| There are a lot of factors to consider before you | | | | portable (suitcase sized) and well suited for travel. |
| buy a telescope. And these factors range from | | | | Should you buy a used telescope? |
| price, to performance desires, to your skill level | | | | This is more a matter of personal preference and |
| and your lifestyle. I will go over these factors and | | | | I can’t tell you whether a new one or a used |
| help you find the instrument that is right for you. | | | | one is right for you. But I can say that for the |
| A Quick look at scopes for beginners | | | | most part, if a scope is well cared-for it can |
| Before I get into the specific performance and | | | | remain practically perfect for decades. I can |
| prices of telescopes I want to give you a quick | | | | recommend that you don’t buy a used one if |
| rule of thumb about three different types. If you | | | | you can’t get a good hands-on look at it first. |
| are very much a beginner and are just looking for | | | | If you don’t know much about scopes you |
| a telescope to get started with you probably | | | | should try to find someone that does who can go |
| should consider getting a refractor in the 60mm | | | | with you to assess the condition and value of the |
| to 70 mm range. This is the perfect entry-level | | | | one you are considering. If you are a savvy |
| scope. If you are pretty sure you are going to | | | | shopper, as is with most anything, you can find a |
| spend a fair amount of time with telescopes and | | | | fantastic value and get an instrument for less |
| you want to get an entry level priced one that | | | | than half its retail value. |
| has superior performance you should consider | | | | The Telescope Buyers Dilemma |
| getting a dobsonian in the eight to ten inch range. | | | | One question that gets asked a lot is “What if |
| If you know a bit about astronomy, or already | | | | I get a low end scope now and find out I love the |
| have a scope, and are pretty sure it will be a | | | | hobby?” Then I have to go out and spend |
| life-long pursuit I recommend you consider getting | | | | more on a bigger and better instrument. The |
| a Schmidt-Cassegrain scope which is a high quality | | | | money on the first telescope is pretty much |
| compound style instrument (It is a compound of | | | | wasted right? There is a small amount of truth to |
| both reflector and refractor). | | | | this but you have to consider that with your first |
| Style of Astronomy you want to pursue | | | | telescope you are going to be getting a small one |
| Reflectors and refractors have very different | | | | and just be dabbling into the hobby. If at some |
| performance under the night sky and this | | | | point in the future you spend more money and |
| performance could be a factor in what type of | | | | get a larger telescope you will find that your first |
| instrument you buy. Generally, if you are going to | | | | telescope is very useful. Some nights you |
| do observing of the moon and the planets and | | | | won’t be dragging a hundred pounds of |
| you want the absolute best performance you | | | | telescope out the door and spending a half-hour |
| should consider getting a refractor. This type of | | | | to set it up. You will just want to do some light |
| scope has the absolute best performance in this | | | | observing and the first scope will be perfect. That |
| area. If you want to do a lot of deep space | | | | first, and smaller instrument, will also be a perfect |
| exploration by finding and viewing galaxies, | | | | gift for a child or younger sibling. I pretty handily |
| nebulae, and other deep space objects you should | | | | solved this dilemma when I mounted my first |
| go with a reflector telescope. This is because the | | | | refractor right onto the tube of my second, much |
| most important thing about deep space objects is | | | | larger, reflector telescope. It served well as a |
| light gathering ability, and on a dollar per dollar | | | | spotter scope. As a bare minimum, if you take |
| basis a reflector gives you a substantial | | | | care of your first scope you will be able to re-sell |
| advantage over the refractor. You can get an | | | | it and recoup some of your costs. But because |
| eight-inch reflector for a few hundred dollars but | | | | the different sizes and types of scopes all have |
| an eight-inch refractor would cost you several | | | | benefits they always useful and people who are |
| thousand dollars. | | | | bitten by the bug of astronomy rarely sell their |
| Lifestyle and ease of Use | | | | telescopes. They are usually sold by people who |
| There are some other considerations that should | | | | have lost interest in the hobby. |
| go into your choice of scope. Are you a | | | | The hobby of amateur astronomy is a wonderful |
| backpacker or camper? Do you travel a lot? If | | | | hobby that can give you a lifetime of rewarding |
| this is the case then the weight, portability, and | | | | observation and photo taking. And finding the right |
| ease of use are important considerations. Two | | | | instrument can be a bit of a challenge but with a |
| good fits for this lifestyle would be an inexpensive | | | | little thought to price, lifestyle and future |
| four-inch reflector telescope or if you are able to | | | | observing aspirations you can find one that is |
| spend more a Schmidt-Cassegrain in the six to | | | | perfect for you. |
| eight-inch range. Both types of scopes are very | | | | |