How to Select the Best Telescope for Beginners

Stargaze like a pro with the right optical instrument

Very few experiences are as spectacular as being out under a clear night sky while gazing at an infinite array of stars overhead. Making the sparkling wonders of celestial bodies that are many light years away seem like they’re almost within reach allows you to feel as though you're traveling through outer space. Therefore, it's no surprise that astronomy and stargazing as hobbies have gained popularity in recent times. If you're thinking of getting into amateur astronomy, you'll need to equip yourself with a good beginner telescope. Have you ever asked yourself, what is the best telescope for beginners? With such a vast range of options available, it may be tricky to choose one that is suitable for you. Read on to gain insights on what to look for when buying your first telescope.

What is a telescope?

A telescope is an optical instrument that uses a broad variety of lenses and curved mirrors to help you observe distant objects. Telescopes work by gathering light or electromagnetic radiation using one or more curved optical elements and bringing it to a focus for observation. Invented in the early 17th century, the first type of practical telescope was a refracting telescope. A few decades later, there was the development of reflecting telescopes. The 20th century saw the introduction of many new types of telescopes, including radio, X-ray and infrared models. Other types of telescopes are cosmic-ray telescopes, gravitational-wave detectors and spotting scopes, which are also popular with birdwatchers.

Major types of telescopes for beginners

Stargazing equipment, such as binoculars, telescopes and optics, are available in a diverse pool of layouts to meet your needs. Telescopes come in three basic types: refractors, reflectors and compound telescopes.

Refractors

Refractors are often common amateur telescopes that are easily recognizable. They feature a lens at the front of the tube and a series of glass lenses inside the tube. These telescopes have an eyepiece at the end of the tube that displays a magnified object. Refractors are good for viewing craters on the moon or bright planets at night. You can also use them in the daytime to see landscapes and wildlife. Since they are portable and simple to aim, refractor telescopes are easy to use.

Reflectors

Rather than lenses, reflectors use mirrors to reflect light. Invented by Sir Isaac Newton, they are also referred to as Newtonian telescopes. Their unique build allows the placement of the eyepiece at convenient locations at the side of the telescope. Since mirrors are more affordable than lenses, reflector telescopes are a budget-friendly option when buying a large telescope. Use reflector telescopes to look deep into the sky and view nearby galaxies or Jupiter's moons.

Compound or catadioptric telescopes

Compound telescopes are a combination of refractors and reflectors. They use a blend of mirrors and lenses to create a powerful telescope with a short tube length. Catadioptric telescopes feature an eyepiece at the end. With short tubes and being relatively lightweight, these telescopes are easily portable.

Telescope features to look for

When buying a telescope, you'll need to consider a few specs, including:

Aperture: Measured in millimeters (mm), this is the diameter of the primary lens or mirror in a telescope. The aperture size is directly proportional to the scope's light-gathering ability. Larger apertures provide brighter images and allow you to view deeper into space. If you want to avoid a bulky telescope, consider buying 60-80 mm refractors or 114-152 mm reflectors.
Focal length (F or FL): Focal length is the measurement from the main optic to where the image is formed. It directly affects the magnification potential of your telescope.
Focal ratio (F-ratio): This is the telescope's focal length, divided by its aperture. Smaller f-ratios offer lower magnification. Smaller f-ratios also provide wider fields and brighter images, making them best for wide-field observing and deep space objects like galaxies. Large f-ratios are good for narrow-field and high-power views of celestial bodies like the moon. Medium f-ratio works well with either field.
Magnification power: A good telescope is about more than just power. Although high magnification makes an object seem larger, it spreads light over a larger area. This can subsequently create a fainter image in the eyepiece. A magnification of 50x is ideal for a beginner telescope.
Eyepieces: Telescopes come with at least one eyepiece. Eyepieces come rated in millimeters with smaller numbers indicating higher magnification. A 25-mm eyepiece is common and more suited for beginners.
Finder: A finder is an observing aid that sits on your telescope. It simplifies finding objects in the sky. Traditional finder scopes rely on a user seeing a crosshair against a stellar backdrop while "red-dot" scopes mark the field of view with a red LED.

Do mounts matter?

For clear images, your telescope's mount is as equally important as your telescope. Look out for quality mounts that are stable to avoid shaky views. Heavy mounts may keep your telescope still but can affect portability. For portable stargazing, consider a good pair of binoculars, a monocular or small telescope.

Altitude-azimuth (alt-az) mounts are the simplest mount systems. They allow your scope to swing left to right and up-down. Equatorial mounts work similarly but come with an axis aligned parallel to the Earth's rotational axis. These mounts allow you to trace along the path of stars in the sky.

Telescopes, cameras, camcorders and drones can open your eyes to a world of celestial delights. Whether you want to view star constellations, see craters on the moon and planets or seeking a first telescope for a kid, go for models that are practical and enjoyable to use.