"How To Buy
A Telescope", a program by amateur astronomers of the St. Louis
Astronomical Society, will be featured at the Society’s November
meeting. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, November 15, in
McDonnell Hall, Room 162, on the Washington University campus. McDonnell
Hall is accessible from Forsyth Boulevard via Houston Way. The presentation,
cosponsored by NASA's Missouri Space Grant Consortium, is open to the
public free of charge.
Astronomy is a science that is not limited to professional scientists.
Many interesting objects are visible to the unaided eye. Many more can
be seen with ordinary binoculars, but even a small telescope greatly
expands the possibilities for viewing the Moon, the satellites of Jupiter,
the rings of Saturn, star clusters, galaxies, and other celestial sights.
Today there is a bewildering variety of sizes, types, and prices for
telescopes, including computer-guided instruments and instruments capable
of quality astrophotography. Not all of these telescopes are well made;
not all perform as advertised. Few sales staff, at department stores
or even specialty stores, know enough about telescopes and astronomy
to provide the information necessary to select the best telescope for
the buyer’s interest and budget. In this program, experienced telescope
users will explain what to look for - and what to avoid - when buying
a telescope, especially a first-time instrument.
The St. Louis Astronomical Society is an organization for individuals
interested in astronomy and telescopes. The public is invited to attend
its meetings, telescope observing sessions, and special events. For
more information about Astronomical Society events, please check the
home page of this website at www.slasonline.org
, or call 935-4614.