A comet-viewing telescope with 望遠鏡

Kanji Explanation: Reflection and optics with 鏡

Asuka Jr. receives a challenge notice from Saint Tail, stating her intent to steal Graham Comet on Christmas Eve. One of his friends wonders how Saint Tail will steal a comet. Asuka Jr. thinks it over for a moment.

アスカ Jr.:: 「これは　天文台(てんもんだい)の天体(てんたい)望遠鏡(ぼうえんきょう)を盗(ぬす)むってことだ！！」; “That means stealing the observatory’s telescope!!”; 「このへんで彗星(すいせい)を見(み)る方法(ほうほう)はそれしかないからな！！」; “Since that’s the only way to see a comet around here!!”

Key Points

望遠鏡(ぼうえんきょう) = “telescope”
- In this scene, 望遠鏡(ぼうえんきょう) means the observatory’s telescope, the instrument Saint Tail would have to steal in order to “steal” the comet
- The kanji are literally “distance + see + mirror”, which fits an optical device used to view faraway objects
〜ってことだ = casual “that means…”
- ってことだ is a casual spoken way to say ということだ.
このへんで = “in this area”
- このへんで sets the local context: he means that in this area, there is only one practical way to view a comet
それしかないからな = “because that’s the only option”
- それしかない means “there’s nothing but that” → naturally, “that’s the only way / only option”
- The ending からな gives his reasoning in a firm, casual, matter-of-fact tone