Hi everyone.
My name is Oliver Tinley, and first of all I wanted to thank you for stopping by Optical Mechanics.
I don’t have some crazy story about how I got into this, I just wanted to create a resource to help people learn about telescopes, binoculars and all things optical equipment.
While I’m not an expert in everything there is to know, the team here at Optical Mechanics are.
Our editorial team is made up of some of the best in their respected fields, from die hard enthusiasts to experienced professionals and published authors.
The team at Optical Mechanics will always put our readers first when it comes to how we do business and the content that we produce and thats something that we put our name to.
I’d like to thank you again for stopping by, please take a minute to check out the profiles of the rest of the team and find out what makes us tick.
Meet the Team
Below we have sorted our Posts by Author, so if you like a particular style, they should be easier to find.
Posts from Oliver
How To See Mars Through a Telescope – Best Magnification
The universe is fascinating, and we are very privileged to be able to witness the many planets in our solar system right from our homes. Mars is one planet that we have come to love. Amazed by what it is and intrigued about what more we can find. We walk you through how to view Mars
How To View Neptune Through a Telescope
Would you like to see Neptune from Earth? Perhaps you would like to see its rings, or maybe you want to view its atmosphere with your own two eyes. If you’d like to view Neptune for yourself, the good news is that it is possible using a telescope! Read on for everything you need to
5 Best Dobsonian Telescopes: Our Epic Guide to Dobs
Dobsonian telescopes are the ultimate tools for observing the vast scintillating unknown. They provide you with far greater apertures than your typical telescope, giving you brighter, clearer views of deep space objects, sating your innate astral curiosities in ways that you never thought possible. So, if that all sounds good to you, fantastic, you’re in
Posts from Richard
Posts from Zane
How to Focus a Telescope (Visually and Photographically)
Focusing a telescope may sound intimidating, but it’s actually a remarkably easy process. In this article, we will explain what how to focus a telescope actually means, how focusers work, and why it’s important. Most telescopes have an external focusing device that physically shifts the eyepiece or camera back and forth along the optical axis
Orion StarBlast 6 Tabletop Telescope Review
The Orion StarBlast 6 is a larger counterpart to the 114mm/4.5” StarBlast unit, and like the 4.5” model, comes in two configurations – albeit drastically less different. The base StarBlast 6 package can also be upgraded to or purchased as the StarBlast 6i, which has no differences whatsoever apart from adding Orion’s IntelliScope controller and
The Best Refractor Telescopes, Period
Ask most people to picture a telescope, and chances are they’ll think of a refractor. Refractors were the first telescope invented, they were responsible for many of the earliest astronomical discoveries, and when people think of telescopes – be it of Galileo, Lowell, or James Bond – they think of refractors. Refractors use a glass
Posts from Alan
Posts from Jordanne
How Long After Sunset is it Dark?
Let’s Get Started… We get the question “how long after sunset is it dark?” a LOT. Knowing the time of darkness after sunset is important to many astronomers and astrophotographers. Unfortunately, however, it is not a straight answer for every situation; one must consider things such as latitude, season, and altitude. What is “Astrodark”? Astrodark
Apertura AD8 Dobsonian Telescope Review – Our Top Pick
The Apertura AD8 is one of High Point Scientific’s mid-range Dobsonian reflector telescopes, which is comparable to GSO’s 8” Dobsonian and Orion’s XT8. This is a great budget-friendly telescope for beginners and experienced astronomers alike. Key Features The Optical Tube Assembly The Apertura AD8 is a Newtonian-style reflector mounted on a Dobsonian alt-azimuth base. Like
