Your Telescope Buying Guide 2023

 

Embarking on the journey of purchasing a telescope is a thrilling endeavor that opens the vast wonders of the cosmos to curious minds. Whether you’re a budding astronomer eager to explore the intricacies of the night sky or a seasoned stargazer seeking an upgrade, this telescope buying guide is designed to be your celestial compass. In the pages ahead, we’ll demystify the key considerations for selecting the perfect telescope, from understanding different types and sizes to deciphering technical specifications. Whether you aim to observe the craters of the Moon, the rings of Saturn, or distant galaxies, this guide will illuminate the path toward choosing a telescope that aligns with your astronomical aspirations.

AstroGuy is a podcast and YouTube channel hosted by amateur astronomer Wayne Zuhl who lets us  know every month what to look for in the sky at night.  He has 40+ years of experience in the hobby and is a great source of information about planets and deep sky objects not to mention telescopes, binoculars, and related equipment.

This fall, the AstroGuy made some recommendations for beginners in the hobby. Below are affiliate links to all the equipment that he discussed in his podcast.  Clicking on the link won’t cost you any more than if you went to the site yourself.   If you click the link and buy from it sometimes he gets a small commission and that helps the channel a lot. Before you go and spend cash on a telescope, make sure you know what you’re doing! Here are his recommendations.

 

Start with a Planisphere!

For novice astronomers setting out on their celestial journey, a planisphere and a red light are indispensable tools that can significantly enhance their stargazing experience. A planisphere acts as a hands-on, user-friendly map of the night sky, allowing beginners to easily identify constellations and locate prominent celestial objects at any given time. It’s a simple yet powerful aid in understanding the ever-changing positions of stars and planets throughout the year.

It’s not difficult to build your own planisphere with these simple directions, but you can also invest $15 for a pretty nice one here.

 

Don’t forget the red light!

A red light is a solution for preserving night vision during observations. Unlike white light, which can disrupt the eyes’ adaptation to darkness, a red light allows astronomers to read star charts, adjust equipment, and navigate their surroundings without compromising their ability to see faint celestial details. Together, a planisphere and a red light form a dynamic duo, providing the foundational tools necessary for fledgling astronomers to navigate the vast expanse of the night sky with clarity and precision.

 

How to select binoculars:

In the realm of astronomical exploration, binoculars emerge as a versatile and compelling alternative to telescopes, particularly for both novice and experienced astronomers. While telescopes undoubtedly offer powerful magnification, binoculars bring a unique set of advantages to the stargazing table. Their inherent portability, ease of use, and wider field of view make them an ideal choice for sky gazers seeking a more immersive, accessible experience. Binoculars not only simplify the learning curve for beginners but also provide seasoned astronomers with the flexibility to quickly scan the night sky, making them excellent companions for casual observations or spontaneous celestial discoveries.

The numbers associated with binoculars, such as 7×35, 7×50, and 10×50, represent two key specifications: magnification power (the first number) and the diameter of the objective lenses in millimeters (the second number).

Bushnell Falcon 7x35s: These binoculars provide a magnification of 7 times the naked eye and have objective lenses with a diameter of 35mm. The 7x magnification strikes a balance between stability (less shakiness) and field of view.

Celestron 7x50s: Like the 7×35, these binoculars also have a 7x magnification but feature larger 50mm objective lenses. The larger objective lenses allow more light to enter, making them suitable for low-light conditions like stargazing. The wider diameter provides a brighter image.

Sky Genius 10x50s: With a higher magnification of 10 times and the same 50mm objective lens diameter, these binoculars offer more detailed observations of distant objects. However, the increased magnification can also make the image shakier, so they may benefit from stabilization features or a tripod for extended use.

 

Dobsonian Telescope Buying Guide

Dobsonian telescopes, popular among beginners for their simplicity and affordability, operate on a straightforward yet effective design. Named after their creator, John Dobson, these telescopes use a Newtonian reflector optical system. The heart of a Dobsonian telescope is a large, parabolic primary mirror that gathers and reflects light to a smaller secondary mirror, which, in turn, directs the light to the eyepiece. What sets Dobsonians apart is their altazimuth mount, a simple and intuitive base that allows for easy movement in both horizontal (azimuth) and vertical (altitude) directions. This uncomplicated design makes navigating the night sky more accessible for beginners, providing a stable platform for observing celestial objects without the complexity of equatorial mounts. Dobsonian telescopes are prized for their large apertures, offering impressive views of planets, galaxies, and nebulae, making them an excellent choice for those venturing into the captivating realm of amateur astronomy.

The Pros and Cons of Dobsonian Telescopes

Pro	Con
Affordable for their size	Can be bulky and heavy
Larger aperture – able to gather more light	Most are not motorized
Simple design and easy to use	Not usable for long exposure astrophotos
Collimation is relatively easy	Usually lack Go-To capability
Wide-field of view	Some assembly required

Here are some Dobsonians that AstroGuy recommends in his telescope buying guide:

Less than $300	Orion Starblast 4.5 Dobsonian	SkyWatcher Heritage 130
$300-$500	Orion Skyline 6” Dobsonian	SkyWatcher Virtuoso 130
$500-$1000	SkyWatcher Classic 200 Dobsonian	SkyWatcher Classic 250 Dobsonian

 

Refracting Telescope Buying Guide

A refracting telescope uses lenses to gather and focus light, allowing users to observe distant celestial objects with clarity. At its core, the telescope features an objective lens positioned at the front, designed to capture and converge incoming light. This lens brings the light to a focal point, forming a clear image of the observed object. The eyepiece, located at the back of the telescope, magnifies this focused image, enabling observers to peer into the cosmos. The telescope’s magnification is determined by the ratio of the focal lengths of the objective lens and the eyepiece.

The Pros and Cons of Refracting Telescopes

Pro	Con
High contrast views	Can be expensive for their size
No collimation required	Smaller aperture for their cost
Durable optics	Cool down is required for stable images
No central obstruction like reflectors or cats	Some designs suffer from aberrations
Easy to transport	Some require additional accessories

AstroGuy’s telescope buying guide includes these recommendations::

Less than $300	Celestron AstroMaster 90 EQ	SVbony 90mm Refractor
$300-$500	Celestron Star Sense 102	SkyWatcher StarTravel 120
$500-$1000	Celestron Omni XLT 120

 

Compound/Catadioptric Telescope Buying Guide

A catadioptric or compound telescope is combines lenses and mirrors to capture and magnify light. The heart of a catadioptric telescope includes a primary mirror at the back, which gathers and reflects light, and a corrector plate or lens at the front, which refines the image and eliminates optical aberrations. The combination of mirrors and lenses allows for a more compact design compared to traditional reflectors, making catadioptric telescopes highly portable without compromising on optical performance. Among the most popular designs are the Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes, both revered for their versatility and the ability to deliver sharp, high-contrast views of celestial wonders. For beginners seeking a telescope that balances portability and optical excellence, a catadioptric design offers a captivating gateway to the wonders of the night sky.

The Pros and Cons of Compound Telescopes

Pro	Con
Compact design	Can be expensive for their size
Easy to transport	More complex than refractors or reflectors
Versatile for different types of observations	Steeper learning curve than refractors or reflectors
Minimized chromatic and spherical aberration	Cats with longer focal lengths have limitations in wide-field views
Large apertures in relatively small packages	Require periodic alignment and collimation
Suits a wide variety of budgets	Heavier than other telescope designs

 

Here are some refractors AstroGuy recommends in a variety of prices:

Less than $300	Orion Starmax 90 Maksutov
$300-$500	Celestron SLT 90	Explore Scientific First Light 127 Mak
$500-$1000	Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi with SkyMax 127	Celestron Nexstar 6 SE

Smart Telescope Buying Guide

Amateur astronomy has been revolutionized with the advent of smart telescopes, marking an exciting intersection of technology and stargazing. Smart telescopes, equipped with integrated computerized systems and advanced software, have become invaluable companions for beginners venturing into the hobby. These telescopes often feature automated alignment, GPS tracking, and smartphone connectivity, streamlining the once intricate process of finding and tracking celestial objects. For novice astronomers, this technological prowess translates into an immersive and user-friendly experience, eliminating much of the learning curve associated with traditional telescopes.

Smart telescopes can identify and locate celestial wonders with the touch of a button or a tap on a smartphone app, making the exploration of planets, stars, and galaxies more accessible and engaging than ever before.

Here are the 2 Smart Telescopes recommended by AstroGuy for this telescope buying guide:

$300-$500	ZWO Seestar 50
$500-$1000	Dwarflab Dwarf II

Eyepieces

Selecting the right eyepieces for your telescope is a crucial step in unlocking the full potential of your astronomical observations and no telescope buying guide would be complete without a mention of eyepieces. Eyepieces play a pivotal role in determining the magnification and field of view, directly impacting the clarity and detail of the celestial objects you observe. When choosing eyepieces for your new telescope, factors such as focal length, apparent field of view, and the type of celestial objects you wish to observe should be carefully considered. Understanding your telescope’s specifications and the inherent trade-offs between magnification and field of view will guide you in assembling a well-rounded eyepiece collection tailored to your specific astronomical interests. Whether you’re observing the Moon’s craters, tracking distant planets, or exploring deep-sky objects, a thoughtful selection of eyepieces will enhance your stargazing experience and allow you to appreciate the vast wonders of the night sky with clarity and precision.

Here are two eyepieces that AstroGuy recommends. Choose the one with the same size barrel as your telescope

2 inch barrel	Celestron Ultima Edge 30 mm 2” eyepiece
1.25 inch barrel	Orion 38mm Q70
	Explore Scientific 10mm Argon

 

What are you treating yourself to this winter? Let us know in the comments!