Of the many types of telescopes, a good starting price for a beginner telescope will be around $400.00. You may spend more depending on the features you want, but you can also spend less. With a little research, you can find some very good telescopes for under $300.00.

First, look for a telescope that offers good quality optics. Another important feature is a good smooth working steady mount. It is also good to realize that bigger types of telescopes are easier to operate and show more than the smaller types, but are also less portable. Consider how you will be using your telescope and whether or not you will be taking your telescope on trips or if it will be in a fixed location.

Three Basic Types of Telescopes

Refractors – Probably the most recognizable to many people. The lens is mounted in the front. The refractor types of telescopes don’t usually require much maintenance, but can become increasingly expensive as you increase the size of the aperture.

Reflectors – These type of telescopes are, for comparable apertures, generally less expensive. Reflectors work by using a mirror located at the back of the tube. Maintenance is low, but occasional adjustments to the optical alignment will be necessary.

Compound – These types of telescopes are also known as Catadioptric telescopes. They function by using a combination of mirrors and lenses. They are relatively light in weight with a more compact type tube.

Regardless of which telescope that you actually buy a very important feature, actually the most, is aperture. A telescope has a light gathering mirror or lens. This is called the objective, and its diameter is the aperture (D) which is usually expressed in millimeters. You will want to look for an aperture higher than 75mm.

The higher the aperture, the better and more spectacular the view. It’s that simple.

Telescope Mounts

A telescope mount, unlike the typical camera tripod which is usually held in place by only one screw, must be very stable and sturdy to allow proper viewing. An easy and light mount to use is an Alt-Azimuth.It has the ability to move from one side to the other and also up or down easily. Read the rest of this entry »