Home Page    Directory    Specials    My Account    My
Wishlist    My Basket    Star testing a telescope can be a great
way to determine if any errors are present in the optical system
and what those errors are.  The star test is very critical and
can show even slight aberrations.  It does require a sharp eye
and some experience to really get the most out of it.  This
section will describe how to star test a telescope and give
examples of the most common aberrations.  For more details on
the errors you might see, check out the Optical Aberrations
page.  Note:  First a warning.  The images shown below are
idealized examples.  Unless you paid as much as a small car and
waited on a list for the better part of a decade to get your
telescope, do not expect flawless optics.  Most mass produced
telescopes--even good ones--can show minor flaws if you look
closely enough.  The real test of a telescope is what you see
when you look through the eyepiece under normal conditions. 
Almost without exception, all telescopes