A scope's aperture determines both its light-gathering ability (how bright the image appears) and its resolving power (how sharp the image appears).
The most important aspect of any telescope is its aperture, the diameter of its main optical component, which can be either a lens or a mirror. Aperture: A Telescope's Most Crucial Specification It’s often cheaper to buy one telescope that’s specialized for visual observing and a separate scope for astrophotography than to buy a single scope that is suitable for both jobs.īefore examining the different telescopes available, it's worth knowing the basics of how they work. If you’re new to astronomy, it’s smart to gain a thorough grounding in visual astronomy before you contemplate astrophotography. It’s easy to take snapshots of the Moon through any telescope, but long-exposure photos of galaxies and nebulae require lots of time, patience, and specialized equipment. This guide concentrates on visual observing, as opposed to astrophotography. What do you most want to look at? How dark is your sky? How experienced an observer are you? How much are you prepared to spend? Where will you store your telescope, and how much weight are you willing to carry? Answer these key questions, familiarize yourself with what's on the market, and you'll be well on your way to choosing a telescope that will satisfy you for many years to come. We'll also look at the tradeoffs, because every instrument has its advantages and disadvantages.īefore you buy anything, you must determine what's important to you. We'll start by exploring the basic features common to all telescopes, and then look at some specific designs.
Whether you're seriously considering buying your first telescope or just daydreaming about it, this guide will help you narrow your options. Naturally, this brings the burden of choice: the bewildering variety makes it hard for an uninformed consumer to make the right decision on what type of telescope to buy. Never before have novice stargazers been presented with such a vast array of telescopes and accessories to pursue their hobby. This is an exciting time to become an amateur astronomer.
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