10 Best Telescopes of 2019

The advances in optical technology in recent years have been of great benefit to the amateur astronomer – the quality and range of scopes is better than ever.

However, the sometimes bewildering choice of brands and different types of telescope on the market. This is especially true for beginners looking to buy their first scope who can really benefit from non-technical telescopes reviews.

On this site we will review the most popular telescopes and give an honest opinion about them. If you are looking to buy a telescope as a gift for someone then the reviews will help you to make a decision.

Whether you are new to astronomy or more experienced you are in the best place for some help in choosing your next telescope.

Amateur Astronomy is among the very fascinating hobbies on earth, but you most likely will need to get a telescope for yourself or maybe for a son or daughter who’s showing an interest in the marvels of the universe to get actually into it.

Many people think that the telescope is only used for stargazing. That fact is both right and wrong. On one side, telescopes are used to observe remote objects clearer for the eyes to examine. This is made possible with the use of electromagnetic radiation, which is commonly known as visible light.

Whether you’re looking to get into the exciting hobby of astronomy or you just enjoy star gazing from time to time you’re going to want to get a telescope. They are a great way to look much closer look at a wide range of different objects in the sky including the moon, planets and even the occasional asteroid or comet that passes by.

The inquiry of which telescope is best for a beginner is asked fairly frequently, as well as the telescope that is best for you will be dependent on your astronomy targets as well as your lifestyle.

The 10 Best Telescope Our Picks

The telescope market is confusing, to say the least, so don’t panic when you see thousands of different products on the market, I am a keen amateur astronomer, and have given you my top recommendations at different price ranges.

When you take your first step towards buying a telescope you’ll likely be overwhelmed at the number of different options available to you. You can find one at virtually any price range, from the low $100’s to tens of thousands of dollars, so it is important to know which ones to choose.

I have only reviewed the best telescopes, so whichever one you see on these pages will be a good purchase.

1.Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker – Best Reflector Telescope

The Celestron 127EQ Powerseeker is a Newtonian reflector type telescope that uses an age old approach to magnification using mirrors rather than lenses. It is intended for aspiring astronomers.

It really is a simple and economical introduction to the fire of sky viewing. It features a large aperture and provides a sighting eyepiece to track movements before zooming in with a high resolution of 1.1arc per second.

It is not meant for professional astronomers or ardent hobbyists but actually targeted towards beginners or for folks who want to dabble a little in far off celestial objects.

Anyone looking for an inexpensive but competent Newtonian reflector telescope should not be unhappy with the Celestron 127eq Powerseeker.

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2.Celestron 21061 AstroMaster 70AZ – Best Refractor Telescope

If you’re looking for a dual-purpose telescope appropriate for both terrestrial and celestial viewing, then the Celestron 21061 AstroMaster 70AZ is for you.

With its’ sleek, attractive design, and incredibly easy operating, the Celestron Astromaster 70AZ telescope deserves its’ place as the most popular telescope on Amazon. An affordable price and quality reputation just adds to the appeal.

This is a good first telescope for kids in elementary school. It is one of the best selling Telescopes on the market and has a very sturdy base and easy to use, also it is best gift to your child.  I would highly recommend this as a great all-around family and Best Refractor Telescope.

This refractor telescope is of the classic ‘long thin tube’ design, where light comes in at one end, you point the telescope at whatever you want to view, and you look into an eyepiece at the other end. It is the most commonly found telescope design, with ‘reflector’ telescopes coming in a close second, and is probably the easiest design to use, as anyone instantly understands how to use it.

The Celestron Astromaster 70AZ has a couple of neat features that make it stand out from the crowd. It has a permanently fixed ‘Starpointer’ viewfinder, which helps you to line the telescope up with the object you wish to view, and due to it being fixed, you do not need to set it up correctly when you first get the telescope. All you need to do is insert a battery, and line your chosen object up with a red dot in the viewfinder.

The eyepiece assembly is canted at 90 degrees, so that you do not look directly down the main tube, which makes it much more comfortable to use. It also ensures that images are the correct way up, making this telescope ideal for viewing either the sky, or land – based objects.

Two eyepieces are supplied with this telescope, a 20mm one, with 46x magnification, and a 10mm one with 90x magnification. Together with the lenses in the tube, this gives you a maximum useful magnification of 165x, plenty enough to see the rings of Saturn, or moons of Jupiter.

All lenses are coated to help protect them from scratching, and to provide sharp images. All lenses are fixed in position, so you do not need to adjust, or ‘collimate’ anything. Just change eyepieces when you want, point and view.
A great feature of the Celestron Astromaster 70AZ is the sturdy steel legged tripod. Many of the more affordable telescopes come with lightweight aluminum legs, but this can cause the telescope to be less stable, and you need a very stable platform to keep objects from wobbling. The adjustable steel legs of this telescope help to prevent shaking, and a handy accessory tray also keeps the legs secure.

The telescope itself attached to the tripod with an ‘Altazimuth’ mount. This requires no tools to attach; it’s just an easy dovetail attachment, and a Pan handle, with clutch, moves the telescope up or down, and left or right. The whole mount is of a very high quality, making adjustments smooth and controllable.

It all comes complete with a copy of ‘The Sky’ software, which is easy to run, and designed with beginners in mind. This software has a database of over 10,000 objects, with instructions on how to find them, and what to look for.

• The setup process:

While working on these celestron 21061 astromaster 70 az reviews everyone has noted how setting it up is easier than you would think. There are no tools involved, and assembly is easy and intuitive. Unboxed, this scope gives an immediate impression of toughness and durability.

• Usability

One more thing that various writers of the Celestron 21061 Astromaster 70 AZ reviews have nothed that how with the perma-mounted StarPointer finderscope, usability of this telescope shoots through the roof. The closest thing you will get to point-and-observe without compromising image quality is the 70 AZ. The sturdy tripod lets you adjust the scope according to your needs. Plus people who have written celestron 21061 astromaster 70 az reviews  have also noted that how once you’re all done stargazing, it folds up neatly for storage.

• Clarity

While writing our celestron 21061 astromaster 70 az reviews, we were skeptical about the high-power claims this model offers, so we tried it for ourselves. We are pleased to tell you that it looks like this scope is in a league of its own, with amazing sharpness and clarity unmatched for models in its price-range. Compared to other under-$100 telescopes reviewed by our team, the Celestron 21061 Astromaster 70 AZ Telescope is clearly the forerunner here.

Just training this telescope on the moon will tell you all you need to know. While writing our celestron 21061 astromaster 70 az reviews we experimented with starpointing and managed to locate a few major stars in no time at all. Not suitable for deep-space images, the 70 AZ still offers a beautiful view of some of our favourite heavenly bodies – the rings on Saturn, or the moons of Jupiter.

• Bonus – “The Sky” bundled Planetarium Software

It is very simple to load up the included “The Sky” Level 1 planetarium software and start looking for fresh objects to observe on a clear night. Integrate that with the inbuilt StarPointer, and you have hours of absorbing astronomy at hand.

Easy enough for amateurs to use and understand, producing images that are amazingly impressive to show off to the uninitiated, like family members or friends, the Celestron 21061 Astromaster 70 AZ is a ridiculously easy choice at its price. However, we have come across some Celestron 21061 astromaster 70 az reviews instances where people reported quality issues about the stability of the stand. Celestron could have put more effort into designing the knobs, which tend to loosen on their own.

Another interesting point that various celestron 21061 astromaster 70 az reviews commonly observed is people making recommendations to switch the eyepieces. If the power of the lens irks people who want to do more extensive deep-space bright object gazing, we would recommend switching to Newtonian Reflectors.

Pros:

Cons:

If you are in any way connected to the huge stargazing brotherhood, then this collection of  Celestron 21061 Astromaster 70 AZ reviews will benefit you in a big way. Touted as an amazing piece of technology, the 70 AZ has faced its fair share of recommendations and thumbs-downs. We analyzed this particular make, in-depth, consolidating Celestron 21061 Astromaster 70 AZ reviews, videos, and more – and came to the conclusion that this is indeed a fantastic piece of work.

From a telescope perspective, this is a very nice investment for a beginer to intermediate astronomers. You will enjoy the fun of it when you see it in refractors.  It’s compact and light enough to transport easily, it has GREAT optics and a VERY macho tripod and Starfinder with a bright reticle which nailed Venus in 1 easy try right out of the box.

You can very clearly see the features of the moon, and we have even been able to see Jupiter!!  Would recommend to any amateur astronomer!

In summary, the Celestron Astromaster 70AZ makes a great telescope for anyone interested in astronomy, and even if you have a larger telescope already, this makes an ideal second telescope when you just want something easily portable, and quick to set up.

Trying to find a good telescope for newcomers? The Celestron Astromaster 70az might be the choice that is right and I will let you know why!

The Celestronastromaster 70az is quite a big scope with a long tube. And to view items right overhead you need to get very low to see through the viewfinder. This telescope is designed for first-time buyers.

In reality it is a fascinating apparatus for all the people who would like to approach the astrology world.

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3.Celestron 21024 FirstScope Telescope

If your budget is less than $50 and you are keen to get started straight away, I recommend the Celestron 21024 Firstscope. This telescope also makes a great present for young astronomers.

Celestron 21024 FirstScope is an ideal entry level astronomical telescope. It is features a 76 mm aperture reflector optical tube so it very easy to observe with, the user simply navigates the night sky by moving the tube in the direction of their desired object, making the viewing experience a snap!

It is a wonderful keepsake for anyone interested in astronomy. The compact design makes it easy enough to take with you on your next outdoor adventure. Overall if your looking a great starter telescope of good quality, buy this one. Your children will love this scope. Easy to use and a great starter for all! A great present for grand kids or grown children.

Pros:

Cons:

if you are looking for an affordable and portable telescope for your child. i recommended the Celestron 21024. It had a smooth swiveling motion so that you can easily point it at celestial objects and tracking it by gently pushing the tube.

You can able to see Jupiter and its moons, Saturn, craters on the moon and on a clear night the Orion nebula. this telescope and the price is great. It doesn’t take long to set up so you can easily do it. Definitely a telescope I would recommend to anyone who is interested in looking at the night skies.

4.Celestron 31042 AstroMaster 114 EQ Reflector Telescope

The Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ joins ease and affordability, power and operation, into one telescope. Economical telescope, in addition to being and simple to set up and use, it makes an excellent option for starting star gazers.

At exactly the same time, its optical abilities gives audiences pictures of the deep sky objects and empower even seasoned star gazers to love finding their preferred celestial objects all over.

Along with its ease, the operation of the AstroMaster sets it apart from other telescopes in the exact same budget. The scope comes. The 20mm eyepiece supplies 50x magnification, while the 10mm has an effective focusing tool with 100x magnification.

The Celestron AstroMaster 114EQ offers an attractive mix of operation and affordability. The cost is competitive with other entry level telescopes.

Nevertheless, strength and the variety of the degree of detail which the AstroMaster can supply, the quality of the telescope, as well as the accessible magnification makes it appealing to seasoned stargazers.

Consequently, the AstroMaster is an excellent option for everyone who needs a telescope they are able to use to further a stargazing avocation they’ve already started to develop or who would like to delve into the nighttime skies for the very first time.

5.Celestron NexStar 6 SE Catadioptric Telescope

Whether you are a veteran astronomer searching for an extremely easy way to enjoy the nighttime sky and searching for a mobile scope with advanced attributes, or just starting your astronomy experience, a NexStar SE will help you take a closer look.

The Celestron NexStar 6 SE has all the exact same attributes as Celestron’s most innovative computerized GoTo telescopes.

It will not really matter if you’re a bit of an old hand or you are merely getting started out with this astonishing and highly informative! Avocation youwill find this telescope has something to offer you.

6.Orion 09798 StarBlast 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope

If you’d like to go a step up farther from the fundamental mobile telescope, the highly recommended Orion 09798 StarBlast 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope will do the job just right.

A general purpose telescope for beginner astronomers and even for family viewing pleasure, this telescope is packed with accessories and all the qualities you will ever need to get a night of deep-sky viewing of the moon as well as the planets. Tripod and the mount let you monitor objects that are moving throughout the sky – which is a plus for anyone who would like to see things other than planets and the moon.

The Orion 09798 StarBlast 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope is made for beginners but you’d have to have some prior knowledge of how telescopes work. It offers great optics of pictures that are crisp and clear – something that most beginner telescopes take time to supply.

The Orion StarBlast 4.5 EQ Reflector telescope is a favorite of both beginners and expert astronomers alike. it is very fun and easy to assemble and use. highly recommend to others as a solid bang for the buck entry level scope.

The Orion 09798 Equatorial Reflector Telescope is a great way to explore space from the comfort of your own backyard at a great price. It is simple to setup and easy to operate. This is perfect for the beginning sky watcher that wants to introduce himself to the awesome world of outer space. This is also a cool gift idea for your children to help them get off Facebook and start to explore the worlds around them.

It combines the much-heralded Orion StarBlast 4.5-Inch wide-field parabolic reflector optics with our sturdy EQ-1 equatorial tracking mount and adjustable-height tripod. The 4.5-Inch aperture reflector telescope’s short focal length serves up a generous chunk of sky in the eyepiece, making it easy for beginners to find celestial objects to study.

Pros:

Cons:

Simply saying that this is a great first reflector telescope, and if you’re looking for one, look no further. It’s a very simple telescope is very easy to use. The lenses it comes with are great for viewing the moon and stars. The views of saturn and jupiter are absolutely incredible, the rings are amazing on saturn and you can see 2-3 of its moons.

The telescope is the sheer quality of the optics. They’re absolutely stunning. The mirrors look like they’ve been sterilized by surgeons or something, it’s almost unbelievable. The mirrors are almost sci-fi shiny, and the coated lenses included are very nice. hope you anticipating first look at the night sky with friends and family,highly recommend

7.Celestron 21037 PowerSeeker 70EQ

The Celestron PowerSeeker 70EQ Telescope 21037 is a fantastic way to open up the wonders of the Universe to the aspiring astronomer!

It is intended to give the first-time buyer the best mixture of attributes, value, quality and power. Offering extraordinary value, Celestron PowerSeeker Telescopes feature portable yet powerful designs with ample optical performance to excite any newcomer to the entire world.

Amateur astronomy is a terrific family avocation that can be appreciated year round, and Celestron’s PowerSeekers are the ideal option for families looking for a high quality and affordable telescope which will provide many hours of enjoyment for kids and grownups alike.

A reflector telescope is one which makes use of one or more curved mirrors to create an image by reflecting light. The primary mirror is the most critical of these mirrors as it functions as the greatest and first source for collecting light. The primary mirror in a combo with other mirrors, or alone, focuses the light assembled to the focus point, where the light is assembled on the secondary mirror.

The resultant picture from the secondary mirror is redirected through the eyepiece which is made up of number of lenses and from there to your eyes. Speaking about the edges of the reflector telescopes, they’ve high resolution, high light gathering power and magnification and these make reflector telescopes a favorite pick among amateur astronomers.

If all you need is an excellent Reflector Telescope, then assess latest Reflector telescopes with their most affordable costs and a number of the most popular in this part.

Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker – Best Reflector Telescope

The layout of the Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope is ideal for an aspiring astronomer, giving a mixture of quality, value, attributes, and power to first time telescope users. It assurances to be quite simple to set up, not needing using tools to do this, and is but one of Celestron’s finest.

It’s sturdy equatorial mounts which are ideal for item tracking, plus in addition it has collapsible altazimuth mounts which are ideal for both astronomical and terrestrial use. It contains a complete selection of eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens that raises your seeing power to a hundred times greater than your unaided eye, giving you incredible details for every celestial body you see.

It was designed and fabricated using completely coated glass optical components with high transmission coatings to improve picture brightness and clarity, providing you with the opportunity to view the nighttime skies in manners that you’ve never seen before. It uses Erect Picture Optics which makes it perfect for both astronomical and terrestrial use.

This is really an extremely fine beginner telescope. It comes at a really reasonable cost, and reveals you celestial bodies with great clearness. This isn’t suggested for professionals however, or in case you’d like to begin seeing celestial bodies the way they’re depicted in planetary content and novels.

Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial – Best Reflector Telescope

The SpaceProbe from Orion is a comparatively cheap and solid telescope perfect for newcomers to the hobby. It supplies you with the clear and precise guidance for hobbyists in Orion along with powerful visual skills to give you participating and clear views of the nighttime skies.

The exceptional characteristics of the SpaceProbe provide improved viewing abilities and compactness without endangering optics. The scope is designed for newbies, meaning that it WOn’t catch every deep sky object out there.

Additionally, it possesses layout characteristics, like a specially designed holder as well as a parabolic mirror for the secondary mirror, the light is focused by that and use it to sharpen the pictures generated by the scope, despite its shorter tube.

The SpaceProbe will not offer elaborate inclusions or the wider aperture of more expensive and bigger telescopes. Nevertheless, it will not want those attributes to be able to provide pleasant views of the moon, planets, galaxies, and much more to starting astronomers.

As it joins a low price tag, StarryNight applications, portability, as well as its solid optics with the quality directions in Orion, the Orion SpaceProbe is an appealing, unique, and affordable solution to take pleasure in the nighttime skies. Praised by reviewers for the quality of its own pictures, the SpaceProbe guarantees an affordable solution to delve into the marvels of the nighttime skies to beginners.

Celestron CPC 800 XLT Computerized Telescope

Many years ago, people did not know that there was a space outside of the planet. Only because of technology did people know about the space’s vastness and fascinating celestial objects. Study more and understand the space’s beauty by using the Celestron CPC 800 XLT Computerized Telescope.

The telescope contains an aperture size of 8 inches. That’s good enough to see the planets and the stars up close with matching crisp images.

Equipped with NexStar Control Technology

The Celestron CPC 800 comes with its own SkyAlign feature brought to you by the NexStar Computer Control Technology. Simply follow the directions in the screen and wait for a few minutes while the system aligns to the chosen star or celestial body. This is one helpful feature for newbies who are not yet skilled in finding the exact positions and even names of obscure celestial elements.

Amazing User-Friendly Design

It is equipped with an ergonomic form, to help users get comfortable even during long periods of use. More than that, the telescope has an improved drive base, mechanics, and tripod that feels solid than other models. Performance-wise, the CPC 800 is quiet but strong and accurate.

Perfect Tracking and More

The Celestron CPC 800 XLT boasts off a perfect tracking feature with the use of the 8×50 finder scope. Coupled with SkyAlign, Auto Guider, and a provision for external GPS, finding celestial objects and locations have never been easier. Users can also take advantage of the hand control software to operate the telescope from one’s computer.

Specifications

• 8” Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope
• 2032MM Focal Length
• Aluminum Optical Tube Build
• StarBright XLT High Performance Optical System
• SkyAlign Alignment System
• Dimensions: 31 x 26 x 21 In.
• Weight: 64 Lbs.
• Power Supply: Car Battery Adapter, 12 Volt Battery Pack not Included
• Warranty: 2 Years

Pros

• Wonderful optics in general. The images that the telescope produced were crisp and vivid.
• Drive base has a solid and sturdy build as compared to the other Celestron telescope units.
• Computerized settings and features were convenient and user friendly.
• Tracking and aligning was almost flawless and fits right in the spot.
• Hand control software is great for laboratory and academic purposes.

Cons

• Power supply was not part of the product purchase. It only has a car adapter for charging.
• Not a good telescope to use for the city where dark skies are rare.
• Customer service was average.

The Celestron CPC 800 XLT Computerized Telescope is easy to love. As far as the opinions of previous buyers go, the CPC 800 is not the best in the whole line of Celestron but it works extremely great. In fact, it has exceeded most of the customer’s expectations.

There are some downsides but most of these were just minor; the overall function of the CPC 800 is a notch higher than other contenders.

Celestron CPC 925 StarBright XLT 2350mm Telescope

The Celestron CPC 925 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2350mm Telescope is one of the better if not the best telescopes in the market today.

It has large 9.25 inch optics and a stable tripod that is very useful especially for astrophotography. If you are a beginner who just want to stargaze or a seasoned professional, this telescope will definitely meet your needs.

Heavy-duty tripod and twin fork mount

The Celestron CPC 925 StarBright XLT is more accurate compared to other telescopes because of its heavy-duty tripod that has a twin fork mount that makes it less shaky and more stable.

Large Optics

Compared to its predecessor that offered an 8-inch optical system,Celestron CPC 925 Telescope with Tripod and Tube has a 9.25 inch optical system which translates to 33 percent more light gathering capability.

Large Database of Celestial Objects with Identify feature

Another neat feature of this telescope is its database that contains over 40,000 celestial objects. Identifying a heavenly object is also very easy, all you need to do is to focus the telescope to a particular celestial object and it will tell you the name of it. It is fun to use especially if you are a beginner.

Solar Sys Align

It with Tripod and Tube has Solar Sys Align which lets you align the telescope to either the sun or the moon depending on what time of the day you are going to use it.

Specs

• 9.25 inch optical system
• SkyAlign Technology
• Internal GPS technology
• Ergonomic design that makes it very easy to set it up and use
• StarBright coatings that maximizes light transmission

Pros

• Produces more vivid images due to its 9.25 inch optics
• Perfect for both beginners and professionals
• Easy to set up
• Stable mount and heavy duty tripod

Cons

• Relatively heavier than other telescopes
• A little bit pricey

It is heavier compared to other telescopes which makes it troublesome to move from one location to another. But the image that this telescope produces outshines its heavy weight. Some may say that Celestron CPC 925 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2350mm Telescope with Tripod and Tube is a little bit pricey compared to other telescopes out there but if quality is what you are after and you can pay some extra bucks, then by all means buy this telescope.

Many reviews show that customers are satisfied and happy with it. From novice to professionals, they all agree that this telescope is one of the best in the market today.

The Celestron CPC 925 StarBright XLT Telescope with Tripod and Tube is generally a very high quality telescope.  It is a good decision to go for a high quality product which may cost you some additional bucks rather than buy inexpensive ones but is of low quality. Always make a thorough research before buying any product so that you are sure that what you will buy is the best.

Celestron 31045 AstroMaster 130 EQ Reflector Telescope

The Celestron 31045 AstroMaster 130 EQ Reflector Telescope is an excellent value for money choice, with excellent functionality. This provides you with a quite clear, the audience and increased view property and celestial objects, and allows for a brighter and sharper image to be focused within the telescope.

The most apparent thing you’ll find with this particular apparatus is sized program that is awesome and the streamlined layout that this telescope is presented. Now do not be misled by the total size of the telescope tube – the design of this device means that it’s an exceptionally big aperture which lets more light gathering into the optical light path of the telescope, as this is a Newtonian reflector.

With the Celestron 31045 AstroMaster 130 EQ you get the total advantages of a Newtonian reflector telescope. This telescope provides a superb wide angle aperture to capture the clarity to enable you to see pictures from close or far, as well as rich light.

The Celestron AstroMaster creates bright, clear pictures of planets and the Moon. You can also see the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter with this particular telescope with the magnifying power on offer. Now that’s a sweet deal at this cost!

Light by means of a mirror in the back of the primary tube is gathered by reflectors. You will have to fix the optical alignment occasionally, although to get certain aperture, all these are usually the most affordable kind — particularly in case you hit against it.

Using mirrors rather than lenses, Sir Isaac Newton invented the reflector telescope. Reflector telescopes offer more light gathering power per dollar than another telescope design, before they create their finest pictures, however they demand a bit more patience to work with because mirrors need to cool to the temperature of the nighttime atmosphere.

Both most popular sizes for the beginner are the 4.5 inch and 6 inch reflectors. The 4.5 inch size comes in a variety of focal lengths from 17 inches (f/4 “rich field” telescope) to 45 inches (planetary scope).

In the event you are at all handy with tools, you can get the optics for the 4.5 inch scope in a kit and assemble the telescope using wood, plumbing fixtures, and a few reserve weekends of time. Your overall price could not be reasonably high, and parts sources or strategies are available on many Internet sites or in Sky and Telescope and ASTRONOMY magazines.

Do spend some time going through the reviews of the Reflector Telescope versions that are most popular here and all opinions and your opinions regarding Reflector telescopes will tremendously benefit individuals looking to purchase a telescope.

If you want a telescope with plenty of features, that won’t cost a fortune, and gives up to 307x magnification, the Celestron Astromaster 130 series is a wise choice. There are two versions of this telescope available, the ‘EQ’ and ‘MD’ models.

The MD is motorized, but other than that, they are identical. This is a Newtonian, or Reflector telescope, which is very high quality for the money, and easy to use, making it suitable for beginners and more experienced alike. It’s a good looking device as well.

The aperture size is 130mm, and the focal length, (length of the body), is 650mm, and it weighs 28lb, making it quite compact and easy to carry around. The telescope is supported on sturdy steel tube legs, with an accessory tray adding rigidity, so it’s resistant to movement or shake when you are trying to concentrate on an object, and it all fits together quickly and easily, with no tools needed.

On the telescope body itself, you will find a permanently fixed Star Pointer, which makes lining up the telescope easier, and a German Equatorial mount. Using this mount, you simply follow the instructions provided to get a Polar Alignment, and you can then use the setting circle to locate any objects. A counterweight helps make tracking of objects much easier.

The lenses are all coated in aluminum for a sharp image, and longer life, and two eyepieces are provided with the basic kit. The 10mm eyepiece gives you a magnification of 65x, and the 20mm eyepiece gives you 32.5x magnification.

The maximum magnification for the whole telescope becomes 307x, more than enough to see details of Saturn’s rings, distant nebulae, and Jupiter’s moons. The Celestron Astromaster 130 is also designed to operate as a terrestrial telescope, so you can see closer objects in amazing detail.

The motor driven model makes tracking of objects far easier. Software is provided with a database of over 10,000 objects, and once you have located what you want to look at, the motor will automatically track it, saving you a lot of time and effort trying to keep a moving object in your field of view.

Celestron also supply a great accessories kit, which contains six eyepieces, from 4mm to 32mm, a number of color filters, to highlight details and a 2x Barlow lens, which effectively doubles the magnification. It would have been useful to have some instructions on which color filters to use for which objects, but it shouldn’t take long to decide which is best for you.

In all, the Celestron Astromaster 130 is a fantastic choice of telescope, – not too complicated, simple to set up, powerful, and well made. To get it at the best price, I recommend going to Amazon where, at the time of writing, there were some good offers on. Amazon also have loads of customer reviews for this item.

Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope

Whether you are a newbie or a seasoned astrologer, you will surely enjoy using the Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2800mm Telescope because of its remarkable features.

In fact, it is the strongest contender in the CPC line of telescopes because it has an aperture and magnitude level of almost 15. Coupled with sophisticated software such as the SkyAlign technology, searching for stars in the sky have become faster and easier.

Smooth Go-To and Object Tracking Functionality

Using the Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2800mm Telescope with Tripod and Tube is a quick and hassle-free experience. Object tracking is made more efficient with the inline Go-To features of the telescope. Users can choose from three tracking rates such as the Sidereal, Solar and Lunar. Tracking modes can also be altered from Altazimuth, EQ North and EQ South.

Internal GPS and SkyAlign Feature

The Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2800mm Telescope with Tripod and Tube is equipped with a one-of-a-kind SkyAlign technology. With this, users can quickly select from up to three choices and let the telescope do the alignment process itself. It also has an internal GPS feature that can easily track celestial objects from the user’s location.

Huge Celestial Database

The Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2800mm Telescope with Tripod and Tube has an extensive data bank of up to 40,000 celestial bodies. Users can find Messier, Caldwell Catalog, planets, and even NGC bodies through the use of the data bank.

Specifications

• 11” Diffraction Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope
• Fully Computerized Dual Fork Arm Altazimuth Mount
• Ergonomic Form and Design
• 280MM Aperture Plus 2800MM Focal Length
• GPS Alignment
• Uses NexStar Computer Control Technology
• Dimensions: 30 x 19 x 37 In.
• Weight: 110 Lbs.
• Power Supply: Comes with a Car Battery Adapter
• Warranty: 2 Years

Pros

• High aperture level and great optics that give superb viewing and photographing performance.
• Hassle-free GPS alignment and Auto-Guider.
• Premium looks of the telescope as brought by the StarBright XLT coatings.
• Contains a heavy duty tripod which makes longer periods more comfortable.
• The telescope sports an ergonomic design that is easy to transport from one location to another.

Cons

• The finder scope is average but not so much helpful.
• Focus knob does not rotate easily and needs force.
• The telescope’s tube and fork were heavy to lift.

Many customers of the Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2800mm Telescope with Tripod and Tube have expressed satisfaction with regards to the product. Some of the common reasons include easy set-up because of the telescope’s computerized features.

More than that, it was also easy to transport and the images that it produced were of top quality. The CPC 1100 is far from perfect as there were also a few flaws. However, it ultimately outperforms so many buyers are happy with it in general terms.

There are lots of telescopes available on the market now. Even limiting your budget to less than $1,000 can leave you with an overwhelming collection from which to select.

Nevertheless, there are a number of features that define the top of these scopes. For example, top notch refractor technology, big apertures, powerful optics, portability, and ease of assembly should join to produce a truly quality telescope regardless of which version you opt for.

Additionally, they need to possess strong reviews from previous buyers. The subsequent scopes possess these qualities, should you need to discover the most effective telescope under $1,000., making them some of your best choices

Trying to find the top telescopes under $1000. Here are the top 3 greatest telescopes versions that cost less than $1000.

Celestron NexStar 5 SE Telescope – Best Telescope Under $1000

The NexStar 5SE telescope, from Celestron, joins quality along with portability to produce a modest, easy to use telescope that can appeal to seasoned star gazing enthusiasts.

The scope’s single fork arm and disassembly, along with its five-inch automatic and aperture alignment abilities, make it the perfect telescope for anybody looking to love a fast stargazing session as well as a quality star gazing experience.

The NexStar 5SE is one of Celestron’s line of mobile yet powerful telescopes. The scope was made to be small, light, and simple to transport from place to place and simple to set up to be able to offer an attractive alternative to star gazers that are tired of dragging around bigger telescopes or who simply have a brief time period in which to take pleasure in the nighttime skies.

As with the other telescopes in this line, the 5SE makes transfer easier with the capacity to disassemble into several bits which can be taken in a comparatively little space as well as one branch mount. The 5SE is, in addition, not difficult to use for beginner star gazers

The Celestron NexStar 5SE is a great scope for rookie star gazing enthusiasts that are seeking a telescope that is user friendly and comparatively cheap. In addition, it works for seasoned star gazers who desire a scope that may provide the kind of quality pictures to them they desire while proving more suitable to use than their bigger telescopes.

The NexStar 5SE provides an exceptional, and appealing, way to relish a star gazing avocation regardless of who uses it.

Orion 11043 SpaceProbe 3 Altazimuth Reflector Telescope

Widely regarded as the best reflector telescope in it’s price range, the Orion Spaceprobe 3 telescope comes in two versions, is affordable, powerful, and made of high quality materials.

It’s a 3-inch (76mm) aperture, 700mm focal length telescope with an excellent Altazimuth or Equatorial mount which allow easy tracking of objects. Orion are among the most respected telescope manufacturers, along with Celestron and Meade. In fact you will find most reviews here are for telescopes produced by these three manufacturers, as they make the best.

This telescope comes with a great set of accessories, and in the supplied kit you will find the following easily assembled items.

– Telescope tube made of aluminum, in an attractive blue color. The tube has the focusing gear attached, and focusing is done using a simple but smooth and effective rack and pinion system. An attached collimation cap allows adjustment of the primary mirror to ensure pin sharp images, although it is pre-set at the factory and should not need adjustment unless it get knocked out of alignment. The mirror is coated with Aluminum and Silicone Dioxide for long life and clarity.

– Two Explorer 2 eyepieces. A 25mm eyepiece with 28x magnification, and a 10mm eyepiece with 70x magnification. Combined with the tube, this gives a maximum theoretical magnification of 152x, although about 95x is the highest practical magnification for a clear image. This will enable you to see details such as Saturn’s rings, bands of clouds on Jupiter as well as its’ larger moons, galaxies like M110, and the Orion Nebula.

– The basic model features an Altazimuth Mount, allowing simple up/down, and left/right movements, with a micro-adjustable control rod for altitude, and hand adjustment for left and right. This is a great way for beginners to learn how to track objects, as there is no complicated equipment to control. The only tricky bit is, in common with all reflector telescopes, the images are upside down, so you have to move the telescope in the opposite way you would expect to centralize the images.

For just a few dollars more, you can upgrade to an equatorial mount, which is a far more sophisticated way of tracking objects. Here, the mount can be finely adjusted using an effective set of cables, gears, and a counterweight, (all pre-assembled.)

Following some easy instructions, you set the Equatorial mount up, and it mimics the rotation of the Earth, and the operator can precisely track whatever they want.

– EZ Finderscope. This attaches to the telescope tube and you just need to align a red dot with the object you wish to view.

– Adjustable height tripod made of Aluminum, with a central accessory tray, giving you a stable platform to view objects from.

For around $100 for the Altazimuth model, and $130 for the Equatorial model, you are getting a lot of telescope for your money, and these are among the most popular types on the market today.

In my opinion, you really can’t go wrong with such an affordable telescope from such a well regarded manufacturer, and Amazon carry these items in stock at some fantastic prices.

Orion SkyQuest XT8

The Orion 8945 SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope is one of the most popular telescopes today because it has simplicity and functionality that other telescopes lack.

It has precise optical system and stability that makes it the choice of many enthusiasts and beginners alike.

Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope comes with an 8-inch diameter optics that makes you see celestial objects like the moon and other planets of the solar system clearly and in detail.

And because of its large aperture, this telescope is not only for heavenly objects in the solar system, but you can also see other galaxies, nebula, and stars.

With large optics, the light gathering capability of a telescope is increased. This means that if a telescope has large diameter reflector optics, the image it will produce will be more sharp and clear. But it is not always the case, it all boils down to the quality of the lens used in the telescope.

Stable Dobsonian base

Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope comes also with a Dobsonian base that keeps the telescope balanced for a fun and enjoyable experience. Since a telescope is a precision instrument, a stable base is one of the features that you must look for. A good base will produce clear, sharp and detailed image.

Weight

Another feature worth mentioning is the weight of the Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope. Remember that the larger and more powerful a telescope is, the weight will relatively increase also.

It may not be as light as other small telescopes, but who cares, as long as it delivers what it has promised. But of course, you may have a problem moving it around, but as one reviewer do, you can use a cart to move it from one place to another.

But if you want, you can take it apart and carry it in a bag. And because it is easy to assemble, it is more practical if you do the process of taking it apart and assembling it on site. But it will all depend on you, the user, what process will you want to do.

Pros

• Clear image because of its large 8-inch aperture
• Affordable
• Proven to last a lifetime
• The base is ultra stable
• Perfect telescope for the whole family

Cons

• Bulky
• Relatively heavy

Reviews about Orion SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope say that it is best for beginners who are just starting to explore astronomy and astrophotography.

The set-up time according to one review is easy, provided that you follow the instructions that comes with which is by the way, easy to understand compared to other telescopes. That is a big plus especially if you are just a beginner on telescopes.

My top recommendation for beginners. Fantastic performance and the best value for money of any starter ‘scope.

Konus Digimax 90mm with Go-To Telescope

This classically styled Maksutov – Cassegrain telescope from Konus was released onto the market in 2009, and has received much praise since then.

Maksutov – Cassegrain telescopes are extremely powerful for their size, as they bounce light around inside the tube twice before it reaches the eyepiece, giving a very long focal length in a short tube, and the longer a telescopes focal length, the greater the possible magnification.

The Konus Digimax 90mm comes complete with sophisticated Skyscan AZ Go-To computer control making objects simple to find, and the database contains more than 43,000 objects.

Features

– Compact but powerful Maksutov – Cassegrain design.
– Skyscan AZ computer control.
– Sturdy, adjustable tripod mount.
– 43,000 object database.
– Top quality eyepieces.
– Red dot viewfinder.

With a long, 1250mm focal length in a compact tube, the Konus Digimax 90mm telescope has had some outstanding reviews, being given a 90% score by the prestigious BBC Sky at Night magazine.
For its’ price, it is packed with features normally found on telescopes costing far more, and includes the best in class Skyscan AZ computer control, and a very sturdy steel tripod.

If bought from Amazon, this telescope comes complete with two high quality Plossl eyepieces, one of 10mm, and one of 17mm, the 10mm giving a magnification of 125x, and the 17mm giving you 74x magnification, and both are multicoated to give sharper images, and protection from damage. It’s unusual to find such high quality eyepieces at this price, so you are getting top quality accessories compared to other telescopes.

The Go To computerized Altazimuth mount is easy to set up, just follow the instructions supplied to align it with a couple of stars, and any of the 43,000 objects in the database can be found and tracked automatically. It’s all battery operated, so you don’t have to run a cable across damp grass or anything, just eight AA batteries are needed, or you can use an optional 12v power pack.

Compared to other telescopes in this price range, the Konus Digimax 90mm has a huge number of features, and has unjustly been overlooked as Konus are not one of the big three telescope manufacturers, and do not advertise as extensively as some others. But having looked at numerous reviews of this telescope, I can honestly say that I have seen literally nothing negative said about it. Usually you will find some criticisms, even if they are minor, but every review I read has been very positive.

The only thing I could find missing was a Barlow Lens, but these can be bought separately from Amazon whenever you wish.

The Konus Digimax 90mm telescope is highly recommended by all who review it, and if you are looking for a high quality telescope, at an affordable price, then this should be very high up your list. It can be quite difficult to find in the stores, but is currently available at Amazon, for a discounted price.

Orion 10022 StarMax 90mm Telescope

Like many people, I want a telescope that I can just grab and go anywhere with, whether it’s a camping trip, a relatives house, or on holiday at the beach.

The Orion Starmax tabletop Maksutov – Cassegrain telescope is a popular model for people on the go, who want a powerful, but very portable telescope.

My research on this model has convinced me that this Orion Starmax tabletop Matsutov – Cassegrain has this combination perfectly balanced, and I decided to write this review to share my research with others.

The secret to this models’ success is the Matsutov – Cassegrain design, which means that light entering the big, 90mm aperture is bounced twice inside the main tube, first off a mirror at the opposite end to the aperture, and then off a secondary mirror closer to the aperture, before being reflected into the eyepiece.

This gives an impressive focal length of 1250mm in a very compact tube design, and the longer the focal length, the higher the magnification you can achieve.

This is further enhanced by the inclusion of two eyepieces, one of 25mm for 50x magnification, and one of 10mm for 125x magnification. The tabletop design means that you do not have to carry around a separate tripod; you just place it on a sturdy table and start viewing. The base can easily be detached and the telescope fits onto a standard camera tripod with a 3/8” connector if you wish.

With it’s easy to use red dot viewfinder, and 90 degree angled eyepiece, it’s a simple matter of lining up the telescope with your chosen object, adjusting the integral focuser, and enjoying the view.

Key Features

– Grab and Go compact size with long focal length giving you great views of the objects like Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s rings, and several galaxies and nebulas.

– Weighs only 6.5lbs, making it truly portable by anyone, and comfortable to carry in a backpack.

– 90mm Aperture is very big for the size of telescope, and the bigger the aperture, the more light you can gather, and the more objects you can see.

– Tabletop design has a detachable base to keep it steady in a flat table. It’s a simple job to attach it to a camera tripod if you wish.

– Two high quality eyepieces are included, the 25mm one for viewing larger areas at lower magnification, the 10mm one for viewing objects in more detail.

– Viewfinder for helping to line up on objects.

What do customers say about ?

Customer reviews of the Orion Starmax 90mm Maksutov – Cassegrain tabletop telescope are overwhelmingly positive, with most reviewers giving it the full 5 stars out of 5, and any negative comments being confined to minor details.

Most reviewers praised the high quality, and compact design, as well as the ease with which they could line up the viewfinder to locate planets and stars. They were also all impressed with the power that such a small telescope has, being able to pick out cloud bands on Jupiter, and individual craters on the moon.

Some reviewers did not really use the tabletop mount, instead choosing to use a camera tripod right away, but overall, if you are looking for a big thing in a small package, I can highly recommend the Orion Starmax 90mm Maksutov – Cassegrain tabletop telescope.

Orion 8946 SkyQuest XT10 Classic Dobsonian Telescope

The SkyQuest XT10 is a Dobsonian Newtonian telescope which, to the newbies, means that it is a substantial reflector telescope mounted in a foundation created by a man called Dobson a few decades past.

Although they seem clunky and bulky a Dobsonian telescope kit is really quite simple for nearly anyone over the age of 12 to use – you simply point the telescope at that is it and where you need to look at in the heavens.

The Orion SkyQuest XT10 Classic uses traction system and a unique reconciliation to ensure where you would like it to be and the telescope remains both balanced. This is all achieved by using many sets of springs as well as the single thing about this is that it works, you should understand, plus it functions very well.

It is loved by folks for lots of reasons but the primary one is the fact that it is really simple to work, so it can be used by anybody. Subsequently it you’ve the tremendous 10-inch aperture significance that regardless of what component of the heavens you point it at you are not definitely going to be let down in the pictures you see, and of course there is the sheer value for money this telescope offers also.

Another important advantage of utilizing an Orion Dobsonian telescope is the fact that you get glowing and well defined views of whatever you are taking a look at.

In short something like the XT10 might seem complicated but is really an excellent beginner/intermediate telescope for anybody give as a present, or to possess.

Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope – Best Portable Telescope

As is commonly said of cameras, “The greatest one is the one you have with you.” For a telescope, that means wherever you’re the one that is little enough to keep with you.

Whether you are on a safari in the outback, or camped out in a studio apartment in the city, little is beautiful so long as your view through the eyepiece is exciting.

You stand an increased possibility of seeing the deep sights of the universe by choosing a tiny telescope to a very-dark-sky location than by keeping a not-really-portable scope that is bigger at house under light-polluted skies.

Whether you travel or are just storage space-challenged or both, our editors have chosen the portable and finest little telescopes for you:

The Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope is an outstanding, simple-to-use, mobile scope which comes with various attributes as well as its own rucksack.

An exceptional tool for a great telescope for intermediate astronomers, as well as novices, even for kids who look to refine their abilities.

It has weight just 3lbs. and a stylish back pack You can actually catch it and run to the closest observation point, as well as you could take your range in your excursions beside you, or during your vacation.

Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope is an excellent tool when you’re on the run. It is a 70mm refractor telescope with a 2.76 inch aperture. The pack contains two eyepieces of 10mm and 20mm, giving a magnification of 40x and 20x.

As a plus, this scope includes full-colour, comprehensive directions, an heavens X applications which allows you to find out more about stars and planets, an aluminum tripod as well as a cushioned back pack case at which it’s possible to keep everything. What an easy and pleasant method to begin your astronomer profession, with this scope that is mobile, yet fairly technical, do not you believe?

This Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope version makes a great present for grownups and kids, as it can certainly be taken through the learning period and even after.

Orion 10034 GoScope II 70mm Refractor Travel Telescope Moon Kit

The Orion 10034 GoScope II 70mm Refractor Journey Telescope is just one of the most famous refractor versions out there. It is not unfair to say that it is low cost is among the main reasons for this, but what you get for the low price is outstanding.

It’s can be utilized for various functions, as the scope has a focal length of 400mm. It’s possible for you to use it for seeing the Moon, bright planets, globular star clusters and yet the Andromeda Galaxy, and for daytime bird watching, for seeing wildlife. The pictures are also decently bright thanks to the 70mm aperture that is nicely sized.

Considering the Orion 10034 measures only 20 x 11 x 14.5 inches and weighs only 6.45 lbs. it’s quite simple to manage and travel to another place with. That makes it perfect for beginners and children .

You get a scope that functions as a perfect introduction to astronomy is immensely mobile, and includes a few decent eyepieces being simple to use.

The overall consensus is that the GoScope II 70mm is an excellent starting point for astronomy. It might not be the most feature packed or the most effective scope, but it supplies everything someone new to the hobby must have the marvels of the land and skies. Users also love how mobile it’s too.

Celestron 21038 Travel Scope 50 Telescope

The Celestron 21038 Journey Scope 50 Portable Telescope was intended for the usage of traveling which is also appropriate for the celestial and terrestrial observation. It brings much more enjoyment and the life enjoyment when set out on journey.

The mobile layout together with the high quality optical makes it ideal for the observation that is perfect. The home has black colour finish as well as the size of it’s streamlined.

Celestron 21038 Journey Scope 50 Altazimuth Telescope is been designed with the refractor kind of engineering which uses lens for magnification. The weight of 1 kg is comparatively simple for transport and treatment.

It comes with two 1.25″ eyepieces and a 3x Barlow lens to adapt various seeing scenarios. An erect-picture 45deg diagonal supplies angled seeing, and it also corrects the picture laterally for ordinary terrestrial screening. The compact and mobile form factor of the Travel Scope 50 permit it to be kept and transported easily in its custom-appropriate back pack case.

The Travel Scope 50 Portable Telescope from Celestron signifies an efficient foray into the world of telescopes, with traveling in mind, and it was designed. In addition, it supplied is a 2 year guarantee for this particular product which brings in more happiness to the consumers.

Celestron NexStar 6 SE Telescope

The Celestron NexStar 6 SE is a Schmidt Cassegrain telescope, which essentially means it’s qualities and all the finest parts from both refractor and reflector telescopes. A catadioptric telescope such as the NexStar has an excellent group of optics for intermediate and beginner hobbyists.

A compound telescope like this does not take up almost as much space as some of the bigger Newtonian telescopes and could be far, far more streamlined than a refractor. Usually a telescope with a 6-inch aperture would have to be a good deal bigger and not be quite as mobile as an outcome of that.

What you get together with the Celestron NexStar telescope is among the most recent compound telescopes in the Celestron range, which features both optimized StarBright XLT lens coatings as well as a computerized system to generate lining up planets and stars as easy as pie. The tiny physical size of the telescope also means that it is simple if needs be, to carry around.

Once the telescope is aligned you will uncover that it’ll trail to whatever nebula, star, galaxy or planet you need to look at virtually instantaneously. It is a huge development on computerized telescopes from some other producers – they take what feels like a miniature ice age to get prepared for screening and lined up.

With a telescope such as the Celestron NexStar 6 SE Telescope it will not actually matter if you are a bit of an old hand at astronomy or you are just getting started out with this exceptionally and amazing educationa avocation you will discover that this telescope has something to offer you.

Astronomy isn’t a cheap hobby. Although a fundamental telescope can allow you to see a couple stars, the moon and perhaps Jupiter’s’ moons if you are fortunate, and oftentimes an excellent pair of binoculars can not be worse than a low-cost telescope.

A telescope is an ideal present for a beloved one or yourself, also it may bring years of instruction, amusement and inspiration. Yet, that isn’t to say that there are not great entry level scopes, it can only take a little of time to discover one.

For a first-time stargazer, the quantity of information thrown at you are able to be overwhelming. Magnification, reflection, refraction, catadioptric, Dobsonian… the language can all really be somewhat arcane and complicated. Nevertheless, there are a couple of tricks you’ll be able to remember to assist you pick up a decent range on the cheap.

The top 3 greatest telescopes underneath are all under $300 with sound choices for any first-time, cash strapped stargazer:

Celestron 31045 AstroMaster 130 EQ – Best Telescope Under $300

If you are serious about your star gazing and need clear, bright views of planets, moon and the stars then attempt the Celestron 31045 AstroMaster 130 EQ Reflector Telescope. It’s among the finest entry level telescopes. While the cost is somewhat more expensive then some of the more inexpensive versions, you’re rewarded with sharp and clear views of the moon, planets and other galaxies and nebula.

It looks good, has great optics and comes at a cost you are able. The 31045 AstroMaster has a 130mm aperture with a focal length of 650mm. It comes with several other amazing attributes which make this a brilliant buy for the beginner astronomer as well as two eyepieces.

The Celestron 31045 AstroMaster is a reflector telescope with an aperture of 130mm or 5.12 inches. It’s a really high useful magnification of 307x. It comes with all of the needed extras such as two eyepieces, a tripod with steel tube legs, an equatorial mount, built-on StarPointer. This is for the serious beginner who would like to get excellent views of the night time skies. It is additionally a double-purpose telescope and is suitable for terrestrial viewing too.

For a beginner I believe it’s among the finest scopes available and tremendous value for money considering that specific meade telescope of the exact same aperture and particular nexstar set scopes have rather high cost for quite few features that are additional.

Meade Instruments 209006 Infinity 102 AZ Refractor Telescope

The Meade Instruments 209006 Infinity 102 AZ Refractor Telescope comes complete with all that you have to look at out wonders of the nighttime skies for the very first time.

Perfect for the onlooker who sees both terrestrial and astronomical things, the Meade Infinity Series joins quality optics along with an altazimuth mount for an outstanding value. For beginners and novices alike, these refracting telescopes are a good method for you to find the outside as well as the cosmos. You will find more with the Meade Infinity Series.

The Infinity 102 Refractor is the greatest telescope to begin in astronomy if you have never owned a telescope before. This big 102mm aperture gives bright, sharp pictures for celestial objects and both property. Whether you are seeing the rings of Saturn, the moons around Jupiter, nebulae, the Infinity 102 Refractor, or property things enables the first-time observer to learn more about beyond, and the world, solar system.

For the cost, it is a great telescope. It’s possible for you to see an amazing quantity of detail, stripes & moons of Jupiter, and the rings of saturn on the moon. Further sights are just visible, but may be made out in good conditions.

Orion 9024 AstroView 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope

The pleasing AstroView telescope in Orion is a 90mm equatorial refractor telescope. As such, it uses the refractor technology to create clear pictures of the nighttime skies.

Possessing powerful reviews from some other owners, and boasting a durable design as well as powerful optical specs, it’s an appealing option for seasoned and amateur astronomers.

The scope also comes with two 1.25in. Eyepieces with apertures of 25mm. and 10mm These eyepieces let you correct the magnification of the scope. The 25mm eyepiece provides a magnification of 36x. While the 10mm eyepiece is harder for novices to make use of, reviewers report that the views in particular further improve supplied by the AstroView with its 91x magnification.

Superior optics and a low cost aren’t the sole justifications to decide on the Orion AstroView for your stargazing experiences. The scope is, in addition, permanent and well-constructed. It’s hefty and big, about five feet high and weighing around 27 pounds in total. Its size as well as weight add stability and it a durability that are appealing to anybody seeking a stargazing device which will endure.

These characteristics in conjunction with a sensible price tag make it an outstanding value for anyone wanting a strong, reliable, and pleasing telescope.

Remember, high magnification doesn’t a great telescope make. Galileo discovered planets and the moon using a telescope with no higher than a 30x magnification scope, so for the modern recreational astronomer anything from 70x 100x should be adequate for both wide-field screening and more exact work.

BARSKA Starwatcher 400x70mm Refractor Telescope

This is an entry level telescope, or an ideal small telescope to take on holiday, or camping. It’s very a compact refractor telescope, weighing just 4.8lbs, and comes complete with a table top tripod, and carry case, making it easy to pack away, and store.

The reason that this is such a popular product is that despite its’ lightweight plastic body, this is actually a fairly sturdy telescope for the money, and you get enough accessories with it to start looking at the sky in minutes.

Refractor telescopes are the simplest to use, and require no adjustments to the lenses, as everything is fixed at the factory, you just need to select an eyepiece from the ones supplied, and away you go. This makes the Barska 40070 the perfect choice for a child’s first telescope that can also be enjoyed by the rest of the family.

Included in the kit are two eyepieces, of 9mm and 20mm, giving a maximum magnification of around 78x, when combined with the 2x Barlow lens included. (Many other websites advertise a 300x maximum magnification, but that is the theoretical maximum, and you wouldn’t actually see anything at that level.) But 78x is still pretty good, certainly enough to see the major planets, and brighter nebulae.

The lenses are all coated for longer life and protection from scratching. A handy finderscope makes it easier to line up the telescope on any object you wish to view, by just centering it in the crosshairs, and locating objects is easier with the Deepsky Astronomy software.

This software comes with a database of 10,000 objects, although I tend to use the Google Skymap phone app, which makes finding objects as simple as pointing a smart phone at the sky.

The compact tabletop tripod is perfect for anyone with a table in the garden, and makes it easy and convenient to use when you are sitting down. Adjustment up and down, or left and right is simply by hand, and the eyepieces are focused using a smooth rack and pinion focuser.

With a 70mm aperture, and 400mm focal length, the Barska 40070 is about average for compact telescope size, but comes at a bargain price on Amazon.

Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope

Unmatched image quality, superior Equatorial mount and competition busting price; the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST reviews across astronomy journals and forums have been very positive. We consolidated reviews and found that this scope packs a major punch. Here are our findings on this scope.

Excellent scope for the technically inclined beginner

• Optical Precision

The powerful optics of this telescope help you immediately identify major heavenly bodies, usually on your first observation itself. The 130 mm aperture performs especially well by capturing a lot of light – this makes even deep sky images shimmer beautifully across your view. Many Orion SpaceProbe 130ST reviews have mention that how easily one can see popular heavenly bodies like:

• The Moon
• Saturn (and its rings and moons)
• Cassini Division
• Jupiter
• Perseus (NGC869 and NGC884)
• Venus
• Galaxies on clear nights

I could easily see Saturn, and the Cassini Division. In the week that I’ve owned the scope, I have also seen Sirrius, Mars, and spectacular views of the moon w/ terminator. The 130mm aperature captures a lot of light! Deep sky images are wonderful with high contrast and wide field of view. Planetary images are very well defined with higher magnification eyepieces.

On my first observation I picked up the double cluster in Perseus(NGC869 and NGC884) which was so clear the stars looked like bright pinpoints of perpendicularly crossed lights. Venus was also quite amazing to see, its cresent disk could be easely and clearly seen. I later on saw Saturn you can easily see its rings and moons,and Jupiter was a sight to see with propper focusing you could easily see its cloud belts. Galaxy’s where clearly seen on dark nights

• Usability

Objects are relatively easy to find using the finder scope. Many Orion SpaceProbe 130ST reviews have stated that they had the best luck setting the tripod in grass, because hard surfaces tend to cause a vibration.

The physics of the EQ2 mount demand an above average degree of mechanical skill. The equatorial mount for this scope is very solid to the point of being heavy. However, a heavy mount is excellent for stabilizing the view. The tripod is very solid and rugged.

The scope comes with the Starry Night software that allows you to print star charts for your location at the time you are planning on observing. It also displays the sky at any time you may choose, including real time. It includes great educational tours of different constellations according to the season. It also gives you other heavenly objects to find through your scope.

• Setup

Various Orion SpaceProbe 130ST reviews  have noted how that the scope is moderately easy to setup, the scope in itself being considerably weighty.

The upside is that there is no compromise on stability and sturdiness. The adjustments are smooth. The scope comes packaged in several small boxes within the larger box. Included are a detailed instruction manual and tools for assembly.

The manual is very comprehensive and easy to understand, providing not just assembly instructions, but tips, tricks and hints too. It is more than just assembly instructions in that it reads like an instructional article about how the scope works and basic astronomy tips. In addition to precise instructions for assembly, it also covers directions for balancing and focusing the scope as well as aligning the finder scope.

Cons:

Like most scopes at or near this price point, the biggest problem is with adjusting the focus without so so much shaking that you can still see your target. On this point it fails, and that is what cost them one star. This is a manual mount, but there is a place for adding an optional motor

This is a Newtonian so collimation is a must. Some Orion SpaceProbe 130ST reviews  have pointed out that their scope did arrive with a noticeable misalignment due to shipping. We did a collimation, which took us about an hour as we were learning to do it for the first time.

Celestron 21061 AstroMaster 70AZ – Best Refractor Telescope

A refractor telescope uses a glass lens at its end to gather light and as it goes through the device, the light will bend and bounce off a miniature mirror on the eyepiece, where as a spectator, you’ll have the ability to see a lot sharper, bigger picture of the item you’re considering. There’s an alternative name for such a telescope viz., the ‘Dioptric telescope’. Although the type of scope is miniature, it’s well suited for looking at moon, the planets and other celestial bodies within the solar system.

The greatest edge of a reflector telescope is the arrangement of lenses which are effectively sealed off and this means that you don’t have to trouble about cleaning them frequently. In addition, the pictures you see through the scope are sharper and more steady as the tube made use of is immune to changing temperatures and climates.

Astronomy is a hobby that is great should you’ve got the proper instrument to pursue it. Picture taking a dip into the domain of the celestial bodies which have encircled us for millions and millions of years without having the telescope that is proper by your side.

Are you really interested or a stargazer in discovering what things are in the universe? Have the terrestrial matters as well as all the nighttime skies view depicted with no more concealing. It’s possible for you to see the rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter look like is a difficulty.

You will not additionally uncover any more trouble since this refractor telescope can reveal the clear view of it with the light pollution that might prevent the sight of the dark of the night skies. One simple attempt will smash Venus and other galaxies that are outstanding.

If you fascinate, then do spend some time reading the reviews on the most recent and most popular Refractor Telescopes here. Your opinions on Refractor Telescopes, be it negative or positive are welcome.

The Celestron 21061 AstroMaster 70AZ refractor telescope is a great option for amateur astronomers wishing to use one scope to look at both the world as well as the heavens.

The AstroMaster additionally serves up clear, and comprehensive pictures of numerous items in the nighttime skies. Reviewers report having the ability to view the rings on Saturn, the moons on Jupiter, and up close pictures of the moon. Even things farther out, like glowing nebulae, are observable with the utilization of the AstroMaster.

Reviewers also report that the focal length of 900mm of the scope is more than adequate. Consequently, the scope, which supplies a helpful magnification of up to 165x, is not weak enough to give you a comprehensive look into several of the fascinating pictures that populate the nighttime skies.

The AstroMaster sports erect picture optics to provide you this versatility, pre-assembled attached StarPointer for ease of use and forever tripod, and a reasonable price tag. The end result is a dependable, strong-performing, and well-affected telescope.

Selecting a telescope may feel like an overwhelming proposition if you’re a newcomer to astronomy. But, the AstroMaster, with solid optics, simplicity of use, and its versatility, is an excellent investment for your cash, and its own capability to open up the nighttime skies guarantees many interesting nighttime experiences to you.

Orion 9024 AstroView 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope

The Orion 9024 AstroView 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope is a reasonable scope, great for beginner and intermediate astronomers alike. Astronomy is generally regarded as a costly hobby, but the Orion telescopes are well known for their extraordinary quality for reasonable prices.

This is a top quality telescope that proves to be tough and unbelievably strong. With 910mm focal length and a 90mm aperture, it’s among the greatest Orion telescopes you can purchase for less than $500, being a tool that’s certain to please the most fastidious of residence astronomers.

It will even make your solar system quests look as a neighbourhood amble and is effective at showing deep space objects with unbelievable clarity.

For beginners who would like to get something which will continue them for a longer time, a trustworthy and nice refractor telescope along with intermediate astronomers, particularly one with an equatorial mount like the Orion 9024 AstroView 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope is just perfect.

Not only is it a strong and multi-able astronomical tool, it’s one that makes it simple for the amateur astronomer to fall in love with, featuring a sleek classic layout and all of the knobs and tools that provide you with the control you actually need from this type of product.

Simple to use, with a lean learning curve, the Orion 9024 AstroView 90mm Equatorial Refractor Telescope is an excellent option for astronomy experts and both avid beginners who understand a whole lot when they see one.

Meade Instruments 209006 Infinity 102 AZ Refractor Telescope

Meade Infinity 102 Altazimuth Refractor Telescope also includes all you should see the marvels of the nighttime skies the very first time outside. Big 102mm Refracting Telescope delivers detailed and vivid pictures that’s ideal for viewing celestial objects and both property.

It comes with a precision Altazimuth mount with slow motion controls which makes it simple to track celestial objects as they go upon the nighttime skies. In addition, it comes with 3 eyepieces that offer medium, low and high powered magnification for seeing an extensive variety of items.

The telescope itself is quite hardy and easy to use that’s what you need when using it with your children. I like that I can fix everything for the best view, quite comfy to work with. You can even get an inverse picture as you look in the skies around what your screening, though it is somewhat confusing.

My general experience with this particular telescope I would definitely purchase one again and just adore it and recommend it to friends. The cost was fantastic, ideal for novices, children, etc. However this really isn’t an incredibly strong telescope.

Refractors possess a lens in front of the tube — it is the kind you are likely most comfortable with. They immediately get pricey as the aperture increases while typically low care.

Galileo devised the refractor telescope using a lens in front and an eyepiece in rear 400 years past. Little refractors with objective lenses from 60mm to 90mm are well-liked by start onlookers due to the fact that they provide clear, high contrast views of things that are glowing.

You will find essentially two sizes of refractors which are fit for beginners: the 2.4-inch (60mm) refractor, and the 3.1 inch (80mm) refractor. Most of the little refractors are manufactured in Japan and come using a little telescope or “finder” mounted on the side of the refractor, along with with one or two eyepieces. A 70mm refractor on an Alt Azimuth mount is an excellent first telescope to get a pupil as it’s user friendly, cheap, while offering pleasant detail in planets and the Moon.

Who doesn’t wish to take a look at a sky full of stars and count celestial bodies, for nothing but only a cryptic revelation? It’s true that there are amateur astronomers snared by pointing their devices towards any place in the heavens for investigating the marvels of the heavens as well as galaxies. They keep searching for the very best telescopes to take full fledge encounter out of it and to have the joy of screening.

For us the greatest recreational telescope is the one supplying exact and more exact observations as required by the onlooker. That actually seems great to whom that’s an inherent interest in life: investigating galaxies.

You are better visit the marketplace to truly have a wonderful new one and quit daydreaming about possessing an unprecedented telescope.

Orion 10015 StarBlast 4.5 Astro Reflector Telescope – Best Amateur Telescope

The Orion StarBlast 4.5 is an outstanding choice of telescope for beginners who are ready to start their astronomic professions, as well as for intermediate astronomers who can use its characteristics for the greatest extraterrestrial screening. It comes from the trustworthy Orion brand of telescopes, which is notorious for making high quality scopes for astronomers of all skill-levels.

This is a great telescope for newbies. The telescope itself is difficult to use, but nonetheless, it also comes with several add ons that can assist you in making the most from your telescope. Seasoned astronomers will even have the ability to make great utilization of the 4.5 inch aperture and stellar views of the nighttime skies.

The tabletop foundation on the mount that is altazmiuth is, in addition, excellent as it is perfect for backyard and allows for the simplest set up. The astronomy applications is easy enough for children to make use of and is also excellent to help beginners get started.

All in all, the StarBlast is a prime candidate if you are seeming to share with the family as well as kids. This really isn’t just a kids’s telescope, also it’s by no means a plaything, but nevertheless, it might help kids start their professions that are youthful astronomic.

The portability of the StarBlast 4.5 additionally makes it an excellent option if you plan on sharing it with family and friends. All in all, the Orion certainly will help anyone start to take pleasure in the marvels of astronomy, and has created an excellent option of telescope for newcomers and families.

Celestron 21045 114mm Equatorial PowerSeeker Telescope

With its 4.5-inch mirror is a great telescope that gives a lot for the cost. The Celestron PowerSeeker 114 collects three times the starlight than some other 60mm refractors. The bundle contains two eyepieces a plastic 3x Barlow PowerSeeker and a lightweight equatorial mount.

The PowerSeeker 114 holds its own against the Celestron FirstScope 114EQ. Using the K20 eyepiece on 45x enlargement, it’s not difficult to view its smaller satellite M32 and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Compared to 60 millimeter refractors, the PowerSeeker 114 shows a lot more detail in the Orion Nebula and reveals many more stars of Perseus Double Cluster and even brings some individual stars in globular clusters like M13 into view.

The Celestron guide right urges that most screening will be to 130x in the reach of 40x. As a result of this, higher magnifications are not worth the difficulty.

All in all, the Celestron PowerSeeker 114 is a low priced telescope with great optical performance, particularly when using the low power K20 eyepiece.

BARSKA Starwatcher 400x70mm Refractor Telescope

There is no uncertainty the BARSKA Starwatcher 400x70mm is made for adults and children looking for their initial scope, considering its low cost.

Two eyepieces are included – a 1.25″ K9 eyepiece and 1.25″ K20 eyepiece. These eyepieces supply 100x and 20x magnification. As said, this really is great to see the rings on Saturn, along with the Moon in sharp detail and groups on Jupiter along with their moons, which ought to get your child or yourself farther interested in astronomy.

The scope weighs only 4.4 lbs. and is quite streamlined, making it perfect for traveling and is light enough for children to go and use without any help.

The Starwatcher can be utilized for terrestrial viewing due to its 45 degree diagonal, which ensures that pictures are non-inverted and not seen upside down.

You can not expect much in this price range, but first time astronomers will be happily surprised with the ability to see the Moon and as far as Saturn and its moons of the scope. The scope has a few other things going for it also, which might allow it to be preferable for newbies in comparison to other versions that are low-cost.

There is no uncertainty the BARSKA Starwatcher 400x70mm Refractor Telescope offers outstanding value for money. For well below $100 you’re obtaining a scope that is very simple use features great optics, may be taken with you as you travel, comes with useful applications including a carrying case, and is backed by a very long time guarantee.

Telescope Buying Guide

When you’re set to buy a telescope, you’ll want to make an informed purchase. A telescope is a powerful device that can bring you closer to the stars, planets, clusters, and galaxy, but you should get a scope that fits your budget, skill level, and interest. In time, you can always move up to intermediate, advanced, and designs beyond $1,000.

One of the first rules is to avoid falling for marketing language. If a scope is defined by its “power,” then you should look elsewhere as the key to any good scope isn’t its magnification, but rather – its aperture. Aperture measures the diameter of a telescope’s objective lens or mirror, where the light enters. The more light, the better, with sharper images resulting from concentrated light sources. With “power,” the magnification simply spreads the light across a greater surface, thus creating fainter images. This isn’t what you want, especially from a first telescope. So, don’t pay attention to the power. Instead, focus on the aperture. For a starter telescope, say a Dobsonian, an aperture of 6″ should prove illuminating.

There are three general types of telescopes: Refractor, Reflector, and Catadioptric:

• Refractor: This is the design most people think of for a telescope, with its long tube and back-end eyepiece. It uses two lenses to collect and focus light. Per inch of aperture, the refractor is more expensive than refletors or catadioptrics. It is excellent however for observing stars and planets; but not for faint, deep-sky objects such as clusters. Aperture directly relates to its overall size and thus, expense.
• Reflector: Compact in size, the reflector telescope is what is used in the popular Dobsonian telescope. It features a concave mirror, the primary, which focuses the light and then reflects it back, either directly (Cassegrain) or to the side (Newtonian). These are good choices for observing more diffused light sources, such as star clouds, and are less expensive per inch of aperture than refractors.
• Catadioptric: Such scopes use a combination of mirrors and lenses, with the two most popular being the Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain. This design is marketed with apertures of 3 ½” and larger, and provides sharp images over wide viewing fields (with less aberration). The designs are more expensive per inch of aperture than reflectors of similar size.

Now, for the amateur astronomer, each of these scopes offers a mix of advantages and disadvantages. Much of your decision will be based on your budget. As noted, a refractor will cost more than a reflector, but it can also provide sharper images of the stars, planets, and moon. However, for more expansive viewing, you may want to go with a reflector, like the Newtonian or Dobsonian telescopes. For most consumers, the market is broken into price range: below $300, up to $500, and up to $1,000.

In addition to knowing the pros and cons of each design, you should also pay attention to a telescope’s focal ratio, its mount, and eyepieces. Focal ratio could help with savings by pointing you to scopes that have similar ability, but for a substantially different price. You can then do a price comparison as you would any product. As for the mount, this is an important aspect of any scope. Bear in mind, you should have a steady mount that enables you to better control the position and movement of the instrument. This will help you get the most out of your new telescope.

And finally, eyepieces are important in determining the magnification of a telescope. While “power” should again not be a selling point on the part of the manufacturer/vendor, it should be something you as a buyer look into. Measured in millimeters, remember that the lower the magnification, the less that’s required and the easier it will be to keep objects in focus.

Now, with all this in mind, it’s time to go shopping. One other good way to prepare for your purchase is to read consumer reviews. Glean information from other beginner astronomers like yourself, who made a purchase and either found it positive or wanting. You can always learn from the fortune or misfortune of others, who usually want to warn fellow consumers of what to beware of. Good luck!

Best Amateur Telescope – What To Look For

You have to have a notion regarding where you are and then the darkness in the heavens when you decide to purchase a beginner telescope. You also ought to remember the degree of observation how great of an onlooker are you and you would like to get. Before purchasing the telescope for long lasting services the price of the thing also has to be understood.

There are a few fundamental essential attributes that each telescope reveals, to be able to provide you with a basic notion and here we list them. A great beginner telescope would undoubtedly come with all these components meeting demands of the user.

Aperture – one variable that is important

Among the essential and main aspects to remember when purchasing a telescope is its aperture. It is fundamentally a name given to the diameter of the primary optical element of the telescope, like that of a mirror or a lens. It’s true that the larger the aperture is, the better would be.

That’s due to the reality that a larger aperture will mean a larger surface area, letting it accumulate a greater quantity of light compared to the telescope with smaller apertures.

The fundamental aim of aperture is the fact that it’ll determine the gathering of light as well as the resolution. The power of light assembly will affect the brightness of the resultant picture. Resolution denotes the sharpness of the picture. Recreational telescopes that are great will produce apertures that are large, allowing with the necessities of the user.

Magnification

There’s an overall misconception when folks inquire a telescope can magnify. For being great or not they often refer to magnification as the standards of a telescope. But in reality, it is entirely up to you how much you would like to magnify, determined by the eyepiece you choose to use.

There should be an optimum magnification kept to stop the spread of the light to glowing things, getting them glaze over and to see the things clearly. Astronomers, so, generally favor low magnification power for faint objects, like galaxies and nebulae. Medium to high power are place to see things such as planets and the moon.

An excellent telescope would provide optimum magnification that’s medium for vibrant bodies and less for dim bodies without making them glaze over.

Magnification Vs. aperture

The scope has a focal length. Focal length is the distance from the main lens. Determined by range and the kind of aperture, focal length large number are normally printed on the rear of the scope or the front. It typically ranges between 400 to 3,000 millimeters.

Ensure that you’re trying to find quality of aperture diameter as opposed to the magnification when choosing a telescope.

Remembering the aforementioned crucial points, you can possess a perfect hobbyist telescope and begin your practice with spirit and excitement. Looking by your telescope at planets will end up perhaps one of the best experience of your own life and a long-lasting enjoyment.

Benefits of Owning a Telescope

Many people think that the only people who would own a telescope are science nerds and space fanatics, but the fact is amateur astronomy is a very popular hobby and is growing every day.

Astronomy is a fun way to learn more about the universe around us as well as appreciate its beauty. Outer space is a truly an amazing thing and many people enjoy looking at and thinking about.

With that in mind, there are many great reasons for owning a telescope. Each person will, of course, have their own list of things they are looking to get out of buying the best telescope for them, but listed below are several of the most popular benefits.

Educational

Whether you’re an adult, teenager or a child you should always be working to learn more about the universe in which we live. Using a telescope you can get a much more ‘hands on’ experience than would be possible just using books or the internet. Many parents purchase a telescope to help show their children different objects in the sky as a catalyst for learning. If, for example, a child is learning about the solar system in school, what better way to build their excitement than to look at the different planets!

Beauty & Wonder

Even scientists who spend their entire career studying the universe are often still in awe of the size and beauty of it. Many people who have an interest in getting a telescope share in this awe and wonder which is inspired not only in the immeasurable size of the universe, but also in the diversity and beauty. Looking through your telescope at a distant galaxy will undoubtedly increase your amazement at the vastness of space.

Enjoy the Great Outdoors

One of the best things about telescopes is it gives you the motivation to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors. While it is certainly possible, and enjoyable, to use a telescope off of your own front porch in the city, it is immeasurably better if you do it out in the country where there won’t be any city lights to diminish the experience. People often claim to wish that they spent more time in nature and enjoying the outdoors, but rarely do it. When you have a good telescope you will have more reason to get out and do just that!

Fun and Excitement!

Looking up into the heavens and all the different objects is a very fun and exciting experience. Even people who don’t have a strong interest in astronomy find that looking through a nice telescope is an enjoyable experience.

Whether you’re looking up at the craters of the moon or trying to catch a glimpse of a meteor that is passing by, it can be exciting to get that perfect look at the different things in space. Simply taking that first look through a telescope has been the beginning of a lifelong love of science and outer space for many people. Where do you think it will take you?

Requirements for a Good Telescopes

When considering investing in a new telescope it is important to take a moment to learn about what is available today. Over the past several years’ technology has been incorporated into the best telescopes making them more powerful and easier to use than ever before.

Whether you are just getting into astronomy or you’ve been star gazing for your whole life, getting a new telescope today can be very exciting and open up whole new worlds…literally!

Motorized Telescopes

If you haven’t looked at telescopes in a while there has been one major advancement which has really been a game changer, especially for people new to the hobby. Most telescopes at almost all price ranges will have a motorized base which can automatically adjust the direction it is pointing. This is an ideal way to have the telescope move smoothly and easily so you can have it pointed precisely where you want it.

Computer Access

Many top telescopes today allow you to interface with a computer in order to input different information. This is exciting because you can access databases of different objects in the sky and have the telescope automatically point directly at them. This virtually eliminates the need for you to scan the sky manually to find something interesting. The telescope can identify where it is, and based on that information point directly towards any of the thousands of known objects. Anything from the moon to a distant galaxy can be viewed in just seconds.

Travel Case

While this may seem minor, having a sturdy travel case is an important addition to any telescope purchase. This is because most people enjoy bringing it with them on camping trips or other times when you’re traveling away from the bright lights of a city. Not only does a traveling case make it easier to bring with you, but it will also help keep it safe during transportation.

Enough Power

When discussing telescopes the amount of power it has is actually referring to how much magnification it can provide. When looking at the specifications of any telescope this will be listed like this, “20-300x magnification” where the numbers are how much magnification is available. In general, the bigger the numbers the better because you will be able to see things that are further away and also closer objects such as the moon will appear in more detail.

Price & Type

There are two different ways which telescopes can magnify an image. Using lenses or using mirrors to make objects appear closer than they are. Telescopes using mirrors to bounce the light in and direct it toward a lens are called reflector telescopes. Refractor telescopes, on the other hand, use one larger lens at one end to direct the light into the eyepiece at the other end. Refractor telescopes are more expensive to buy but can provide a slightly better image, especially when you get to the higher end models. Reflector telescopes are great for beginners looking to get a good start in this hobby as you can get a nice telescope with good magnification at a very affordable price.

Telescope Filters – Best For View Deep Sky Objects

There are several different filters which one can purchase in addition to their eyepiece. Each filter provides a different bonus which is not necessary to astrological viewing but can enhance the experience. Filters screw onto the barrel of the eyepiece and provide different viewing options.

Colored filters are glass pieces of various singular colors which can enhance lunar and planetary details. The colors serve to reduce the wavelength distortion that can blur images. For instance a red filter can bring out a Martian surface detail while a green filter enhances Juniper’s red spot. These filters are also referred to as planetary filters.

A light-pollution filter fits onto a Schmidt-Cassegrain eyepiece and blocks elements such as mercury vapor and high-pressure sodium but allows deep-space wavelengths, like hydrogen beta and oxygen III, to pass through.

A moon filter is a glass piece with an aluminum cell which lessens the amount of lunar light and allows one to view the moon more comfortably. This filter also accentuates more lunar detail.

Since observing the sun can be dangerous to the eye, there are solar filters available. A solar filter should block approximately 99.9% of the sun’s light. This filter fits over an eyepiece’s aperture and allows one to view the sun in all its glory without risking blindness or permanent damage to the eye.

For 1.25″ eyepiece barrels there is a variable-polarizing filter which acts as a dimmer switch. This allows the light from bright astral bodies to be lessened by up to 40% or as low as 1%. A variable-polarizing filter is made from two polarized pieces of glass mounted in an aluminum cell. The degree of dimness is adjusted by rotating the filter.

Filters are not massively expensive, but can add to a hobbyist budget if they try to obtain them all. Remember that filters aren’t needed unless one is interested in studying objects like the sun, or wish a more focused view of the night sky.

How To Choose

Most people buy the wrong kind of telescopes the first time. As a rule, the buyer must figure out his purpose first before buying a telescope. There are only two purposes which the buyer can choose from: astronomical or terrestrial.

Terrestrial telescopes are great at providing coverage of land and its surroundings. For this purpose, it is recommended to get a pair of binoculars that can help spot movement at a quick glance. Some examples of great binocular telescopes include Predator Xtreme and the Olympus Magellan.

Astronomical telescopes vary from purpose, aperture, resolution, and size. For example, most bulky telescopes often have greater apertures allowing the viewer to see more vivid details. These types are great for astrologers, but not much for beginners as these telescopes are bigger and more expensive.

However, general purpose astronomical telescopes such as the 4.5” Newtonian or the 3” Refractor are more compact and travel friendly. These telescopes are also cheaper but can still provide quality images.

Your telescope great to learn about the many options available to you, before buying it. I created this website to assist you in making an informed decision for your investment. However, there are a few variables that will influence your choice”

Budget

Your budget is a big deciding factor by which telescope you are going to purchase. One of the very most used telescopes among amateurs is the 6 inch Newtonian. It offers good light grip and enables a wide variety of powers in a reasonably acceptable cost ($400 bare bones to $800 for one fully equipped mounted and clock driven). These telescopes can be house constructed for under $300 and hold their resale value nicely.

Large altazimuthly mounted short focus Newtonians commonly known as “Dobsonians” are additionally affordable with many 8 inch models selling for as low as $500. Their short f ratio means they need to use eyepieces that are somewhat more expensive. Additionally, many don’t come with finders.

To get a youthful student or a beginner who is not certain of his or her interest in astronomy or who does not want to spend much cash, we advocate a short focal length (700mm or so) 2.4 inch (60mm) refractor on a good sturdy altazimuth mount. Also, binoculars are an excellent choice for stargazing also in terms of other more down-to-earth uses.

For the older child or for someone interested in astronomy as a part-time hobby, the 4.5 inch reflecting telescope is an excellent option (from f/4 for wide angle views to f/10 for higher power lunar and planetary viewing). For the individual who has a serious interest in astronomy who would like to start seeing the sights immediately, we recommend a 6 inch “Dobsonian” Newtonian reflector on an altazimuth mount.

Which Type?

If you are totally new to star gazing, and looking to buy your first telescope, I’ll cover a couple of the basics so that you have some idea of what type to go for, and what you can expect to see with each telescope.

Refractor telescopes are the traditional looking long tube, where you look in one end, and point the telescope at what you wish to see. They are a great choice for starters, can be surprisingly powerful and can deliver some great images.

Reflector telescopes tend to be shorter and fatter, light comes in at the open end, is bounced off two mirrors, and into an eyepiece on the side of the telescope body. High-end telescopes are usually reflectors, but you can get some very cheap ones, my first telescope was a reflector, and it gave great results, for not much money.

The most affordable kinds of telescopes (small refractors and Newtonian reflectors) both have many benefits and disadvantages. The Refractor is most likely the first type so we are going to deal with it first, most folks fall upon. Because different colors of light are bent differently, a refracting telescope must utilize a particular compound chief lens which consists of at least two lenses of glass kind and different shape to correct for this unequal bending (known as Chromatic Aberration).

Additionally, all of the glass surfaces should be coated with a thin layer of substance which reduces unwanted reflections and improves contrast.

The primary lens is mounted firmly at the front of the telescope tube, and the tube is closed, keeping dust or air currents outside when the eyepiece is set up. Refractors require little upkeep, although they have to be managed with care to stop damaging or scratching the fragile coatings on all the glass surfaces. They supply good high-contrast pictures, and so are pretty popular with those who find the moon and the planets alone.

Magnification

One surprising thing I found out when looking for my next telescope, was that you do not necessarily want go for the highest magnification possible. This is because unless you are going for a high end telescope, you will find that the higher the magnification, the dimmer the image becomes.

You may also find the images wobble about at higher magnifications, and this is due to movement of the air in the atmosphere. (Tip- for this reason star gazing is easier on cold nights when there is less heat disturbing the air.)

If you get a telescope with 32x magnification, you will still be able to see many objects in reasonable detail, such as the bands of cloud on Jupiter, but if possible, go for 50x magnification, which is enough to give you more detail, but not so much that the images start to dim.

If you can afford it, you will find a computer controlled telescope invaluable. These have handsets and databases that allow you to type in a set of co-ordinates and the telescope will move to the correct position to view what you want.

Without computer control, you will find yourself spending a lot of time trying to get object perfectly lined up in the eyepiece, and you will have to keep constantly moving the telescope to keep the object in view as its’ orbit and the spin of the earth makes distant stars and planets move surprisingly quickly around the sky. That’s not to say computer control is essential, but it’s certainly the best up-grade you will make.

Aperture -What will I be able to find out?

The aperture, or diameter, of a telescope relates to what youwill be able to find out and just how much detail will be observable. Essentially: the bigger the aperture, the more you’ll see.

Functionality is probably the most important aspect when selecting a telescope. Being aware of what you could expect to see through the telescope will help determine which device is right for you. A telescope’s aperture, or diameter, governs how much light the telescope can gather. A larger aperture telescope is going to be able to gather more light than the usual smaller diameter device, and thus will have a way to reveal you much more detail on them and a bigger variety of night sky items. Additionally, a telescope using a larger aperture may be pushed to a higher screening magnification when compared with a smaller diameter scope.

Telescopes measuring 60-80mm (2 – 3 inches) in aperture will provide some of the brighter cloudy nebulas and star clusters, bright planets like Saturn and Jupiter, and pleasant views of the Moon. A telescope having an aperture of 90-130mm (3.5-5 inches) will show a substantial increase in detail on the same subjects, and let you see more dim things in the sky, like galaxies, some of the more faint nebulas and star clusters. Telescopes with apertures of 150mm (6 inches) and above are capable of providing really bright and aggressively comprehensive views of most deep space objects and solar system objects like overcast nebulas, dazzling star clusters, and distant galaxies.

Size and portability

The best telescope is the one you will use most frequently. Little enjoyment will be brought by a tremendous, optically amazing extent if it’s consistently stuck in a wardrobe!

An old saying in amateur astronomy is “the best telescope is one that’s used frequently.” Like many expressions, it includes plenty of truth to it. A telescope’s relative as well as size portability can have an important effect on how often you use it.

While a bigger telescope will normally allow you to see more, you might not need a particularly large telescope if its size will prohibit you from using it regularly. Our guidance is to pay close focus on weight as well as the size of the telescopes you try and anticipate how much effort each one will take to create and use, and consider.

Maintaining Telescopes

Most refractors need little maintenance because its tubes are mostly sealed to protect the lenses. However, reflectors need all the maintenance efforts it can get. Its design includes an open tube which needs to be regularly cleaned since dust settles inside. This can affect the image clarity and magnification if improper care of the telescope is exercised.

To clean the insides of a reflector, the owner must take the telescope apart. This can be done by a professional so the accidental breakage of mirrors can be avoided in the process.

How to Use a Telescope

The first step to using a telescope is to become familiar with it. Any good telescope should come with easy-to-follow instructions on how to set it up. Before venturing out into the night, become familiar with how to assemble and disassemble your telescope. Also familiarize yourself with the different settings and go through the instructions on how to polarize the axes and adjustments of the mount. This isn’t something to be done while outside at night, because of the lack of visual range and it will cut into viewing time.

Also, one will want to plan their session and decide what sort of astral bodies they would like to view. Perhaps purchase a star chart or other map in order to easily locate objects in the sky. Familiarization with this map would also be useful before beginning the session. However, be sure to bring a flashlight or some other light source in order to see the star chart. One may wish to make a list of what bodies they would like to view.

Once one is ready to begin their session, they will need to find the darkest location available and begin setup of their telescope. Be sure to start the magnification of the eyepiece on the lowest level and focus the eyepiece. From there all one needs to do it point and enjoy! The mounts will have to be adjusted the object moves, due to the rotation of the Earth, which is where the familiarization with the mount comes into play. This is referred to as “tracking”.

Be sure to bring supplies when one is star gazing and to dress appropriately. The night temperature should be checked, as well as the weather forecast, so that the proper clothing can be worn. It is always a good idea to bring a sweater or coat incase anything unpredictable happens. Also, a a small umbrella can be good idea. One may also wish to bring drinks and snacks to their session, or share their viewing with friends. It is also important to be familiar with one’s surrounding. Do not set up one’s telescope in an area which could be dangerous and be sure not to trespass, or seek permission from the property owner before venturing anywhere that is private property.

The Bottom Line

Telescopes for amateur astronomy have never been much more powerful and more affordable than they are now.

Amateur astronomers can nevertheless find comets and supernovae, and as a backyard astronomer, you can check out identical stars and planets the professionals find as well as gauge the size of asteroids.

Of whatever may be the best telescope, the issue depends on your goals and you in the avocation.