Hardly! In a past column (April 2011), I sang the praises of my first astronomical telescope, Edmund Scientific’s Space Conqueror, a 3-inch f/10 reflector.

How do scientists determine who gets to use the most powerful space telescope ever launched? A practice called dual-anonymous peer review has shaped the process.

Sometimes a new telescope can seem like a fun tool, but to get the most out of it, you'll need to use it safely and correctly.

The problem in using a normal solar filter with a reflector is that, because the telescope’s secondary mirror and support are at the front end of the telescope, they interfere with the light and ...