brought to us through the magic of the Internet. And for those of you who haven’t made the investment in a mid-range telescope, there probably is no better way to capture images of the stars, planets, and systems than through an online telescope. Imagine being able to request images of a specific planet on a specific day and time using a multi-million dollar telescope at one of the major observatories. Sounds unreal, but it is exactly what is available to you at one of the participating astronomy observatories.

Here is the opportunity to view new worlds beyond our own by accessing an online telescope, all through the today’s Internet. But exactly how is this done? This post will help you discover one of the most exciting developments in the field of astronomy and how it affects the many amateur astronomers around the world.

The Online Telescope Process

The process of using an online telescope for viewing the stars and planets is relatively easy once you understand what information is required. You first will need to coordinate the viewing times and dates. Participating observatories will coordinate your request, generally initiated through an email from you, and schedule the event. You should receive an email back from the observatory confirming the subject sighting, date and time.

The online telescope camera will record the viewing of the requested location or object and post them at a particular website address. You will be notified via email of the location to view your pictures. Usually, you can just simply click on the imbedded link in the email and you will be sent to the viewing page for detailed photos provided by the camera of the online telescope.

Just having access to some of the top observatories’ telescopes for your own personal stargazing needs is incredible. The only thing better than viewing the universe through the online telescope images would be to have your own live online telescope. Unfortunately, this option would cost millions of dollars and, for most of us, exceed our stargazing budgets.

Viewing Options for an Online Telescope

When you make your request to the observatory, you can ask that the online telescope be utilized in a few different ways:

Provide Astronomical Coordinates

The first viewing method will be specific to certain coordinates. The coordinates may correspond to the position of a specific star, planet, solar system, etc. If you are confused about the specific coordinates to provide the online telescope observatory, catalogs are available of the celestial bodies and their respective locations.

Request by Object: A Specific Planet, Star, or System

Another method that might be slightly easier is to request a specific star or planet be photographed by the online telescope. The observatory can also provide a more general image of larger areas of space. In addition, the participating observatory may grant requests for the use of different colored filters for your images.

Here is your chance to experience the power and quality of a multi-million dollar telescope, and it is at your disposal! If you want to find a participating observatory, just do a search on Google or other search engine using the terms ‘online telescope’ or ‘camera online telescope’. And remember — this can be your first step into a whole new dimension of amateur astronomy as you peruse the heavens with some of the world’s strongest telescopes.

This Meade reflector telescope is ideal for the novice astronomer because of the features packed in this very affordable telescope. The large 114mm-diameter mirror in this model can gather 361% more light than a typical 60mm telescope, giving you the ability to see fainter, more distant stars and planets in far greater detail.

If you are looking for a great child telescope for your youngster, you should take a hard look at this Meade model. It is designed for easy operation, yet has a number of features generally found on far more expensive models.

One feature that stands out is the equatorial mount on the Meade 114EQ-ASTR. Because the earth rotates once on its axis every 24 hours, celestial objects move rapidly through the telescopic field, particularly at higher powers. This feature, the equatorial mount of the Meade 114EQ-ASTR, greatly facilitates object tracking: simply turn one or both of the control cables.

Other features include:

• 114mm Aperture (4.5″)
• Focal Length - 1000mm
• Focal Ratio - f/8.8
• Rack-and-Pinion Focuser
• Equatorial Mount w/Slow Motion Controls
• Setting Circles
• Latitude Control w/Scale
• Two 1.25″ Eyepieces - 9mm and 25mm
• Red Dot Viewfinder
• Aluminum Tripod w/Accessory Shelf
• Astronomical Software and Instructional DVD

At present, Meade is offering a free electronic eyepiece with the purchase of the Meade 114EQ-ASTR, adding even more value to this extraordinary telescope package.

The beginning amateur who intends to use a telescope regularly will find the Meade 114EQ-ASTR a valuable investment in astronomical enjoyment. You may want to read more about this fine reflector telescope at our recommended merchant, Telescopes.com, and read reviews by actual Meade 114EQ-ASTR users. These same users have rated the Meade reflector telescope an excellent 4.5 Stars (out of 5.0).