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10 Essential Tips for Buying a Telescope: Your Beginner’s Guide
The night sky is a great window that displays spectacular view of the cosmos, ranging from the stars and constellations to the magnificent ring of Saturn. Stargazing is not just a passion that people with plenty of free time can indulge in, it is a way to escape the hustle and bustle of today’s world and get in touch with the universe. To make the most of this experience, buying a telescope is the first step toward uncovering the secrets of the cosmos.
However, when choosing your first telescope, one is spoilt for choice and therefore the process of choosing may not be an easy one. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the 10 essential tips for buying a telescope, so that you make the right decision and enjoy your first experience in astronomy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying a Telescope
Should I Buy a Telescope Right Away?
It is normal for newbies to be eager to acquire a telescope the moment they set their eyes on one. However, it is more helpful to pause for some time and learn a few basic facts about astronomy before rushing to buy that first telescope.
Suggested Steps Beforehand:
- Read Astronomy Books: It will also help to know some basics about the star charts, celestial objects and the astronomical events.
- Use Binoculars First: This is because, a good pair of binoculars will enable one to practice the process of observing the night sky. They are very easy to use, lightweight, and are a cheap way to get involved with astronomy.
Researching with binoculars and practicing the observation helps the development of the observational skills that will be very helpful when switching to the telescope.
What Will You Use the Telescope For?
When you’re buying a telescope, ask yourself:
- Are you going to use it for astronomical purposes (to observe stars, planets and galaxies)?
- Or are you going to use it for terrestrial purpose (to watch scenery, animals, landscapes)?
Why it Matters:
- Astronomical Telescopes: These are telescopes that are used mainly for viewing objects in the space at night. It is focused on the provision of clear pictures or sight, light collection, and the lens’s magnification.
- Terrestrial Telescopes (also known as Spotting Scopes): These are day time use telescopes which are commonly used in bird watching or observing nature and are no no extremely accurate and compact.
This helps you select the right telescope that will meet your needs hence make the right decision.
Should I Join an Astronomy Club Before Buying a Telescope?
Of course! It will be very helpful if you can find a local community or an astronomy club that you can join before making the decision to buy one. These clubs are full of people who love stargazing and will be happy to assist you and let you try out different telescopes before you buy one. If you are not sure if there are any clubs in your area you can do a search here.
Benefits of Joining a Club:
- Hands-on experience with different telescope types and models.
- Advice on buying a telescope that suits your needs and budget.
- Access to remote stargazing sites and tips on safe night-sky viewing.
Traveling with others also ensures a secure, exciting experience, especially when visiting dark sky locations away from light pollution.
How Much Should I Spend When Buying a Telescope?
Budget is crucial particularly for the beginners as they start their journey of observing the sky. Telescope comes in various prices but when buying your first telescope it is advisable to buy one that is within your budget.
Suggested Price Range for Beginners:
- $170–$350: This is a fairly decent range for a decent entry level telescope that is going to provide you with enough magnification and functionality to be able to look at the moon, the planets, and even a few deep sky objects.
- Premium Scopes ($600+): Best suited for the experienced astronomers but perfectly adequate for the beginners. Start with a small one then increase the size after some time and after having gained enough experience.
For more information on some great beginner telescopes to buy on a budget check out our article here.
What is Aperture and Why is It Important?
The aperture is the diameter of the lens or the mirror of the telescope measured in millimeter or inch. It decide on the amount of light that is to be obtained by the telescope and this in turn affects the quality of the image that is obtained of the celestial objects.
Beginner Recommendations:
- Refractor Telescopes: When choosing this kind of telescope, the aperture range is between 60mm – 90mm.
- Reflector Telescopes: Select a model with an aperture of 100mm – 200mm.
Large aperture is useful in viewing faint objects such as galaxies and nebulae in much better resolution. However, larger apertures also lead to increase in the size, weight and of course the cost of the telescope. It is important to select an aperture that offers a good balance between the view that one is likely to see and the size that is easy to carry around.
What Type of Mount is Best for Beginners?
The mount is a very important part of a telescope since it provides support and allows one to move the telescope in any direction when observing the celestial bodies. Here are the three main types and their best uses:
- Computerized Mount (Recommended for Beginners):
- Comes with electronics that helps in the pointing of celestial objects.
- It is very useful and helps the beginner because it does not create a very steep learning curve.
- Altazimuth Mount:
- Is easy to maneuver on the horizontal and vertical plane.
- Ideal for the quick and frequent set-up and transportation.
- Equatorial Mount:
- Meant for serious stargazers to follow objects in the sky with respect to the Earth’s axis of rotation.
- Recommended only if you are willing to face a bit of challenge in your learning process.
For the Beginners, it is advisable to use a computerized mount or an altazimuth mount.
Does Telescope Brand Matter?
Yes it does! Telescope manufacturers that are reputable are known to make durable telescopes with excellent optics and come with good warranty and guarantee.
Popular Telescope Brands for Beginners- Some of the best and reputable brands include:
- Celestron which provides quality telescopes that are suitable for new users with many features that are unique for the price.
- Orion: These are telescopes that are quite reliable and can be used by a new user in the market and are built to last.
- Telmu: Affordable options for beginners in astronomy.
When buying a telescope, there are many brands that are well known and thus it is advisable to ensure that one does not fall for low quality optics or unstable mounts.
What Should I Know About Eyepieces?
The eyepiece affects magnification and detail in observing the celestial objects. Most of the telescopes come with one eyepiece but it is advisable to have more than one.
Key Recommendations:
- It is recommended that the focal length of the eyepiece should be between 15mm to 26mm to be used in observing the planetary objects as well as the deep space objects.
- Lenses with short focal lengths provide higher magnification but have smaller fields of view and are often used in combination with Barlow Lenses to increase the magnification of any eyepiece and this is cost effective.
Is Portability Important?
Portability is a very important factor in buying a telescope, especially if one wants to move the telescope from one place to another.
Factors to Consider:
- Weight: Small telescopes are ideal to carry along when going for stargazing sessions.
- Size: Make sure that the telescope you have put your mind and money into will be able to fit into your car or your suitcase if you intend to use it when going on a trip.
- Setup Time: This means that the portable telescopes which are easy to set up will be used more often since one will not struggle to set it up.
If you do not have a space or easy access to a place with little or no light pollution at all, choose a light weight and smaller model even if it is cheaper and has a heavier build.
What Telescope Accessories Should I Get?
They can be useful and helpful in improving one’s viewing and observation skills in the night sky without having to spend a lot of money. Here are the essentials:
Red Flashlight:
- Helps the eyes to gain back its adaptation to the dark condition since one is using them for star gazing or in adjusting the telescope.
- A dimmable red flashlight is highly recommended.
Barlow Lens:
- Multiplies your telescope’s focal length, thus increasing the magnification that you can achieve without having to swap eyepieces.
Star Map or Star App:
- A handy tool for locating celestial objects and thus plan your observing sessions.
Accessories are not compulsory but they are useful and can help to improve on the performance of your telescope.
Conclusion: Make the Right Choice When Buying a Telescope
Buying a telescope is just one exciting step towards exploring the universe, but it is is advisable to make a wise decision when choosing one. Before you decide on which one to buy, find out what you want the telescope for, how much you are willing to spend, what kind of aperture you need and many other factors. It will be useful to get an astronomy club to get more practical experience before buying one.
Equipped with these tips it will be easier to turn into a stargazer and get to discover more about the universe around us. It is always okay to refer to this guide or reach out to us if you require assistance in choosing the right telescope. Enjoy your time under the sky and have a wonderful stargazing experience!
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