Learn 3 Things Before You Buy A Telescope

If you are looking for telescopes, you may have some difficulty finding a store in your area that sells good ones. Sure you can go to places like Target or Kmart and probably find one in a box that you can use but they are not of high quality and can be somewhat disappointing for stargazing.

You may be able to find a store that specializes in telescopes but it is not as if there is one on every corner. You have to do some searching and may have to travel some distance to get to the one you find. If you do find one, that’s great because they may be able to offer great advice on what types of telescopes are good for the beginner and you can get some hands on experience with one of the display models.

Your best bet is to find an online retailer to get what you need. So find a specialized store to see what is available to you then make your purchase online. Online stores usually offer better deals on the things you want to buy anyway. You can find deals from 20%-70% off and have a huge selection to choose from.

Having a budget in mind before you do your shopping is a good rule of thumb. That way you won’t overspend. Plan on spending anywhere from $50-$500 for a good first telescope. Brand names to look for in this price range are Celestron, Bushnell, and Meade. All reputable companies that will make sure you are satisfied with your telescope purchase and have a telescope that will last for some time.

The three main things you need to concern yourself when buying your first telescope are the telescope itself, the eyepieces, and the mount for your telescope.

The two main types of good telescopes for beginners are what are called reflector telescopes and refractor telescopes. Reflector telescopes use one mirror to reflect the light coming in the optical tube to another mirror higher up in the tube and then you can see the image through the eyepiece. Refractor telescopes use lenses to capture the light and send it up the optical tube to the eyepiece.

Keep in mind; you will need at least two eyepieces, one with a smaller magnification and one with a larger magnification. The smaller magnification eyepiece is used to locate the star or planet you want to see then the larger magnification will give you a clearer more detailed look at it.

The mount is just as important as any of the other pieces you buy. The mount is what will hold your telescope steady when you are looking through it. You want something heavy duty enough to do this but lightweight enough you won’t need three men and a boy to carry it around for you if you take it with you on vacation. Some telescopes come with a mount that is good enough but if you need to upgrade make sure you get a decent one.

Invest in some literature to go along with the telescope like, star charts, so you know where to look in the night sky to find something interesting to look at. A good astronomy book could be of value to you as well, learning as you go. You will soon be using your telescopes for beginners like the pros.