This is a page providing advice to anyone thinking of buying a telescope sutable for beginners
For information advice and everything about astronomy Go to my main Astronomy page
Telescopes. Best telescopes for beginners.
The best will be inexpensive easy to set up and use, and not make claims that lead to disappointment.
There are two categories to consider.
The traditional telescope where the astronomyer searches for the object of interest.
The alternative GoTo telescope has a built in computer and motor which will go to an object that your have asked for. These are more expensive but can avoid frustration at failing to find an objject of interest. Of course you do not have to use this facility and you can turn it off to enjoy the hunt.
Their is a useful guide on the BBC Sky at Night magazine: Click here
General comments
For getting to know the night sky binoculars are useful. I use binoculars to explore a constellation before hunting down special features with the telescope.
We should not be too enthusiastic for high power. The higher the power the more difficult it is to find any object. It is often then 'blurry'.
The light gathering power is more important and for this a large objective lens or mirror is best.
The mount matters. The simplest altazimuth mount allows movement in all directions. It is the usual mount for photography but astronomy has the problem that the obect of interst moves in a well -defined way (obviously it is actually the earth that moves). it is difficult to follow an obect once it has been found. An equatorial mount is best as this allows simple tracking of objects. A GoTo telescope does not need this.
Viewfinders. Usually small telescopes of poor quality. Excellent alternative is an illumiated 'target'.
Photography. An adaptor can be bought that fits around the eypiece so that a mobile phone camera can be used for photography.
Examples of some telescopes marketed as suitable for beginners. Most cheaper ones are best avoided.
Some are illustrated below. Many others can be viewed on the websites of my recommended purchase places
From Amazon
Example of a poor telescope:
The only 'good' thing is price (£69.99).
A refracting telescope (uses lenses throughout)
60mm aperture is low. 80mm is sensible minimum.
An altazimuth moung is typical mount for ordinary photography or telescopes for bird watching. Not good for stars.
Kellner eyepieces are of course the poorest type.
NB ok to learn what you really need for astronomy but it might ruin any beginner's enthusiasm |
Levenhuk Discovery Sky 176
Another disappointing telescope.
This is a Newtonian telescope which depends on a mirror to collect the lighght. Claims to be good for Deep sky objects (ie galaxies etc).
The mirror is 76mm which is much too small for this.
Altazimuth mount.
4 mm eyepiece
12.5 mm eyepiece
20 mm eyepiece
Barlow lens, 2x
Optical finderscope, 5x24.
Celestron refractor.
Celestron are specialist producers of high quality telescopes for every level of observation so the optics will be as good as possible for the price.
Good 100mm objective lens.
Good viewfinder
Has built in smartphone adaptor
But again an altazimuth mount.
Sky-Watcher StarQuest 130P Newtonian
Very reputable astronomy company
Optics 130mm (5.1-inch) parabolic mirror
Focal length 650mm (f/5) focal length
Mount Equatorial/altazimuth mount
Focuser Rack and pinion
Extras Red dot finder, 1.25-inch 10mm and 25mm eyepieces, slow-motion control cables
Weight 8kg
Celestron NexStar 114 SLT Reflector Computerised Telescope (114mm)
Celestron so aims to be good.
Celestron 130mm (5”) Newtonian reflector
Two 25mm and 10mm eyepieces, StarSense smartphone dock, a red dot finderscope (in case you want to use the telescope without your phone) and a full-height tripod.
9 and 25mm eyepieces so up to 111x magnification.
A top choice by BBC sky at night recommendation