CosmicRami

When I was a kid, I thought that astronomy needed big telescopes, well out of the financial reach of my family. They're still fairly expensive these days, but prices have come down drastically.

I also think that we are yet to see the mobile phone astrophotography revolution - but there are apps that are showing signs this is coming.

One of the things that has always fascinated me about astronomy is spectra. There is so much data in the light, that nearly all our knowledge of the Universe comes from it.

A couple years back, I bought a small grating filter that allows me to separate star light into its spectrum and measure it from my own backyard telescope. The results are fantastic!

Need to get back into it this summer!

Here's the spectra of a star and of a globular cluster I captured earlier this year.

#Astrophysics #Astrodon #Spectrum

Nov 29, 2022 at 8:22pmWeb
Show threadsylmobileNov 29, 2022
@CosmicRami It was so striking when I took my one unit course at uni to introduce astronomy on how much can be gleaned from spectra. Doing the Lightbox time lapsed sky image overlays to detect planets was fun, too!
Show threadJamieNov 29, 2022
@sylmobile @CosmicRami that sounds cool
Show threadCosmicRamiNov 29, 2022
@sylmobile there is so much we learn about objects and events just by measuring their spectra .... IMO its the single most revolutionary thing that happened in astro and human knowledge ... it literally changed everything!
Show threadukaunzNov 29, 2022
@CosmicRami my daughter wants to do astrophysics and I’d love to get her a telescope, but I don’t know how much I’d need to spend to get a good one without having to fork out too much… any tips on how to choose one?
Show threadCosmicRamiNov 29, 2022

@ukaunz This is a great question, and it all depends on what you want to do.

In Australia, I would say the average price of getting anything decent is about $1000 - $1500.

Any telescope you are wanting to have should have an internal computer and motor to track the stars across the sky, reducing any requirement to manually do this (remember, the Earth is always turning!)

Then you want to worry about how big it is, as that will change the weight of it. We don't leave our 'scopes out in the elements, so if it is too big or heavy, it will be more annoying to take outside, set up, use, pack up and take back inside.

Lastly, most objects in space are just points of light, even through a 'scope. So you will need an imager. If you wanna capture planets and galaxies, these cameras are required. They cost a few hundred as well.

Here's a good place to start: https://skywatcheraustralia.com.au/first-time-buyers-guide/#:~:text=There%20are%20two%20essentials%20to,one%20you'll%20actually%20use.

Show threadukaunzNov 29, 2022
@CosmicRami thanks so much for your answer, but wow… that’s hundreds more than I was thinking I might spend 😟
Show threadCosmicRamiNov 29, 2022
@ukaunz you are better off saving for a better telescope then spending a few hundreds on a cheaper telescope. The computerized motor is a must IMO.
Show threadDavid FullerNov 30, 2022

@CosmicRami I too bought some grating filters a while back, though I have yet to put them to any use.

As for the mobile phone astrophotography, I'd say it is well on its way. This is a recent image I took of M42 with my Google Pixel 4 through a mere 6" reflector / 25mm Plossl and an off-brand high contrast light pollution filter. (I think Google currently has a 7 available?)

Show threadKD8CGHNov 30, 2022
@CosmicRami
Very cool! I'm an avid astro imager and have considered getting into spectroscopy but never took the step.