What should one look for when buying a telescope??

Answer 1

This depends on what you want to do with your telescope.

NEVER BUY FROM A DISCOUNT STORE!

In all cases, look for good optics. For a refractor, that means making sure that there is as little chromatic aberation (coloring) as possible in the image. For a reflector, that means making sure there is not much spherical aberation (that the mirror is a good parabola). A reputable telescope maker should be able to deliver this: look for Meade, Orion, Celestron.

If you want to view planets, get a refractor with a long focal length. Planets are bright and you want to have high magnification, which comes from a long focal length. Next, get as much aperature (diameter of the objective lens) as possible with your budget. If you can, get a apochromatic refractor (but these are expensive).

For nebula and galaxies, you should get a reflector with large aperature. Galaxies are large, but dim, so you want to gather a lot of light. You don't need magnification as much.

In almost no situation will you be able to go above a magnification of 300x. Any telescope that advertises more than that should be immediately rejected.

Next, if you want to take astro-photos you should have an equitorial mount. This is a standard mount for refractors, but many reflectors have dobsonian mounts (or alt-az mounts). If you don't want to take pictures and want to see galaxies, go for a dobsonian reflector since you can get more aperature for the price that way.

Next, many telescopes have 'go-to' features today, so you don't have to hunt for objects in the sky. I prefer to hunt, but many do not. Having this feature will increase the cost of you scope.

Finally, don't get a telescope that is larger than you will use. Larger telescopes will show you more, but they tend to be heavy and ackward to move. The best telescope is one you actually use.

Answer 2

ok don't get taken in by high magnification, anything above 150x is too much and you'll never use magnification that high. you want a good size objective (mirror in a reflector, lens in a refractor). you want a solid mount, equatorial mounts are good but they have to be tough, a dobsonian mount is simple and works good. if you're looking at the deep sky (galaxies and nebulae that are quite dim) then you want a light bucket, a big dobsonian telescope) if you're just looking at planets then a small refractor or reflector would do.

even a cheap telescope will let you see many things but always beware of cheap ones. i have two cheaps ones at home and their mounts are so wobbly that they are almost useless. the scopes themselves are good enough to see moons of jupiter though.

so it depends on how much you are willing to spend. stargazer steve is a name i have heard good things about, he sells fair size telescopes at a very good price, the catch is that you have to put it together yourself. which can be cool, its supposed to not be that hard, and then its really your own telescope.

or you could drop 10,000 and get a fully computerized meade or celestron that automatically points at any object you tell it to. lol whichever works for you

Answer 3

You want to look at the stars?

To the naked eye: 6,000 stars are visible, but only about 2,000 at any one time
With binoculars: 50,000 stars
With a telescope with a 2 inch lense: 300,000 stars
With a telescope with a 16 inch lense: about 100,000 Galaxies !!! (not stars)

Answer 4

A reputed firm, great resolution, high magnification and of course good workmanship. If you can get a warranty and after sales service, its better.

Answer 5

see in : www.meade.com