Finding The Telescope That Meets Your Needs

There are so many choices of telescopes out there. What do you buy and what do you really need? Here are a few things to keep in mind so you don't buy a telescope that won't meet what you need or want it to do.

High power magnification is not always the primary consideration. You should have 40-60x magnification per 1 inch of aperture. The scope's ability to enlarge an image is dependent upon the lenses used and the focal length within the scope itself. Most objects can be seen at the lowest magnification because there is more light being focused.

The most important feature to think about when buying a telescope is aperture. Buy as much as you can afford. Remember, though, the biggest telescope is not always the best one. The aperture sizes that follow are usually sufficient: Refractors – 3 inches or 80 mm, Reflectors – 4 to 8 inches or 10 to 20mm, and Compound Telescopes – 6 to 8 inches or 16 to 20 cm.

A focuser can move the eyepiece up and down helping to adjust the focus for each observer. There are two types of focusers – Friction Focusers and Rack and Pinion Focusers. Your telescope should never shake once while you are using these. In some telescopes, you may not get a choice.

Check out the eyepieces that come with your telescope. Some don't come with any. Make sure you have a couple so you can vary the magnification of the object you are viewing. You also need to be sure that the eyepiece will fit the eyepiece holder in your telescope as not all fit all telescopes.

The type of mount you use is extremely important. Ensure it has a low center of gravity so it doesn't tip over. It should not vibrate and it should be held in place at a comfortable height for you.