Buying Guide: Telescope Price and Tips for Choosing the Best Model

Looking up at the night sky has always fascinated humanity. Ever since Galileo pointed a telescope skyward, our curiosity about the cosmos has grown. For most of us, simply looking up is a delight, but using a telescope or binoculars can transform this experience. However, choosing the right telescope can be a daunting task due to the plethora of options and advice available. Our comprehensive telescope buying guide aims to simplify this process for beginners. 

We address common questions such as where to start and what to consider when selecting a telescope. From understanding the features that matter most to deciding between different brands and models, we are here to help you embark on your stargazing journey. Whether you’re buying online or in a store, we provide insights to ensure that you choose the best telescope to satisfy your curiosity and meet your astronomical needs.

Key Takeaways

• We offer a detailed guide to help beginners buy telescopes.
• Discover tips for choosing the best telescope for your needs.
• Learn about various telescope brands and their features.

Telescope Buying Guide for Beginners: An Introduction

Binoculars VS Telescopes

When deciding between binoculars and telescopes, it’s important to understand that both have unique advantages. Binoculars offer a wide field of view, making them perfect for scanning the sky and are often easier to use. On the other hand, telescopes allow us to see greater detail and can reveal distant planets and galaxies. We recommend starting with a pair of binoculars if you’re new to stargazing, as they are more intuitive and portable compared to telescopes.

Celestron – SkyMaster 25X70 Binocular

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When it comes to stargazing, as a beginner you will need to start from somewhere. 

Reading about this and talking with experts, we can tell for sure that a great way to start and observe the night sky and all the wonders, is by using a pair of astronomy binoculars. 

This way you will get used to them and how to find the constellations and the desired celestial objects. 

They provide you a lot of mobility and you can easily take them with you and see the stars. an excellent choice for stargazing are 25x70s. 

If your binoculars are your main equipment for astronomy you will buy a pair with at least 30 or 35 mm lenses. This allows as much light as possible to be gathered from distant stars and galaxies.

In addition to this, binoculars are considerably less expensive than telescopes and will help you get used to the idea of looking to the skies through an instrument. 

If your budget is really tight, you can remain with the binoculars for some time and build up your skills while saving up for a telescope. 

As a rule of thumb, with binoculars the bigger the lens the more details can be seen.

Try getting a pair of affordable binoculars for sale on eBay or especially on Amazon to get used to the experience. You could start off with the Celestron – SkyMaster 25X70 Binocular

if you’re not sure what to choose.

Expectations VS Reality

If you surf the web and search for telescope pictures, there’s a big chance that you will come across jaw-dropping images of planets, nebulae, and galaxies. These images are indeed impressive, but you need to be well aware that it is almost impossible to obtain them with a budget telescope. 

A quick note about your experience with a telescope. You will see the Moon and Saturn with almost any telescope, but we can guarantee that after a few sessions you will want to move to deep sky objects or solar system you might need a stronger telescope.

Other really important aspects when it comes to deep sky observation are the location and the weather. When you go further from the city, into the suburbs or in nature, you will have an overall better experience and will have the chance to see more details.

Just like cameras, telescopes are sold using a basic principle: the more performant the telescope is, the more expensive it will be. 

You can always invest in a top-notch telescope, but we highly recommend that you take some time to learn how to use this instrument before aiming for state of the art scopes.

Online VS Store

If there’s some advice that we’d like for you to keep in mind from our buying telescope guide, it would definitely the benefits of shopping for telescopes online. 

Almost any telescope buyers guide will give you pointers about how to buy a good telescope online, stressing upon the advantages that shopping through the internet has. 

Even though you might be tempted in deciding which telescope to buy face to face, in your local store, you should really consider an Amazon search beforehand. 

If you choose to buy a telescope online you will enjoy discounts, promotions, offers and an abundance of verified customer reviews for countless models.

What Type of Telescope Should I Buy?

The first question that probably popped into your mind when you started reading our Telescope Guide is ‘What telescope should I buy?’. 

This is why our guide to buying a telescope will continue by explaining what type of telescopes are available on the market so you know what telescope to buy.

Reflector / Reflecting Telescope

Celestron – StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope

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A term you will frequently come across when looking to purchase a telescope is a reflector or reflecting telescope. How do you know what telescope is a reflector? Easily – reflecting telescopes use mirrors to reflect light (that’s where the name comes from). 

Reflecting telescope buying also involves knowing the various types of reflectors that you can choose from, such as Newtonian, Gregorian, Cassegrain or Herschelian, just to name a few. 

A couple of reflectors you can look into for a backyard telescope are the Celestron – StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope,  the Telescope 150EQ Astronomical Reflector Telescope, and the Celestron – AstroMaster 130EQ Newtonian Telescope

 

Refractor / Refracting Telescope

Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope for Kids & Beginners

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If a reflecting telescope uses mirrors to reflect the incoming light, refracting telescopes use lenses to refract the incoming light. In other words, the main difference between these two types of telescopes is that one uses primary mirrors, while the other uses glass lenses. 

A refractor is a great telescope for stars that will have generally higher image quality, also has a nice, strong build. 

A few of refracting telescopes you can choose from are the Telescopes for Adults Astronomy, 80mm Aperture 600mm Refractor Telescope, the High Powered 90mm Aperture 800mm Professional Refractor Telescope, and the Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope.

Catadioptric / Compound Telescope

Celestron – NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope

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Astronomy.com explains that catadioptric telescopes (also known as compound telescopes) are defined through this term ‘due to both the reflection and refraction of light’.

As you can probably imagine, a compound telescope combines the qualities of both reflecting and refracting telescopes. This means that they use mirrors and lenses to function, increasing the amount of light gathered.

Compound telescopes have gained popularity in recent years. This is thanks to their numerous benefits, including their compact structure (great for traveling) and user-friendly features. 

The Celestron NexStar 130 SLT Computerized Telescope  is a fain catadioptric to consider, as well as (the best-selling compound telescope on Amazon) or the Celestron NexStar 6SE Telescope (also a top seller on Amazon).

A fundamental aspect of learning how to buy a telescope / how to purchase a telescope, how to shop for a telescope and finding out ‘which telescope should I buy?’ is knowing what to look for in your purchase telescope of choice. 

A lot of telescopes come with an astronomy software that allows bettering data processing and an overall better analysis of the position and other details of the celestial objects. 

They range from image processing to very complex and structured data processing and they might not be suitable for a beginner but can be ideal for an intermediate and expert level.

We will continue our astronomy telescope guide with what features you need to take into consideration when purchasing a telescope.

Aperture

Any telescopes buying guide or astronomy telescopes guide will tell you about the importance of aperture when going through telescope how to buy tips. If you want to know ‘what is a good telescope to buy?’, you have to start with this aspect. 

Even though it might sound complicated, the aperture of a telescope is simply the diameter of its lens or mirror, depending on whether it is a refracting telescope or reflecting telescope. The larger a telescope’s aperture is, the brighter and more vivid the images you see will be. 

When it comes to taking astrophotography, the focal ratio of the telescope determines how big an object appears in the photo. The focal ratio gives you an indication of how long your exposure has to be.

One of our top recommendations for our telescope purchase guide is that you search for telescopes with a generous aperture for the best results.

Magnification

Second, after aperture in our buying telescope guide is magnification. While most beginners want to know how to find a good telescope with powerful magnification. You should know that that this factor does not depend on the telescope itself, but actually on the eyepieces you use.

The secret for an excellent observing experience is finding just the right magnification for the celestial object you plan on viewing. 

If the magnification is too weak or too powerful, your target can either appear too low-lighted to see or far too bright to understand. The type of eyepiece you should use is strongly connected to the type of target you have in mind.  

As general advice, you don’t need to use magnification bigger than 200x to see space objects. This is because the image will become too blurry to show you the details wanted. However, when it comes to observing star clusters, known as deep-sky objects, you will want to get as much light in and to use the highest magnification.

In this regard, eyepieces can offer either high power magnification or low-power magnification and you should choose them according to the celestial objects you want to observe. We will speak more about eyepieces in the following section so you can get a better idea of how they work.

Eyepieces

Like we previously mentioned, a critical part of learning how to buy an astronomical telescope and a significant part of our guide to buying telescopes is understanding eyepieces. 

Every telescope forms a small image in the eyepiece barrel, and essentially the eyepiece is a magnifying glass that allows you to see that image up close. The eyepiece with shorter focal length allows you to get closer and offers an image with greater details in it.

You can compensate for a lower magnification with an eyepiece with shorter focal lengths.

For example, if you want to observe galaxies, you should look into a good low power magnification eyepiece.

Build

Another one of the essential tips in our astronomical telescopes buying guide is the build of the telescope you chose. If you are buying a telescope for beginners, you might not want to go with a huge telescope straight away, for quite a few reasons. 

First of all, a telescope for stargazing doesn’t need to be gigantic to do so, and to see Jupiter through a small telescope can be done just fine. 

Also, if you’re wondering ‘how much for a telescope that’s large?’, the price tag might be bigger than you thought. 

You can find small, cheap telescopes for sale that will not only get the star-gazing job done nicely, but that will also be easier to carry to various observation points.

Mount

Our astronomical telescope buying guide continues with tips on how to buy a telescope for beginners with yet another decisive factor: the mount. 

Even if the structure is not as exciting as the optical tube, it is just as important.

The two main functions of the mount are to keep the telescope together and to prevent it from shaking because at high magnifications even the smallest wobble can affect the image.

You will need to move your telescope very easily

When it comes to buying someone a star-spotting instrument (or buying one for yourself), there are two main categories of mounts that you should learn about: equatorial and alt-azimuth.

Equatorial mounts are recommended for those who are interested in experienced astronomy; you might not find it as a recommendation in a telescope guide for beginners or among best buy telescopes for beginners. 

An equatorial mount has an east-west axis and a north-south axis, also known as a polar axis. The north-south axis will be tilted, in order to be parallel to the polar axis of the Earth.

Alt-azimuth mounts, on the other hand, involve operating a scope in altitude (up and down) and azimuth (left and right), which explains its name (frequently shortened to alt-az). 

Almost any beginner’s guide to telescopes or general guide to telescopes will explain that alt-azimuth mount telescopes are ideal for amateur astronomers or those who are interested in terrestrial observation.

Finderscope

Celestron Illuminated RACI Finder Scope

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If you’re thinking about whats a good telescope to buy, you have to be aware of the finderscope. In a nutshell, a finderscope works like a tiny telescope attached to the main one that helps you find your targets in the sky (as the name suggests). 

In order to point out ambitious celestial targets, you will need a good finderscope that can help you do so. 

Most telescopes come with standard finderscopes that won’t give you the results you expect, especially the ones with a red dot, they usually lack accuracy and make the whole process harder.

If you want to find your targets with ease and enjoy them in their full beauty, you should consider purchasing a finderscope separately, such as the Celestron RACI Illuminated Finderscope.

Where Can I Buy a Good Telescope?

When shopping for a telescope, online platforms often provide the best deals and variety. Visiting a local shop might seem appealing for hands-on experience, but these stores typically have higher prices with fewer options.

We suggest exploring options on Amazon for several reasons:

• Variety: Access a wide range of models and brands.
• Customer Reviews: Read feedback from other buyers.
• Free Shipping: Many official shops offer this benefit.
• Warranties and Perks: Often included with purchase.

By browsing online, we can make informed decisions based on comprehensive product details. This method allows us to compare features easily and enjoy benefits like free shipping and warranties.

How Much Is a Good Telescope?

When we begin exploring astronomy, it’s important to understand the costs involved in acquiring a good telescope. Buying a special instrument for this hobby doesn’t have to break the bank. While some may think all telescopes cost hundreds of dollars, there are plenty of quality options available for less.

Budget Options:

• Under $100: Basic models from companies like Meade exist in this range. While affordable, they might not deliver the best quality or the most satisfying results.
• $100-$200: Here, we find budget-friendly refractor and Dobsonian reflector telescopes. These often have aperture sizes from 50mm to 70mm and are suitable for beginners. Explore more about such models here.
• Under $500: This range offers even more reliable options with enhanced features for those ready to invest a bit more in their telescope experience.

Our advice when buying a telescope includes the following tips:

1. Don’t stop at your first choice. There are various options, so it’s wise to compare features and prices.
2. Buy your telescope online. This often results in discounts and deals that are better than in-store prices, especially on platforms like Amazon.
3. Weigh out your desired features. Balance what you want in a telescope against your financial limits.

For beginners, it’s crucial to avoid spending too much initially on a telescope that may be too advanced. It’s better to start with a beginner-friendly model and gradually move to more expensive, advanced versions as our knowledge expands. Deciding on the right telescope is about finding what fits our needs now while keeping future growth in focus.

Good Telescopes to Buy

When exploring telescopes to add to our collection, we often look at some trusted brands known for their quality. An excellent choice is the Celestron – StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ. It integrates solid tech into its design, making stargazing a pleasure. See its image here.

Celestron – StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ

Our experience with the Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ has been very positive. It’s part of a reputable line of telescopes trusted by many for their reliability and affordability. This model is especially designed for newcomers, featuring the user-friendly StarSense app, which helps in locating celestial objects without much hassle.

The telescope comes with a 114mm Newtonian reflector that offers clear and bright views. Unlike some entry-level models, it includes essential accessories like a 25mm and a 10mm eyepiece, a 2x Barlow Lens, and a sturdy full-height tripod. There’s even a red dot finderscope for those who want to use it without a smartphone. It’s a great choice for anyone looking to start their stargazing journey.

 

Celestron 127 EQ PowerSeeker Telescope

The Celestron 127 EQ PowerSeeker Telescope is currently the #1 best-selling telescope on Amazon. Priced at $172, it offers great value with the added bonus of free shipping. Our average customer rating stands strong at 4 out of 5 stars, reflecting overall satisfaction. Most reviews are positive, highlighting its features and affordability.

Explore further: Read Reviews for more detailed observations from users.

BARSKA Starwatcher 400x70mm Refractor Telescope

The BARSKA Starwatcher 400x70mm Refractor Telescope is one of the most popular options for those new to astronomy. It’s hard to believe, but this telescope is available for under $100, making it affordable for many hobbyists. Currently ranked as the 6th best-selling telescope on Amazon, it comes with a hefty 55% discount, pricing it just over $63. Plus, it includes free shipping for Amazon shoppers. Over 220 customer reviews provide insights and feedback, which you can read here.

Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope Telescope

The Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope Telescope is perfect for travel enthusiasts who enjoy observing the night sky. This device is known for its portability, making it convenient for those on the move. It is often praised for its affordability, priced at just $86.99 on Amazon. A major benefit is the access to a vast number of customer reviews to aid in purchase decisions. For more insights, you can read reviews from other users.

Conclusion

As we explore the stars with our telescopes, it’s clear the investment in both time and money is meaningful. Setting priorities ensures we make the most of every stargazing opportunity. Let’s embrace the beauty of the Universe from our backyards. Remember, the key is enjoying each moment as we gaze upon the celestial wonders above.