subject: Best Telescopes - How To Choose Your First Telescope [print this page] Best Telescopes - How To Choose Your First Telescope
If you are considering investing in a telescope, it really is worth investing - at the very least - a sensible amount of time knowing the technical issues involved.
Many times what people think they want and what they REALLY need are two completely different things!
Just like any other large purchase, it's important to consider two simple questions:
1. What do you really want to get out of your telescope?
2. How much money do you want to spend?
Knowing how to purchase a telescope frequently depends on answering these two simple questions.
It is often a good idea to begin small-scale and work your way up to "bigger and better". And just in case you don't have a great deal of money to spend, then it is quite acceptable to start out with binoculars. Even with a simple pair of binoculars, you will be surprised at just how much you're able to observe.
Before you tear off and invest any considerable amount of cash, it is imperative you embark on some very simple research. By merely looking around at the different types of telescopes you'll be able to have an understanding of what is actually available. Check out different facets of the telescope and then determine what's most important to you so you know you will be using your cash wisely.
The Two Most Important Elements of a Telescope
Knowing how to purchase a telescope entails knowing what elements of the telescope are most essential. The first place to start is the eyepiece which is undoubtedly one of the most significant pieces of a telescope. Ideally, you will want a telescope that will have an adjustable eyepiece so you can adjust the magnification or one which allows for interchangeable eyepieces.
With a high-quality eyepiece you should be able to obtain a razor-sharp and very clear view along with almost no 'chromatic aberration' which is a visual effect which creates a halo of colours around particularly brighter objects.
You will also need to consider exactly WHERE you will likely be doing most of your star gazing. Are you likely to be making use of the telescope in a highly-lit town or city or, are you likely to be using it in less 'light polluted' locations? This will make a difference because if you've got interference from outside aspects such as 'light pollution' or 'noise', you will want to employ a telescope that can overcome these kinds of factors.
The most important function of a telescope is to gain as much light as possible. In the event that you don't obtain enough light, you will not see anything at all, no matter how much magnification you throw at it. Specifically, what really matters here is the aperture.
Each and every single telescope has either a primary lens or mirror which is used for obtaining light. This is referred to as the telescope's "objective" - and the width of that objective's aperture is key. So the size of the aperture really does count because the capability of a telescope to obtain light is proportional to the objective's surface area and not so much the diameter.
The general guideline you need to always remember when considering on how to buy a telescope is to purchase something that will meet your basic requirements without the need of going over-the-top on price. Never purchase a telescope on power alone. Of course, if you think that this is a pastime truly worth persuing, then it is undeniably worthwhile considering acquiring something that you can grow into and make full use of as you move forward in deepening your understanding in this passionate hobby.
