Astronomy is referred to as “the science of celestial objects and phenomena that originates outside the earth’s atmosphere”. (Wikipedia).
Astronomy equipment on the other hand refers to the instruments being used to study these areas.
Below are some of the most commonly used astronomy equipment which can probably be used by almost anyone that takes a fancy in the field of astronomy:
1. Telescopes. Probably one of the most well-known of all astronomical equipment, the telescope is used to have a closer view of the moon or other planets. A simple telescope which can be bought from any science or toy store can give it’s owner a perfect view of even the moon’s crater.
In buying the perfect telescope, there are many things to consider such as the locations where it would be brought to (weight considerations e.g., it has to be brought to remote locations), what one wishes to look for (planets or moon), and of course which among the three types of telescopes one wants to purchase (reflector, refractors or compounds).
Still, telescopes come in various styles. The most inexpensive of which is the Achromatic. If one opts for the perfect color or image, the Aprochromatic is the better choice. Other styles include the following: Newtonian, Maksutov-Cassegrain, Schmidt-Cassegrain and the Ritchey-Chretien.
One should NEVER use any type of telescope to look at the sun. Proper solar filters much accompany it for such viewing.
2. Computers. The basic need of any professional or would-be astronomers is the computer, wherein one can store data or run certain software for astronomical research.
Of the three kinds of computers (PC which runs Microsoft Windows, Macintosh OS X or Linux or Unix), the most preferred by professionals is the Linux since most software designs provided by government funded projetcs are in the Unix form.
3. Camera. Images that can be seen through the telescope can be captured and stored for future studies. This is called astrophotography.
The two basic photography methods that are being used are the film and CCD or Charged Coupled Device. The latter is made from the same materials as that of computer chips and uses the photo-electric effect, while the former uses various chemicals to extract the image of the captured object.
4. Radio. These are used by astronomers to enable them to study various phenomena. Astronomers make use of radio waves with a frequency range between 300GHz to 30MHz.
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