Telescopes
Comparison
Meade NG70-SM Altazimuth Refractor Telescope
The Meade NG70-SM is a very cheaply priced telescope that is ideal for both terrestrial and celestial viewing. Despite its low price, this telescope features a sturdy design and portable design with sufficient optical abilities to enthuse any newcomer to the world stargazing. The telescope offers clear and sharp images of moons and planets. The Meade NG70-SM is best used on bright conditions as it has a small aperture that does not let in enough light (Telescopes.com, para. 1).
Specifications
Celestron AstroMaster 70 AZ Refractor Telescope
Designed for first time users, the AstroMaster 70 AZ telescope is designed for use for both land and sky viewing. The Altazimuth mount offers a convenient pan handle that enable a smooth motion which helps in making precise movements. Despite its small aperture size, the telescope offers breathtaking images of the Orion and other star systems (Telescopes.com, para. 2). With its user-friendly features, the AstroMaster 70 AZ is definitely a must have for novice sky viewers.
Specifications
Celestron AstroMaster 90 EQ Equatorial Telescope Refractor 21064
Slightly more expensive than its predecessors, the Celestron 21064 is a dual purpose telescope suitable for viewing both terrestrial and celestial objects. With a powerful 70mm lens, the telescope allows more light through and this comes in handy in viewing distant objects, such as the moons of Jupiter. The telescope has two eyepieces with 50X and 100X magnification, making it possible to obtain clear and sharp images than its predecessors. The Equatorial mounts make it easier to have smooth movements and this helps when a stargazer is working under high magnifications, where even slight motion affects the image (Yahoo, para. 1).
Specifications
Conclusion
Being a relatively low priced telescope, the Meade NG70-SM offers limited viewing abilities with respect to clarity and sharpness of images both in terrestrial and celestial usage. Consequently, it can only be comfortably used by amateur stargazers and children. The AstroMaster 70 AZ offers a better alternative but with a small aperture, the viewing abilities are limited. The AstroMaster 90 EQ, with its Equatorial mount and large aperture, is a good choice as its use can be extended as compared to the other two models. This model brings into view clear images of star clusters, nebulae, and distant planets.
Works Cited
Telescopes.com. Celestron AstroMaster 70 AZ Refractor Telescope. 2011. Web.
Telescopes.com. Meade NG70-SM Altazimuth Refractor Telescope. 2011. Web.
Yahoo. Celestron AstroMaster 90 EQ Equatorial Refractor Telescope 21064 w/ FREE UPS. 2011. Web.