How to Choose A Telescope for Astronomy
Telescopes are one of the most amazing technologies ever created by humans. First invented at the beginning of the 17th century, they have become affordable high-tech masterpieces that allow you to explore the wonders of the universe right from your backyard. Get ready to watch stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae and much more!
The Three Types of Telescopes
There are three basic types of telescopes: Refractor, reflector, and compound. All three types are designed to gather lots of starlight but go about that task in slightly different ways, giving each unique advantages and disadvantages.
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✔ I want a beginner telescope: Refractor or reflector
✔ I want a rugged telescope that requires little or no maintenance: Refractor
✔ I want to also observe objects on earth (e.g. birds): Refractor or compound
✔ I want to view faint, deep sky objects: Reflector or compound
✔ I want the best image quality: Reflector or compound
✔ I want the biggest bang for my buck (value): Reflector
✔ I want to do astrophotography: Compound
Telescope Basics
There are four key things to look for when buying your telescope: Aperture, focal length, magnification, and computer control.
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ApertureAperture is the diameter of the telescope’s mirror or lens. This is the single most important factor determining how much you can see with your telescope. In general, the bigger the telescope’s aperture the better! A bigger scope will let in more light allowing you to see fainter objects. |
Focal lengthFocal length is the distance from the “focal point” of your telescope to the lens or mirror. It's not as important as aperture. But, the longer the focal length, the bigger objects will appear. So keep an eye on this. When in doubt, choose a telescope with both large aperture and focal length. |
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MagnificationMagnification is determined by your telescope’s focal length (see above) and your eyepiece. We have included the magnification you get with each reviewed telescope below. The bigger, the better. Tip: You can always upgrade to an eyepiece with more magnification later. |
Computer ControlLots of modern telescopes offer a built-in computer control which automatically points the telescope to interesting objects. It's a great feature which allows you to track down the celestial highlights you’re interested in quickly, track moving objects (i.e. for astrophotography), and more. |
Telescope Mounts
A mount that is too light will be jostled by the wind and cause your images to bounce.
Below is a quick overview of the four types of telescope mounts.
