Telescope Owner Resources

All About Telescopes
Information on refracting, reflecting and radio telescopes, details on amateur telescopes, eyepieces, mounts, lenses and software.
http://www.indepthinfo.com/telescopes/

Amateur Telescope Optics
Presents information on aberrations, obstruction effects, and reflecting, refracting, and catadioptric objectives, and the eyepiece and eye.
http://www.telescope-optics.net

AstroDesigns by Ed Stewart
Accessory designs and information to enhance the SSE of Meade LX200s, Dobsonian reflectors, and other telescopes plus star charts for computerized telescopes.
http://www.mapug-astronomy.net/AstroDesigns/

Celestron C-130 Maksutov Modifications
Hints and tips on modifications for the Celestron C-130 to improve performance.
http://www.palmman.com/c-130/

Choosing your Telescope's Magnification
Selection depends on eyesight, telescope's aperture and optical design, atmospheric conditions, and type and size of the object being viewed.
http://www.televue.com/engine/page.asp?ID=140

Collimating Newtonian Optics
Consists of two steps: aiming the eyepiece axis at the center of the primary, and aiming the primary at the center of the eyepiece.
http://www.oarval.org/collimatE.htm

DarkSkyFalcon Astronomy
A resource and links page.
http://www.geocities.com/darkskyfalcon/

The ETX 70 Homepage
Information for specific support given to users of the Meade ETX 70 Telescope and astrophotography with the LPI/DSI Imagers.
http://astronomy.customer.netspace.net.au

FAQ About Collimating a Newtonian Telescope
Questions on how important the answers are to the performance of the instrument.
http://www.atmsite.org/contrib/Carlin/collimation/

FUSE - Continuous Viewing Zone Calculator
Used to estimate the right ascension and declination of the continuous viewing zone.
http://fuse.pha.jhu.edu/support/tools/cvztool.html

How to Buy a Telescope
Basics, tips, and accessories with suggested reading and articles.
http://space.about.com/od/telescopesandoptics/ht/telescopehowto.htm

How to Modify Your Celstar C8 Wedgepod for Easier Polar Alignment
Methods to correct the problems that arise when trying to properly polar align.
http://hometown.aol.com/nlpjp2/

How-to Articles
Contains practicals, mounts, eyepiece cases, dew shields, ATM's, star charts, and mini's.
http://www.cloudynights.com/category.php?category_id=71&pr=3

LXD55
Reviews, knowledgebase, gallery, FAQ, message forum, classifieds, store, and links.
http://lxd55.com

Meade Advanced Products Users Group
The resource website for the LX200, LX90, LX50, LXD55, Starfinder, and ETX telescopes, and Pictor CCD cameras and imaging software.
http://www.mapug-astronomy.net/

Measuring Reflectivity of Secondary Mirrors
Article by Dave Scherping.
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/reflect.htm

Mike Barrell's Astronomy Page
Equipment information, alignment tips, images, planet finder, ham radio/WB9DLC, and links.
http://wb9dlc.com/astronomy/

The Naperville Astronomical Association - Telescope Calculator
A javaScript-driven calculator, which will compute the values of a number of paramaters for any telescope and eyepiece combinations entered.
http://www.stargazing.net/naa/scopemath.htm

NexStar Resource Site
Users guide, observer list, downloads, PC control, firmware, odds and ends, equipment reviews alignment guides, tracking test, and links.
http://www.nexstarsite.com/

Observing Tips
Seven tips on a wide variety of topics.
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/tips.html

Polar Align your Telescope
Balancing the declination axis and the right ascension axis, aligning to north star, and using mount to locate objects.
http://www.astronomy.net/articles/4/polaralign.html

Robin Gatter's Home Page
Cross-reference data for Meade LX200 telescope users.
http://homepage.ntlworld.com/robin.gatter/

The Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope Web Site
Basics, observing, tips, photo basics, glossaries, and links.
http://sctscopes.net/

Telescope Buyer's Guide
Finding a way through the maze of ads, catalogs, claims and counter claims about which is best or the least expensive.
http://www.prairieastronomyclub.org/buyers.htm

Telescope SA - The Cosmos Through your Eyes
Guides, how to's, and tips.
http://www.telescopesa.za.org/TGHMenu.htm