Stargazing Tour with telescope in Tyrol

Telescopes & Gear

You are probably wondering: which telescopes will I be using during a Stargazing Tour with sternenguide.tirol? So let me briefly introduce you to the different instruments in my stargazing fleet.

I will not go into the structural differences between the various telescope types here. However, generally, the following applies: the larger the diameter of the opening of a telescope, the more you can see with it. But, since this also does not apply to all viewing conditions and there is no telescope that can cover all areas of application, I have purchased and owned several telescopes over time.

As being hiking and nature guide, I also like to go "Back to the roots" every now and then:

Putting a compact telescope in my backpack and heading up the mountain - where the starry sky is at its most impressive.

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Celestron C8 NexStar Evolution

The Celestron C8 is an enduring classic in the world of professional amateur astronomy and has been in production since the 1970s, with regular technical updates.

It is a so-called Schmidt-Cassegrain mirror-lens telescope. This design allows for a very long focal length – over 2 meters! – while also being very short and lightweight.

Many describe the telescope as an all-rounder – the long focal length allows for high magnification when observing planets, but the relatively large aperture of 20 cm already collects enough light to recognize details of galaxies.

I use the telescope on the electronic goto mount NexStar Evolution, which automatically tracks the selected target in the sky. This has great advantages when observing with larger groups.

Sky-Watcher 127/1500 Maksutov

My “Russentonne” (Russian bin), as this type of telescope is also affectionately known due to its shape and the country of its invention, was my first telescope and I am still thrilled by the compactness of this system. The shortest length conceals the longest focal length of all my telescopes. It is the definition of backpack-compatible.

Due to its long focal length, it is particularly suitable for observing solar system objects at high magnification and is therefore primarily used for lunar and planetary tours.

Sky-Watcher 102/500 Refractor

This compact “Startravel” refractor telescope with 10 cm aperture lives up to its name: Due to its aperture ratio and short focal length, you can use it to see the largest section of the sky of all my telescopes at low magnification.

“Surfing” through the Milky Way is a real pleasure and it is very intuitive to use. That's why I often have it with me as a second telescope for larger groups, which you can try out for yourself.

Astronomical binoculars

During my tours, I also use astronomical binoculars 15x70 “Skymaster” from Celestron.

For many people, binoculars are the most intuitive way to getting started with observing and orienting themselves in the starry sky, since they come closest to the natural human vision with their straight, binocular view and an upright and side-correct image.

At the same time, you can see a larger section of the sky with binoculars than with any telescope! Some open star clusters, such as the Pleiades, are even the most beautiful through binoculars!

However, since many people find it difficult to hold binoculars steady for a longer amount of time, I also invite you to lie on your back during some of my tours:

Feeling planet Earth under you while the Milky Way is overflowing with stars in your binoculars is one of the most beautiful experiences you can have on a Stargazing Tour with sternenguide.tirol!