Astronomy and telescopic rails
 

Astronomy is a fascinating subject and many people become so intrigued by it they go to great lengths to make sure they can get the best view of the moon and stars.  It is not possible to see much through the naked eye and buying a telescope is essential for this purpose.  Often people will use their lofts and have the floor reinforced to take a bigger telescope that runs on telescopic rails (Teleskopschienen) to enable them to see the different planets from earth such as Mars and Venus.  On a clear night it is possible to see the craters on the moon and beyond and there is always a big surge in the sales of telescopes when an eclipse is about to occur.  This is when the moon passes over the sun for a minute or two and the light is blocked out.  The last eclipse in England was about six years ago where the best place to view this was in Cornwall.  Many people booked accommodation in Cornwall to see this happen but the day was very cloudy and although it was possible to witness the eclipse partially, it was not as spectacular as it would have been had it been a clear day.

For some people looking at the moon and the stars becomes a life time hobby and people often use a heavy-duty extension (Schwerlastauszuq) to make sure they can position their telescope in the best possible position for viewing.  Enthusiasts can also visit a local Observatory which is open to the public at certain times.  These Observatories are usually located out in the countryside in a hilly position and an optical telescope will be used.  Through an optical telescope it is possible to increase the size of distant planets and stars as well as their brightness.  There are three main types of optical telescopes which all work by using one or more curved optical elements.  Nowadays we know more about space than previous generations ever did.  Who would have thought it possible over 100 years ago that man would actually walk on the moon?  Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon in 1969 when the Americans launched the Apollo ll Space Rocket.  Since then pictures taken of the earth from space are of interest to everyone who sees them.