3 Best Beginner Telescopes and What to Look for (Don’t Fall for the Add-Ons)

Telescopes are powerful instruments! They allow us to see objects deep into space that are too far away or too faint to be seen with the naked eye. They have been around for centuries, and have played a vital role in our understanding of the universe.

There are many different types of telescopes, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The most common types of telescopes include:

• Refracting telescopes: They use lenses to bend light and focus it to create an image. If you want more info about refracting telescopes here is a great short read. Galileo’s Refracting Telescope.

• Reflecting telescopes use mirrors to collect and focus light. Reflecting telescopes can be made much larger than refracting telescopes, which gives them a greater light-gathering ability. More info on Reflecting Telescopes!

• Catadioptric telescopes use a combination of lenses and mirrors. Some common types of catadioptric telescopes include Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes and Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes.

Telescopes are used for a variety of scientific research, from studying the stars and planets in our solar system to observing galaxies and other objects in deep space. They can literally see into the past and help us understand the formation and evolution of the universe.

The telescopes used for studying deep space can be on the high end of the price spectrum. Easily slipping into the billion dollar range, but don’t underestimate what an armature telescope is capable of. Observing the night sky with a telescope can be fun and rewarding, so lets figure out how to get into this hobby from the ground up. There are a few things you should keep in mind:

• Choose the right telescope. There are many different telescopes on the market, so it is important to choose one that is right for you. Consider your budget, your experience level, and what you want to be able to see in the night sky. We’ll give specific recommendations for each of these later on.
• Find a good observing location. The best place to observe the night sky is somewhere with dark skies and minimal light pollution. You’ll be amazed how much more you can see with a good location.

What’s out there to look at?

With a little planning and effort, you can use a telescope to explore the solar system. Here are some of the amazing things you can see with a telescope:

• The craters on the Moon – Get up close to the moon and get an eye on these massive craters

• The rings of Saturn – Hard to believe but you can actually see the rings of Saturn with a telescope of only 25x magnification. Saturn is 940 million miles away so it might be a little small like below but on the flip side you are looing at something 940 million miles away!

• The moons of Jupiter

• The Andromeda Galaxy, our nearest large galactic neighbor

• Nebulae, clouds of gas and dust where stars are born and die

Telescopes are a great way to learn about the universe and to appreciate the beauty of the night sky. If you are looking for a fun and educational activity, consider getting started with amateur astronomy.