Passionate about telescopes or just beginning your journey into astronomy?

The Telescope Nerd website is all about telescopes and astronomy and all about helping you discover and enjoy this ancient and most fascinating art and science.

The telescope shown in the picture here is the gorgeous Meade LX90GPS 8" GPS Computerized Telescope This is a top of the line telescope with observatory quality optics and a computerized database of over 30,000 objects. This scope will just blow you away. (The gentleman in the picture is not the telescope nerd. The nerd is too bashful for photos:)

 

 

 

The Meade Meteorite Kit - Here is a wonderful museum quality collection of real meteorites that come with a certificate of authenticity. It's just amazing and available at my favorite online store Edmund Scientifics. Learn more at Edmund

 

 

 

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New Articles about telescopes

• The Telescope is now older than we thought! New evidence shows telescope as being around before we thought they were invented by Lippershey in 1608.
• How Sir Isaac Newtons Telescope Changed the World - He didn't discover any new planets with his telescope but he did change our view of the world with it.
• Huygens and the biggest telescopes of the 17th Century - His understanding of optics allowed him to improve on galileos telescope but it meant his telescopes were very long - as long as 120 feet!

 

New: August 29, 08 How to take great star photos without a telescope. This tutorial shows you tips and tricks for using a 35mm camera to take great star Photos. How to take Star Photos and Star Trail Pictures without a Telescope

 

 

How to enjoy the night sky without a telescope. This is an article I have written that will help you find all the best objects in the night sky that can be seen without a telescope. I also give you tips on the best practices and what to bring with you for your observing.

A look at the largest telescopes in the world and some monster sized ones that are currently being constructed.(Aug 5, 2008) The Big Telescopes of the World

 

 

 

July 29th, Don't Miss the Solar Eclipse Coming on Aug 1!! You might not live in an area where you can see it in real life but there are plenty of resources so you can watch it on television or online. Read more and watch the videos

New July 15, 08 - The Discovery Channel is making their own telescope. The primary mirror is fourteen feet in diameter and it weighs over 7 thousand pounds. And of course the Discovery Channel is taking us inside for a look at how the Telescope is being built. It's some really interesting stuff. I have more information about it here: The Discovery Channel Telescope( I also have videos)

July 8, 2008: William Herschel and the largest telescope of the 18th Century. Herschel discovered Uranus and make over 400 Telescopes. Read more about him and the biggest telescope in the world during the 18th Century. William Herschel

Stellafane is one of the best Conventions for telescope makers. They have been going strong since 1926. Their annual convention is all about telescope making and mirror grinding. They also have one of the most unique telescopes ever made: The Porter Turret Telescope. Read more about it here

New: Newtons Telescope - You might be familiar with Galileo's telescope. He is generally credited as creating the first refractor telescope that was used for astronomical observation. I do have an essay on Galileo's Telescope here . But you might not be familiar with the First telescope that was made with a mirror rather than lenses. That telescope is now called the Newtonian after its early adopter. Newton didn't invent the reflector telescope.It was invented by an Italian Monk Physicist, and Astronomer named Niccolo Zucchi . But Newton did simplify the design and build one (The actual telescope he built is shown in the photo at left). He built this telescope sometime shortly before 1670 and it first became known when he described it to the Royal Society in 1670. There is a company that has replicated this beautiful telescope. Take a look at it here: (It's quite a beautiful newly updated rendition.) The Vixen Optics Newtonian Replica telescope. (I also have an interesting article about Sir Isaac Newton and his telescope here: How Newtons Telescope changed the world)

 

If you're looking for a unique children's bedtime story with an astronomical theme, pick up There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars . This beautifully illustrated book helps children discover the magic of the night sky, the growing problem of light pollution, and what can be done to save the vanishing stars. There Once Was a Sky Full of Stars (Available on Amazon.com)

 

 

There are few pursuits as rewarding and as enthralling as amateur astronomy. For a very reasonable cost you can open up the universe to yourself and your family. Telescopes of excellent quality can be had for very reasonable cost and these telescopes can offer you a lifetime of wonderful night sky experiences. A telescope is more than just a toy to look at stars with. It is a tool to experiencing the wonders of the earth and the universe. If you really like brass telescopes I have a wonderful selection of them here.

 

Passionate about Telescopes

I want to applaud your interest in astronomy and telescopes. Making and using telescopes has been a passion of mine for a very long time. This is an old picture of me with the first telescope I made. I thoroughly enjoy the hobby and I know that you will enjoy it too. It will bring a lot of enrichment to your life as it has done with mine.

 

 

Galileo is often thought of as inventing the telescope. He didn’t invent the telescope but he was the first person to turn one toward the night sky. And the observations he made created the new science of modern astronomy where telescopes are used to help us understand our universe, our place in it, and how it works.

Galileo first heard about the mysterious telescope in 1609 and set out to make a copy for himself. This first telescope magnified images about three times. And over the course of a decade Galileo continued to make more telescopes and his most powerful one magnified images about ten times. This telescope enabled him to see things never before seen. And it enabled him to change our view of the universe and of the objects in the sky. If you want to read more about Galileo and his telescope I have a great article here.

 

New Article (June 11, 08) An explanation of the Resolution of Telescopes - Resolution is more important than magnification and it is the reason why big telescopes are better than small ones.

New Article (June 11, 08) Reminiscing about the telescope I always wanted - Its been many years and I still haven't gotten one but maybe someday...

New Article (June 6,08): How to Make a telescope: Tips for beginners Some easy tips and explanations of telescopes both refractors and dobsonians.