' Tis the season to take up uranology , as they say , so what better way than by buying some equipment . But delving into this world can be fairly intimidating , with an array of terms , abilities , and more to get your head around .
Before we initiate , we should note that we unquestionably send word against buying the scope you notice in a department store for under $ 100 or so . These run to be terrible quality , and are not worth your money . They will often boast ridiculous magnification figures ( like 600x ) , which is useless for modest telescope and the range will just look fuzzy . There are plenty of garish options that are still good timbre !
Starting out with a brace of binoculars , before you splash out on a scope , is also a good diea . You ’ll be surprised what you may see in the night sky with a just pair of astronomy binoculars .
But if you ’re quick for a telescope , what should you buy ? Here , we ’ve break up the sections into beginner , medium , and advanced . Let ’s take a look .
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Celestron FirstScope
Price : $ 49.95
Get it from : Amazon
If you do want to go gimcrack and cheerful , or your telescope is for a little’un , then the Celestron FirstScope is n’t a uncollectible bet .
It ’s a pocket-sized tabletop telescope that comes with two eyepiece , giving you wide and close - up view of the night sky . It ’s pay off a little aperture of 76 mm ( 3 inches ) so the range of objects to view wo n’t be great , aside from the Moon and planet . But , for the damage , it ’s not a bad option .
Orion SpaceProbe 3
toll : $ 109.94
turn over the price , this is a decent telescope . With a 76 - millimetre ( 3 inches ) aperture , you still wo n’t see a huge amount in the sky , but it ’s a unspoilt introduction to getting to grips with how a scope and its backing work .
Celestron Astromaster 70AZ
monetary value : $ 115.36
If you ’re willing to spend a snatch more money but do n’t want to go crazy , the Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ is quite good .
It ’s a refractor scope , with an aperture of 70 millimeters ( 2.76 column inch ) . With this , you should get some decent thought of the Moon and major planet , and even the lunar month of Jupiter and rings of Saturn . For deep sky objects like galaxies and nebulae , though , you ’ll need something a turn pricier .
average
Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
Price : $ 299.99
If you ’re inclined to spend a snatch more , this Dobsonian reflecting telescope is a fantastic fashion to get started .
It has a large 152 - mm ( 6 inches ) aperture , which is good enough to see not only the Moon and the planet , but also deep sky aim including nebulae , coltsfoot , and star clusters . It ’s also fairly soft to move and use , too .
hellcat A70Lf 70 mm
Price : $ 159
away from expect rather passably , this Vixen telescope shoot a line near eye despite its sizing . Its aperture is only 70 millimeters ( 2.8 column inch ) , but this is a good selection for break up out detail on aim like crater on the Moon or the ring of Saturn .
Celestron SkyProdigy 130
Price : $ 670.95
If you ’ve used a scope before and want to upgrade , or think you ’re quick for a bigger dip , then check out the Celestron SkyProdigy 130 .
Its large aperture of 130 millimeters ( 5.1 in ) will cope with an regalia of Solar System and deep sky objects , but its primary selling point is its GoTo potentiality . Once the scope has been ordinate with three vivid stars , you ’ll be capable to practice a hand controller to mechanically level it to various objects at the touch of a clit .
Advanced
Hunter SkyQuest XT8i IntelliScope
Price : $ 659.99
If you ’re ready to travail deep in your pocket , this Dobsonian is a good choice for seeing removed galaxies and nebulae . It ’s a turn complicated to set up but , once it is , that 203 - mm ( 8 inches ) aperture will do a expectant job of opening up the creation .
Celestron CPC 800 XLT
Price:$1,699
This Schmidt - Cassegrain telescope , with GoTo technology , gasconade an aperture of 203 - millimeter ( 8 inches ) . Despite the money it ’s expert economic value and a inflexible physique , affording you some excellent prospect of the cosmos .
Meade LX200 - ACF
Price : $ 2,699
If you ’re prepared to go the whole nine yards , then this feature - rich scope might be your bag . With a large 203 - millimeter ( 8 inches ) aperture , and a GoTo computer , this scope will allow you find even those hard - to - see rich sky objects .
