# What telescope should I buy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 20, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068 "2002-06-20T15:17:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/1 "2002-06-20T15:17:37Z")
I am interested in buying a recreational telescope and getting into a little amateur astronomy. I’d like some advice as to what I should be looking for. I know _absolutely nothing_ about the structure and technical details of telescopes aside from the fact that they have lenses. What I would really like is a telescope good enough that I can actually make out the spiral shape of Andromeda, which of course is the spiral galaxy that IIRC is the furthest object a human being can see with the naked eye. It doesn’t have to be huge. It would just cool me out to be able to see it and say “Well, there’s a billion stars right there.” So what should I be looking for, and what will it cost me? What options do I have? What are the pros and cons of various telecope types? Also, what books or guides would you recommend for the rookie astronomer? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/2 "2002-06-20T15:55:00Z")
Here’s a good place to get some information: > **[How to Choose a Telescope | Types of Telescopes](https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-equipment/choosing-astronomy-equipment/telescopes/)** > > Find the best telescope for your needs - read our buying guides to see what telescopes are best for observing planets, double stars, and deep-sky objects. You might want to check out the Orion site too: [http://www.telescope.com/cgi-bin/OrionTel.storefront/3d11f92001628544fe56c0a80a6506b1/Home](http://www.telescope.com/cgi-bin/OrionTel.storefront/3d11f92001628544fe56c0a80a6506b1/Home) I currently use a pair of their 16x80 binoculars for casual observing. You might also see if a community college or adult education class is available in your area. ---
**Author:** ![Podkayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Podkayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Podkayne)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/3 "2002-06-20T16:15:45Z")
I second **Gary’s** Sky&Tel link, and the binoculars recommendation. I get a great deal of pleasure out of my 10X50’s. Though they are not really up to picking out fine detail in Andromeda, I can see moons of Jupiter, globular and open clusters, binary stars, etc. My humble opinion: Far too many of the closets of the world contain a second-rate telescopes. Cheap telescopes can be frustrating and difficult to work with–not only a waste of money, they are a real enthusiasm-quasher. A decent telescope that will truly be rewarding to use is a big investment, one you shouldn’t make until you know a lot more about astronomy and telescopes and you have a much better idea what you want. Find a local astronomy club, and go to their star parties try out other people’s equipment, find out how to use it, and discover what you like. Amateur astronomers are, in general, incredibly knowledgable folks who are enthusiastic about educating newcomers. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/4 "2002-06-20T17:00:30Z")
The best thing to do is to go to a meeting or star party held by a local amateur astronomy club. Everyone there is eager to show off their equipment and teach you the basics. The most important thing about a telescope is where you use it. You need to get as far away from city lights as possible. A pair of $50 binoculars used under a dark, clear sky will show you more wonders than a $10,000 telescope used in Manhattan. Next thing to know is that a telescope isn’t a device for magnifying distant objects. A telescope is a device for collecting as much as light as possible and pouring it into your eyes so you can see fainter things. So the most important spec for a telescope is the size of the lens or mirror, i.e. aperture. And steer away from telescopes that advertise high magnification; those are marketed at clueless newbies. For watching deep-sky objects like galaxies, you want a large aperture, low-magnification telescope. So-called “Dobsonian” telescopes fit the bill. They have a very simple mount, so they are very sturdy and easy to use. And affordable. Check the Orion site which GaryM mentioned - they sell a few. I’d stay away from electronic gadgets. My first telescope had a fancy automatic pointing system, and it frustrated me to no end. Finally one night I went out with a good star chart - not only did I find more things in shorter time, but I had so much fan finding my way among the stars. By the way my favorite “telescope” is a pair of big binoculars too, Fujinon 11x70 in my case. (Yes GaryM, yours is bigger.) ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/5 "2002-06-20T17:13:34Z")
Sky and Telescope lists [two astronomy clubs in St. Louis](http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/organizations/?pos=1&category=9&category=7&category=8&city=St.+Louis&state=MO&country=1&txt=&go.x=26&go.y=8). Likely they have observing nights at which you can see a wide variety of telescopes and binoculars in action. ---
**Author:** ![evilhanz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba8739/32.png) [@evilhanz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/evilhanz)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/6 "2002-06-20T18:34:12Z")
If your community doesn’t have a an astronomy club, check with the local universities. When I studied Physics/Astronomy in Boston, our department opened up the observatory to the public once a week for free. You can meet some like-minded people and try out some good amateur and pro 'scopes or possibly get a lead on some decent used equipment. ---
**Author:** ![Calliope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Calliope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calliope)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/7 "2002-06-20T18:53:24Z")
I agree with the recommendation for a Dobsonian. Stay away from the fancy, schmancy gadgets and put your money into the best optics you can afford. At minimum, you will need a 6" and that will only show you Andromeda as a faint cloud. I live a very rural area with very little light pollution and would need an 8" or better to see the spiral. I currently have a 6" Dobsonian and can make out the moons of Jupiter and Saturn’s rings, but not the kind of detail you are talking about. if you live in an area with a lot of light pollution, you’ll need better aperature. Plan to spend at least $500 to get good optics. You could spend less, but it will end up sitting in the closet. You can also make your own Dobsonian with instructions from a book. I think after reading some of these anwers, I might even get me a good pair of binoculars. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/8 "2002-06-20T21:46:51Z")
I have nothing new to add, but wanted to state again that binoculars are the best first telscope. Why? 1. Binoculars are great for other things (sports, birdwatching), so if you give up on astronomy, you’ll still use them (unlike a telescope). 2. Binoculars are portable and thus more likely to be used. 3. Binoculars are easy to use and require no unusual mental maps (many telescopes flip images left/right or up/down). 4. For any given dollar amount, binoculars will be of much higher quality than the correspondingly priced telescope. 5. In order to use a telescope for astronomy, a person should have some familiarity with “the night sky”. Along with the good old naked-eye, binoculars are ideal for doing so. Here are some helpful threads on similar topics: [Telescopes and Binoculars](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36699&highlight=telescope). [Telescope info …](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45929&highlight=telescope) ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/9 "2002-06-20T22:28:40Z")
I’m a birder, not an astronomer (though I often enjoy looking at the night sky). I have a set of Canon 15x45IS binoculars, which include a battery-powered active image-stabilizing system. They have pretty much every fault that a pair of binoculars could: they are expensive, heavy, bulky, they eat batteries and have poor close-focus performance. Their one good point is that they let you see things that other binoculars just don’t. And that makes them well worth having. I have some fairly serious astronomer friends who have told me that these are the best binoculars for casual astronomy. Try to find a store that sells them (or a gathering of astronomers or birders that includes a pair) and give them a try. One detailed point: a good test of a telescope or binoculars is to look at a single star. It should be possible to bring it into sharp focus with no distortion or discoloring. In general, with optics, you get what you pay for. Cheap binoculars and especially telescopes are probably a waste of money. Find an experienced astronomer whose advice you trust. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f05b48/32.png) [@The\_Bad\_Astronomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Bad_Astronomer)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/10 "2002-06-20T22:57:05Z")
On my website I have a page with some advice, and links to clubs and even more advice. [So you want to buy a telescope?](http://www.badastronomy.com/bitesize/scopefaq.html) ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2002, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/11 "2002-06-20T23:05:17Z")
**Rick** I did this: [http://www.moonlightsys.com/atm/](http://www.moonlightsys.com/atm/) a few years ago and it was the most amazing weekend project Mrs.Phlosphr and I ever took on. We love it and it only cost us less than 300$ Check the site out and see what you think. It is a wonderful way to see the stars and if you want to check out Andromeda…Is gorgeous with one of these. I followed the directions precisely and it was not really that difficult. When it was first completed we had a Martini party for the stars in my back yard…it was really fun…!!! Its just a tip if you feeel like you want to **build your own** telescope… If the link doesn’t work just cut and paste it on your browser…It should bring you to a build your own telescope home page:) ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/12 "2002-06-21T00:07:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xema \* > **I have a set of Canon 15x45IS binoculars, which include a battery-powered active image-stabilizing system… I have some fairly serious astronomer friends who have told me that these are the best binoculars for casual astronomy.** Yikes, $1300 for a pair of 15x45 binoculars? I think your “fairly serious astronomer friends” are used to spending thousands of dollars for their telescopes. Nothing wrong with that, but they shouldn’t be advising beginners to spend that kind of money. Amateur astronomers use a slower but much cheaper image stabilizing system: it’s called a tripod. Stars don’t run away like birds so it’s no big deal if you take your time. And $1300 will buy you a pair of normal binocs, tripod, plus a 10" Dobsonian telescope. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/13 "2002-06-21T00:36:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > Yikes, $1300 for a pair of 15x45 binoculars? I think your “fairly serious astronomer friends” are used to spending thousands of dollars for their telescopes. Nothing wrong with that, but they shouldn’t be advising beginners to spend that kind of money. They didn’t. I showed up with these things (bought on special for around $800) and they told me that they were good for casual astronomy (and indeed proved it to me). > [@](#): > > Amateur astronomers use a slower but much cheaper image stabilizing system: it’s called a tripod. Stars don’t run away like birds so it’s no big deal if you take your time. You make a good point. But portability and “tripod at the push of a button” have real value, even in astronomy. I was quite skeptical of the image-stabilizing idea until I tried it. I now feel it’s absolutey worth the cost and trouble. It’s great fun to let others use the binocs and hear them say “Wow!” I’ll bet I’ve sold a bunch of these things for Canon. Anyone who gets the chance should give them a try. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/14 "2002-06-21T01:21:24Z")
Sorry, I didn’t mean to imply your image stabilizer binocs are not suitable for astronomy. It sounds like they are and I’d love to get a pair. I just think beginners should start out with simpler, more affordable equipment. I don’t want people to think it’s an expensive hobby. (Well, it is for many people, but it doesn’t have to be.) Actually maybe I should take back the comment about tripods; the kind of binocs I use requires tripods, but many smaller ones (say, 7x40) are light enough to use without tripods. It never hurts to own a small one like that. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/15 "2002-06-21T01:37:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > I just think beginners should start out with simpler, more affordable equipment. I don’t want people to think it’s an expensive hobby. (Well, it is for many people, but it doesn’t have to be.) I basically agree – you don’t need to spend gobs of money on binocs to get something reasonable (though when you look through the expensive ones, you can generally understand why they cost what they did). This may be less true with telescopes. I’m no expert, but all the cheap ones I’ve seen seemed like a waste of money – optical quality very disappointing. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2002, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-telescope-should-i-buy/115068/16 "2002-06-21T06:09:58Z")
Since you’re looking for advice, I’ll move this thread to IMHO.