A telescope is the Christmas gift that really does keep on giving.
A telescope is the Christmas gift that really does keep on giving.
At Barton Smith we have a selection of telescopes to make this a star struck Christmas for all budding (or aspiring) astronomers. Here you can also find the celestial objects & moon phases that can be viewed with your telescope throughout the year for 2023 (located at the end of this Barton Smith Celestial Blog)
Telescopes are a wonderful Christmas gift for all ages. A gift that guarantees hours of amazing wonderment, exploring the night skies, searching for celestial objects like the moon, planets, stars nebulae, galaxies, and comets. Adults, teenagers, and children will be wowed by the constellations and planets and the chance to view our universe in a new way. Telescopes, Stargazing, and sky watching is fascinating and fun! Telescopes can also be used for terrestrial viewing, looking at things on the earth too! We have telescopes that are designed to do both. At Barton Smith we know how important it is that the telescope you choose is good quality, great value and is also easy to configure and use.
What to look for when buying a telescope
Whether you're keen on stargazing or planning to explore dark sky areas with a compact telescope, the Celestron AstroMaster 80AZS is a good bet as it is a short refractor telescope perfect for terrestrial and celestial viewing. The short focal length is ideal for viewing star clusters and nebulae, while the erect image star diagonal makes the optical tube ideal for using as a spotting scope during the day. (Shop The Astromaster Here) What we like about the Astro Master is the ease of setting which this telescope can be set up and you will be observing and enjoying in no time! Even on your first time out, you can assemble the telescope and its accessories in just a few minutes. The adjustable tripod legs allow you to customize the telescope’s height or place it on raised surfaces like a picnic table. An included accessory tray will help you keep track of eyepieces and other small items while observing.
The total telescope kit weighs in at just 10 pounds—perfect for impromptu observing sessions or transporting wherever life’s adventures take you.
Home Telescopes for beginners
The ideal beginner telescope should be unfussy in that it’s easy to set up and to take down. A good starter telescope needs to be transportable as you may want to take it to remote locations or the top of the nearest mountain. It should also be user-friendly, with simple enough instructions and be suitable for viewing a variety of planets and stars as well as the moon. The best advice from those already enjoying star gazing is to look for a telescope with an 80 or 90mm refractor or a 6- or 8-inch reflector.
Check out the Starsense Explorer LT114AZ (Shop Starsense Explorer LT114AZ) telescope if you are thinking of trying some astro searching using just your smartphone. This amazing reflector telescope allows you to unleash the power of your smartphone to take you on a guided tour of the night sky-no telescope experience required. With a 14mm (4.5”) Newtonian reflector and its highly reflective coatings the instrument has enough light gathering ability to view all the best celestial objects. StarSense Explorer app automatically generates a list of objects currently visible. View planets, brighter nebulae and galaxies, star clusters, and double stars from the city. Or take your telescope to darker skies to view faint, deep sky objects. This is next step technology for telescopes.
Celestron
Celestron are the most iconic telescopes in the world today. The industry leader since 1964, Celestron continue to revolutionize the technology, improving on their telescopes and making it easier for budding astronomer, experienced stargazers, and professional cosmologists to enjoy the night skies. Professor Stephen Hawkings used a Celestron telescope, which was made compatible with his computer so he could enjoy looking into the cosmos while working on space and theoretical physics. At Barton Smith, we choose to stock Celestron for its dependability, for is ease of use and because if you are going to astound your mind with the redness of mars, or the rings of Saturn you should be concentrating on just that, and not fiddling with difficult the telescope settings.
Telescopes are educational, fun and increase the sense of wonder and have been elevating humans from their earthbound state to revel in the views of stars, planets, and galaxies. Here in the West of Ireland we are so lucky to enjoy skies with a lot less light pollution. The Mayo dark skies park (https://www.mayodarkskypark.ie/) is the absolute ideal spot for viewing the night skies. But even in areas of the West of Ireland, that don’t specifically ban light pollution, we can view big skies and great night views where our telescopes can really come into their own. A few minutes outside Sligo town and anywhere along the Ox Mountains or the coast offer perfect views on clear nights. The perfect gift!
At Barton Smith, we have telescopes that will deliver all the joy of astronomy. Our expert staff can advise and assist. Call in today and change the way you view the night skies.
By using the Celestron Celestial 2023 Calendar and the Celestron Moon/Lunar Calendar, you can broaden your horizons and spend the these dark winter nights exploring the skys above.
