Which Telescope Should I Buy
I have been considering taking up astronomy for a little while now and I admit to being a complete novice, which telescope should I buy for a first telescope?
First of all let me say there is no simple answer to your question as it will depend on a number of different factors. It is extremely challenging to know at what technical level it's appropriate to start at for beginners.
For the purpose of this excercise we can split amateur astronomers into three different categories, beginners, intermediate and expert. Obviously. When you are contemplating a purchase, it will help no end if you have at least a minimal understanding of the telescope in question.
An important point to note is that all telescopes work by collecting light from the object you are viewing. The more light they collect, the better the resulting image. Therefore, the aperture of any telescope is very important. The larger the aperture the better. However, be cautious when it comes to magnification, larger magnification is not necessarily best.
For a large part you will dictated by your budget and the amount of space you have available, so this will be a good starting point. So the best idea is to identify several scopes that fall within your budget and are reasonably portable. Once you have found your way around the basics you can always upgrade to a better scope later.
Celestron, Meade, Skywatcher are amongst the leading companies that offer a range of scopes for the complete beginner at very reasonable prices. Carry out your own research by reading not only the companies promotional material but also reviews by amateur astronomers, and if possible checking out your local astronomy store or visiting a local club to get hands on information from other enthusiasts.
It won't take long you to shortlist a couple of scopes and make an educated decision based on the information you have accumulated.
With regards to an introductory telescope a small amount of knowledge is actually all you need. A low cost telescope can still capture a considerable amount of wonderful celestial sights, and with some help from a star chart you will find yourself discovering objects in the sky in no time at all.
After you have purchased your very first telescope and learned how to use it, you will more than likely choose to upgrade to a more sophisticated scope by which time you will have all the technical now how to pursue your astronomy hobby.
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