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Astronomy/Light pollution, etc.

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Expert: Steven LJ Russo - 4/4/2004


Question
Hi!

I live in a light polluted area with a 5.4 magnitude limit.

A few months ago, I bought a 4.5 inch reflector telescope (900 mm focal length). I looked at a lot of planets, the moon and at stars so far. A few days ago, I decided to look for nebulas, galaxies and star clusters. Howhever, I couldn't even find one single thing from the Messier catalog or in general...

So I would like to ask you 3 questions:

1) What diameter (mm or inch) of telescope is required for a light polluted area in order to see galaxies, nebulas, etc.?

2) Do GOTO telescopes really work and is it worth the money?

3) Is a refractor more appropriate in this situation?

Overall, what can I do to see something EXCEPT to move to a non-light polluted area?

Thank you very much!

Answer
Increasing the diameter will allow more light pollution into the scope.  GOTO telescopes are excellent scopes.  Reflactors are slightly beter for things such as nebulae, galaxies, comets, etc.

If you go to the Orion Telescope Company  www.telescope.com
they have a varity of filters to help cancel out some of the light pollution.

Steve

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Steven LJ Russo

Expertise

As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.

Experience

Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.

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