The skies hold many wonders and some people make a hobby out of looking at them. Things like eclipses, meteor showers, and constellations are easier seen through a telescope. Anyone who is considering astronomy as a new pastime should look for certain features in available telescopes for beginners.

This guide is for those who want to buy a telescope but who can’t make use of  the cheap telescopes for kids, and who also don’t want to spend too much on a high end one.

First, you must learn about the basics of telescopes for beginners in general so as to be better informed when it comes time to selecting and purchasing one.  Then we will discuss some more specific choices for you to consider.

Aperture

Aperture size is the most important factor because it is the size of the telescope’s main optical lens or mirror.  Aperture basically means how bright things will appear and the amount of detail you will pick up.

The aperture is directly related to two key performance features:  the light-gathering power and the maximum resolving power. The first determines how bright viewed objects appear and the second determines how much fine detail is revealed.  When considering the available telescopes for beginners, select one with a larger (fatter) aperture because it will allow more to be seen. However, make sure the device is also portable and that the aperture is not so large as to cause distortion due to the Earth’s atmosphere.  Apertures should be about eight to ten inches and magnification should be approximately 50 times the aperture measured in inches or two times when measured in millimeters.   

Refractor And Reflector

Another thing to consider is the refractor.  A good one can outperform a similar quality reflector with the same aperture.   A nice quality reflector is always less expensive than the equivalent refractor due to lower production costs.   Also, a large aperture refractor can be difficult to move and carry because of the longer tube length, whereas a large aperture reflector will usually  have shorter tubes and an easier to use eyepieces.

Power

One thing that consumers purchasing telescopes for beginners do not need to put too much stock into is power. Depending on the eyepiece used, any telescope can be configured to provide nearly any magnification. Aperture is what limits the amount of power that can be used on a telescope. As magnification increases, the image in the scope gets larger and the light gathered must spread over a larger area, which dims the image.

Mount

A mount is another important feature of a telescope and there are several varieties. A good mount holds your telescope in a secure manner and reduces shaking.  Altitude-azimuth mounts move and up and down and left and right. Equatorial mounts are tilted, aligning with the Earth’s polar axis. Altitude-azimuth mounts are usually simpler to use and lighter and people who plan to do both daytime viewing and astronomy usually select these models.   Computerized mounts are available which move the telescope around for you. This functionality is often referred to as go-to. 

Types

There are also two major types of telescopes:  Dobsonian and Catadioptric. 

 The Dobsonians are large reflectors with simple mounts and are more difficult to handle due to size.  The have huge aperture and are great in locations with dark skies.

The Catadioptric ones have both refractor and reflector principles and are easy to handle even with larger apertures. These are more expensive, but are also great for cities where light pollution is an issue

A first time telescope user will probably want easy assembly and transportation of their new product.  You also will want great quality optics, mechanics, and components that cover your needs best. When it comes to what they will show you the best, different telescopes all have different pros and cons. 

Cost And Brands Of Telescopes For Beginners

Most telescopes for beginners will be priced from about $200 – $300.  Many aficionados go by the common belief of buying the biggest telescope that you can afford to get the best experience.  This is not a bad idea.

We can give you recommendations on products, but you have to remember that there is no perfect first telescope for everyone’s needs. The best telescope for you personally, is one that you will be satisfied with, and therefore, will actually use! We will mention some that will appeal to the majority of new users.  If you have any questions about features or quality of brands, you should always do your own research.

Orion, Celestron, and Meade telescopes for beginners are three of the best and most sought after brands and are of great quality.

•  The Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 and StarBlast Astro are a good value and provide great views.  They are also and are suitable for those without a lot of experience with astronomy. 
• A Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ Reflector telescope is also a recommended beginner’s option with a reflector design that gives smooth object tracking. This particular telescope is light and small, making it nice to carry around.  It also allows for easy setup as soon as you get it home.
• The Meade DS-2080AT is also designed for the more “serious” novice and provides you with nice detailed views.
• For people in the city with a lot of light, the Celestron Astromaster 90EQ is good and has an equatorial mount.
• Finally, for dark locations and for people who don’t mind large telescopes, there is the Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope.  This one will be closer to the $300 to $350 range.

You might also want to buy some handy telescope accessories such as glare reduction filters for larger scopes or a digital camera converter for photographing your viewing space.  Expect to spend maybe another $100.

Where To Find Telescopes For Beginners

The first telescope you buy really should be from a reliable manufacturer.  You won’t find many good options at a cheap place like a toy store.  Actually, telescopes for beginners and for advanced users in general will not be common at almost any store around you.  Although The Discovery Channel Store is a good choice, in general you will want to buy from a place that specializes in telescopes.  The best selection will be the internet of course.  Telescopes.com and Astronomics.com are good starting points, in addition to the above mentioned manufacturer’s sights.

Remember to keep your expectations realistic; you probably will not achieve NASA type images with a typical telescope, especially not a beginner’s one.  Hopefully this guide provided you with plenty of introductory concepts on telescopes for beginners so as to help in your future purchase.  We hope you enjoy your telescope!

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