How to Choose the Best Telescope for Beginners

by Mark Cramer August 26, 2021

A telescope is a powerful device that supports land and astronomical observation. It’s easy to use for newbies despite being a high-tech unit. You only need to pick an adequate product that fits your preferences.

This article explains the steps to choosing the best telescope for beginners. It covers critical points in the selection process. That ensures the device chosen will meet your expectations. Keep reading to learn more about picking these units!

What Are Your Intentions with a Telescope?

The initial question is what you plan to do with the device. Telescopes are suitable for land and astronomical viewing. That means you can watch celestial but also terrestrial bodies. Many devices are capable of providing great performance in both areas.

Do you plan to observe terrestrial objects? Binoculars or spotting scopes are better for that goal. Would you like to watch the sky? You need the best telescope for beginners' stargazing experience.

Who Will Use the Telescope?

Is your child a fan of astronomy? If they still haven’t reached their teen years, consider a telescope for children. You’ll notice these features a simplified device version with basic features. The manufacturers use low-quality materials, which can affect durability and sturdiness. The unit’s price might be attractive, but it’s nothing more than a toy. And that’s fine if you want to motivate your youngster to observe the stars.

Is your child a smart teen ready to explore the galaxy? A high-quality refractor telescope can be a smart investment. You’ll find more on different device types below. This unit category comes with a simpler setup and maintenance. That is why beginners appreciate it more.

Fun for the Entire Family

All household members can use a refractor telescope. You can head camping and take the device with you to observe the universe. It’ll be fun taking turns and talking about the impressive sights you saw.

Beginners usually don’t need telescopes that deliver advanced performances. Is your interest in the universe serious, and you’d like to observe deep space? You’ll need a premium device that could cost more. Those products also come with a learning curve. That makes them unsuitable for hobbyists.

Are you ready to dedicate time and effort to viewing planets? If yes, go with a more expensive unit with premium features. Otherwise, a reasonable entry-level option will be enough.

What’s the Best Beginners Telescope?

The market offers an extensive selection of high-quality devices. That implies many telescopes could be suitable for newbies. The trick lies in finding one that fits your preferences. Here are the factors that will assist throughout the process!

Learn About Different Device Types

You can start the search by discovering various product categories. The market offers three basic device types – refraction, reflection, and catadioptric units. They can all do an excellent job, but their working processes vary.

1. Refractor Telescopes

Hans Lippershey is a Dutch spectacle-maker who invented this device. The first telescope used refraction principles. That involved placing a lens in a long tube and putting an eyepiece at the backside.

A refractor telescope is how beginners imagine a telescope looks. They use lenses, which capture the light as it passes through the tube. The next step is creating the image you can see through the eyepiece.

Here are the main advantages of refraction units:

It shows excellent image quality per inch of aperture. These devices can perform better than other types.
This unit can be quite affordable. Most newbie telescopes are small. Compact-sized lenses aren’t expensive to manufacture. That guarantees an affordable product price.
The lenses are easy to align and stay in position for a long time. That ensures minimal setup and maintenance.

A refractor unit should feature an optimal design to deliver the expected performance. That’s why choosing the best telescope brand for beginners is imperative. It’s worth spending extra bucks to secure adequate product construction and durability.

Did you know that most refraction units have an aperture of up to 80 millimeters? It’s the lens size that allows affordable device construction. These products dominate the entry-level category.

The biggest downside is these devices are expensive when apertures are large. The construction is pricey, so advanced observers often choose an alternative. Chromatic aberration can be another problem. It’s an issue to represent accurate color. It could cause a bright star to blur. The modern units almost fixed this issue.

2. Reflection Telescopes

These devices don’t equip lenses and use mirrors instead. The manufacturers position them in the tube, and their task is to gather light. They transfer them to the second reflection unit. The eyepiece is in the right position to allow viewing of the image.

You’ll find two subcategories of reflection devices:

Newtonian telescopes. Isaac Newton invented this construction as an improvement to the refraction units. These products deliver a generous viewing field. The eyepiece is at the tube’s top, so the device is compatible with low tripods. The mirrors need occasional readjustment for optimal performance.
Dobsonian telescopes. This design is simple and doesn’t need a tripod. It’s a tabletop unit, which means it requires a stable surface. These devices can deliver excellent value for money.

3. Catadioptric Telescopes

Many call these compound devices, and they present a mixture of the above types. The scientists wanted to combine mirrors and lenses to get the best of both. These units achieved a compact size. The tube is rarely more than three times longer than the tube.

The common designs are Maksutov-Cassegrain and Schmidt-Cassegrain. You’ll find various catadioptric telescope constructions. The device’s portability and performance at large apertures will impress you. Its downside is the inability to deliver an admirable viewing field. Most catadioptric products work at f/10 focal ratios.

These devices might not be suitable for cold weather and night air. Telescopes need cooling down to the environment’s temperature first. It’s only then when they can deliver optimal image quality.

Why Aperture Is a Crucial Specification?

Aperture describes a mirror or lens diameter. The component used depends on the type selected. This characteristic shows the capability of gathering light or image brightness. It also determines picture sharpness by indicating the resolving power.

The more aperture your device has, the better the celestial body image will be. Do you want to observe distant galaxies and planets at their full power? You should look for bigger diameters. For hobbyists, a decent performance might be enough. That’s why the best quality telescope for beginners has an aperture of around 70 millimeters (2.6 inches). This measurement only goes over ten inches in premium units.

A 70-millimeter diameter will collect 100x more of the light than your eyes. That ensures you’ll get impressive images of planets, galaxies, and stars. Aperture affects the telescope size. A large lens implies a bulky construction. That influences portability and makes device transport trickier. It’s inconvenient if you plan on traveling with your unit.

What You Should Know About Magnification

Newcomers might be unaware of the impressive magnifying capabilities that telescopes have. Most devices can magnify a huge amount of times. It varies on the eyepiece and aperture that the product uses. The image also depends on environmental factors, especially atmospheric conditions.

You’ll also need to adjust the magnification. If you pick an improper setting, the object will look dark or blurry. The experts recommend considering the telescope’s aperture. You can start by zooming up to 50 times its diameter in inches. If necessary, go up to 200x, but anything more than that will distort the image.

Eyepieces and Focal Lengths

While reading product descriptions, you’ll encounter the telescope’s “focal length.” This indicates the distance from the optical component to the formed image. The common measurements are from 400 to 3,000mm or more.

That’s the focal length of the scope. You’ll find the same characteristic for the eyepiece. The eyepiece could have that specification at 10mm or 25mm. That matters because it’s helpful to determine magnification.

Here’s an example – you have a 2,000mm telescope’s focal length, and the eyepiece has 10mm. If you divide the two, you’ll get 200x. That shows the device’s magnification capabilities.

What Is the Focal Ratio?

Some product listings will contain a focal ratio. You’ll notice it has an “f/X” form. The “X” marks the number, and it can be from “4” to “15.”

A telescope’s focal ratio could be f/8 if it has a 6-inch aperture. That indicates the length is 1,200 millimeters (6x8=48 in). This measurement will vary depending on the desired objects to observe.

If you want to see planets and the moon, go with a big focal ratio. That narrows the field of view but secures better magnification. You’ll need a wider observing range for galaxies and star clusters. That’s where the measurement should be f/7 or less.

Find a Suitable Mount for the Best Telescope for Beginners

The only way to get a high-quality image is to secure an optimal mount. It should work well and allow you to set all details with ease. This feature is imperative since it contributes to image sharpness. It also minimizes maintenance.

Here is an overview of the available mounts:

Altitude-azimuth. It uses an alt-az abbreviation and works like photography tripods. You’ll move the scope left-right and up-down. It’s an excellent choice for entry-level users and devices. The mount needs minimal adjustments and often comes ready to use.
Equatorial. This option is quite common since it makes tracking celestial objects easy. The units have a slow-motion knob. You adjust it and follow the desired body as it moves. Some devices even have automatic tracking features.
Dobsonian. This puts the head on the ground. That’s why the mount usually features Teflon for construction stability. You’ll find this option in Newtonian telescopes.

How to See the Moon in Its Full Power

It doesn’t matter how much you invested in the observation device. If you point it to the moon, you might see it’s fuzzy or blurry. The same applies to stars and planets. Even if you observe them many times on the same night, the image changes.

The problem lies in atmospheric conditions. It might be hot, and the warm air is rising. The asphalt could send it to the atmosphere after collecting heat throughout the day. It’s best to compare this with the clouds in the sky. If they are present, you can’t see the Sun. If the environmental circumstances are inadequate, that night is unsuitable for celestial observation.

Some things can help to improve the image quality. You can find the best telescope with a moon filter for beginners. Adjusting the settings right is also imperative. If you find optimal specifications, you can maximize picture sharpness in poor conditions.

What Is the Most Powerful Telescope for Home Use?

Suppose you say “home use” - it usually refers to hobbyists and amateurs. Do you want to keep it in the backyard? If not, you can go for bulkier units that deliver better performance. But if portability is important, you don’t need excessive power.

Beginners should be content with the performance of entry-level telescopes. They can provide impressive apertures and magnifications. It’s much better to go for an easy setup and simple transport. Those can be crucial features to maximize your enjoyment while using the device.

Apart from setting up, make sure the telescope is easy to maintain. Most units will only need to remove dust from the glass components. It’s vital to avoid touching those surfaces with your fingers. Instead, use a squeezable blower. You can grab a cotton ball and soak it with diluted alcohol. Use soft touches to remove any dirt if you notice it.

Final Thoughts

The best telescope for beginners is your window into the universe. These devices allow seeing the planets, galaxies, and other celestial bodies. Stargazing can become your favorite hobby with these devices. You need to identify a suitable unit for your expectations.

Most beginners go with an entry-level refractor telescope. It’s easy to maintain and portable. Thanks to a simple setup, the entire family can enjoy viewing the stars. These units don’t have to be expensive. They will provide decent performance and impressive images at an affordable cost. If you like astronomy, don’t hesitate to give them a shot!