If you’re looking to buy your first telescope—or your first good telescope—this guide is for you.
I’ll cover the most important aspects of a telescope, how much you should expect to spend, and provide four excellent examples to consider. The following choices are obviously not the only ones to choose from, but they offer a variety of options and a good starting point, depending on what you want to get out of your telescope.
These recommendations are based on years of extensive deep-sky astrophotography experience, with countless successful imaging sessions under the stars.
As an astrophotographer, I’ve highlighted telescopes suited for that purpose, but I’ve also made sure that visual astronomy enthusiasts are covered as well. Your first telescope should be of good quality, but you don’t need a top-of-the-line model right away.
So, hold on to your star charts, and let’s dive in.
What To Consider When Buying a Telescope?
I typically suggest beginners start by enjoying visual astronomy through a simple, well-built telescope. This way, you can learn the night sky on your own, casually experience the joys of stargazing, and spend time outside at night.
However, if you know your interest lies in astrophotography, and you want to jump right into your first deep-sky imaging rig, remember that this hobby is expensive – photography, in general, is expensive, but astrophotography takes it one step further.
Quality optics are not cheap, but that’s not to say you can’t get into the game with a limited budget. You can utilize used gear, smaller setups, and older cameras to keep your budget down. But you can expect to spend around $2,000 USD for a small, high-quality, deep-sky imaging system.
Important aspects to consider when buying a telescope:
- Aperture: A bigger aperture means more light collection.
- Focal Length & Focal Ratio: Determines magnification and field of view.
- Mount: Sturdy, with options for manual, computerized, or GoTo tracking.
- Optical Design: Refractor, reflector, or compound, depending on your use.
- Portability: How easy it is to transport and set up.
- Computerization: Ideal for beginners or those interested in astrophotography.
- Price & Accessories: Keep an eye on additional costs for essential items.
So, what specifications should you look for when shopping for a telescope? Well, that depends on what you want to do with your telescope.
There’s No “One Size Fits All” Telescope
It’s important to realize there isn’t a single telescope that does everything perfectly so it’s important to be clear about what you want to get out of your telescope:
- Do you want to see planets up close?
- Do you want the telescope to find objects in space for you?
- Do you want to take pictures of galaxies like Andromeda?
Remember, larger telescopes with big apertures collect more light and usually have better magnification for smaller objects. However, this is mostly relevant for visual use—looking through an eyepiece.
For astrophotography, a smaller telescope can capture incredible details with long-exposure photography. We’ll cover that more later.
With this in mind, below are a variety of options for different user experiences depending how you want to use your telescope.
1) Apertura AD8 (Visual Astronomy)
A manual telescope, like the Dobsonian reflector, will help you connect with our Universe on a deeper level than any computerized telescope ever could.
The optical design of a Dobsonian includes a large primary mirror at the end of its optical tube. The large primary mirror reflects the image of your object to a secondary mirror and into the telescope eyepiece. The result is an unforgettable real-time view of the wonders above our heads in the sky.
My recommendation for visual astronomers is an 8-inch Dobsonian telescope, which is the “sweet spot” between aperture and portability. This telescope is large enough for jaw-dropping views yet small enough to fit in your trunk or back seat.
Apertura AD8 Dobsonian Telescope
A Dob is fantastic for seeing planets like Saturn and distant galaxies with the naked eye. However, this type of telescope requires you to manually point it at the night sky and find deep-sky objects.
A planetarium smartphone app, such as Stellarium, is a useful tool for helping you locate objects with your telescope. I find this hands-on approach fun and rewarding, but some people prefer a more automated experience.
The Apertura AD8 stands out in a busy crowd of competing 8-inch Dobsonian reflectors. This is largely due to the quality of its construction, most notably the steel tension knobs to adjust the balance of the tube within the rocker box.
I was also extremely impressed with the generous extras that came with the AD8. The laser collimator, 2-inch 30mm eyepiece, and 35mm extension tube were the biggest surprises.
Apertura AD8 Dobsonian Reflector Telescope:
- Optical Design: Newtonian Reflector
- Focal Length: 1200mm
- Aperture: 8 Inches
- Focal Ratio: F/5.9
- Telescope Weight (without base): 24.5 lbs (11 kg)
Considerations:
- Added Expenses: Account for extra expenses that come along with the purchase, including eyepieces and filters.
- Collimation: Dobsonian telescopes require collimation (aligning the mirrors) from time to time. Some say about once a year, and this can be a daunting task if the process is new to you.
Another Option: Celestron StarSense Explorer Dob
The Celestron StarSense Explorer Dob adds an integrated smartphone app to help you find objects in the night sky. Just like the Apertura AD8, this telescope has enough power to see solar system objects like the moon and planets, as well as distant galaxies and nebulae.
I think this is a great telescope for beginners who need help finding objects in the night sky. If you are willing to add an element of tech to the manual, hands-on experience of the Dobsonian telescope, it can be a great tool.
Celestron StarSense Explorer Dob
2) Celestron NexStar 8SE (Computerized Mount)
If you want a telescope that can automatically point to objects and track them, consider the NexStar 8SE. The Celestron NexStar 8SE computerized telescope is one of the best-selling telescope packages of all time.
It features a large-aperture optical telescope and a computerized GoTo mount. Using the hand controller, you can choose an object to view, and the telescope will point right to it.
Alternatively, you can select your location from the database (I chose Toronto, which is close enough) and point the scope at any three bright stars.
It packs plenty of light-gathering power into a compact, practical size. It also provides impressive views of planets and brighter deep-sky objects. Thanks in part to Celestron’s Starbright XLT optical coatings, this telescope’s optics deliver crisp, high-contrast views.
This telescope collects light at an f-ratio of F10, which is much “slower” than a typical reflector or refractor telescope. This means that the fainter nebulae and galaxies will be tough to observe, especially if you’re observing the night sky from a light-polluted city.
Celestron NexStar 8SE Telescope:
- Optical Design: Schmidt-Cassegrain
- Focal Length: 2032 mm
- Aperture: 203 mm (8″)
- Focal Ratio: F/10
- Tube Weight: 12.5 lbs (5.6 kg)
Considerations:
- Mount Durability: While the optical tube itself is fantastic, the fork mount base of the NexStar 8SE can be a little wobbly, considering the weight and cost of the system.
- Astrophotography Limitations: The Alt-Az fork mount is not what you want if your primary interest is long-exposure astrophotography, an equatorial telescope mount is best.
- Requires Power: The mount requires power. You can use the AC adapter to plug the mount into household power, use 8 x AA batteries or use a 12V DC portable power supply.
- Collimation: Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes require collimation (aligning the mirrors) from time to time. Some say about once a year, and this can be a daunting task if the process is new to you.
3) William Optics RedCat51 (Astrophotography Only)
If you’re serious about astrophotography, a dedicated astrophotography telescope is essential. These setups are designed to capture high-quality deep-sky images. However, they come with a few caveats:
- They are expensive
- They are not ideal for visual astronomy
- You’ll need additional equipment like a camera, mount, and filters to complete your imaging system.
The William Optics RedCat 51 is the ultimate astrophotography telescope. Its short focal length of 250mm offers a wide field of view similar to that of a telephoto camera lens. This makes it ideal for deep-sky imaging because a wide focal length makes things like alignment, finding objects, and accurate tracking easier.
William Optics RedCat 51 APO Refractor.
The RedCat 51 is very small and lightweight, just 3.9 pounds. This means you do not require a robust equatorial mount to take long-exposure images. A small star tracker like the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi is more than enough.
At 250mm, larger nebulae are best, especially when utilizing the full potential of the large 44mm image circle with a full-frame camera. It can capture unforgettable wide-field images with your DSLR or dedicated astronomy camera.
This is a perfect choice for anyone currently using a star tracker for astrophotography. Even with a dedicated astronomy camera, small guide scope, and a wireless controller (like the ASIAIR Plus), you will still be well under the maximum payload capacity of the mount.
Image taken by Ashley using the RedCat 51 (V3)
William Optics RedCat 51:
- Optical Design: Refractor
- Focal Length: 250mm
- Aperture: 51 mm
- Focal Ratio: F/4.9
- Telescope Weight: 3.2 lbs
- Mounting Style: Vixen/Arca-Swiss
Considerations:
- Additional Gear: you’ll need additional equipment like a camera, mount, and filters to complete your imaging system.
- Select Targets: imaging solar system targets, like planets, isn’t possible with such a wide focal length. You’ll want to stick to nebulae and galaxies, and other wide-field image compositions.
- Learning Curve: getting into astrophotography will require more time and effort in learning to setup and use your equipment, but also how to process your images. This includes understanding integration time, calibration frames, image stacking, and processing your images.
Another Option: William Optics Pleiades 68
The William Optics Pleiades 68 offers an impressive balance between portability, optical performance, and light-gathering power. At F/3.8, it is the fastest refractor telescope I have ever used.
If your interests lie in wide-field deep-sky astrophotography, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a compatible telescope that is full-frame compatible at this price ($1,998 USD).
4) ZWO Seestar S50 (Smart Telescope)
If you want to capture images without needing to find objects manually, a smart telescope might be for you. These telescopes connect to your smartphone via an app, allowing you to easily capture near real-time views of the night sky.
The ZWO Seestar S50 is an attractive option for beginners or those seeking convenience. Instead of looking through the eyepiece, you’ll see a bright, enhanced view on your device.
It also handles object tracking and image stacking, so you don’t have to. The mobile app makes controlling the telescope easy, and the long-exposure imaging feature allows you to capture details that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye.
It’s compact and includes everything you need to observe and photograph the night sky. It’s one of the cheapest, fastest, and easiest ways to get an impressive photo of the Moon, the Sun, and deep-sky objects such as galaxies and nebulae.
ZWO Seestar S50:
- Optical Design: Refractor
- Focal Length: 250 mm
- Aperture: 50 mm
- Focal Ratio: F/5
- Total Weight: 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg)
Another Option: DWARF 3
The Dwarf 3 smart telescope is a compact, ultra-portable device that was designed to make astrophotography easy and fun. While this device is in its third iteration, it is the first DwarfLab product I’ve ever used and is currently available for preorder.
It combines a small telescope, an astronomy camera, and a computerized mount to track and photograph objects in space. It also features a secondary wide-angle lens that can be used for daytime photos, videos, and even astrophotography.
Dwarf smart telescope with the included magnetic solar filter
Budget Considerations
The price of a telescope is a crucial factor. Here’s a rough estimate for each of the options discussed:
- ZWO Seestar S50: $500 USD
While this little telescope package is not exactly high-end in terms of photography performance, it does an admirable job with what it’s working with. The Seestar lets anyone take their own astrophotos without any previous photography experience. It’s a great starting point and gateway into the hobby of astronomy.
- Apertura Dobsonian: $700 USD
A Dobsonian reflector offers the largest aperture per inch of any type of telescope. This is why you see so many giant Dobsonian reflector telescopes at astronomy star parties. The Apertura AD8 telescope will guide you (manually) through the process of learning the night sky in a straightforward and gratifying way.
- William Optics RedCat 51: $900 USD
This price does not include the additional equipment required to complete your deep-sky imaging setup (i.e. camera, mount, camera, etc.). Expect to to spend around $4,000 total for a complete setup. I’m not knocking this option – it’s my personal favorite – but all of the other options include a mount, and an eyepiece or camera to see things in space.
- Celestron NexStar 8SE: $1500 USD
For the price, you get an 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with excellent optics and a computerized mount that can point to objects in the night sky for you. Building a telescope package like this for the price would be nearly impossible when buying the items separately. It includes everything you need to start observing the night sky but does have it’s limitations when it comes to astrophotography.
User Experience Matters
Let’s talk about user experience, because this is huge. It’s the part that doesn’t show up on the spec sheet. Be realistic here:
- How much time and effort are you willing to invest?
- Do you have the patience to learn how to stack and edit astrophotography images?
- Or do you want to show your kids the bands of Jupiter during a camping trip?
For pure visual astronomy, the 8-inch Dobsonian is the clear winner. It collects the most light into the eyepiece, giving stunning views of celestial objects. Its focal length of 1200mm provides a deep view of objects like the Moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, and the Orion Nebula.
If you want a similar experience but with some help, the NexStar 8SE balances manual control and automation. Its focal length of 2000mm is perfect for viewing planets and tracking their movement across the sky.
A smart telescope, like the Seestar S50, can be set up and ready in minutes. It can be used with your mobile device to show deep-sky objects around you. You can watch your images live stack on the screen as the image gets better and better.
The RedCat certainly requires the most effort, knowledge, and budget. Not only do you need to purchase additional equipment, but you will need to understand how to set it all up and get it working. While this may take most time to learn, this set up is a setup you can grow into, and the results are certainly worth the journey,
Conclusion
These aren’t the only telescopes out there, but they represent a great mix of options for both visual observers and aspiring astrophotographers. It also gives you a baseline for where to start your search and what to consider when buying a telescope.
If none of these telescope options fit your needs, I recommend attending a local stargazing event. You can see what other people are using and ask for their opinions.
Buying a telescope is a big decision. Not just because of the money, but a frustrating first experience can ruin that spark that got you interested in looking up in the first place.
I hope this guide has inspired you to continue your journey and find the perfect telescope for your needs!
Trevor Jones is an astrophotographer and a valued member of the RASC. His passion is inspiring others to start their astrophotography journey on YouTube so they can appreciate the night sky as much as he does. His images have been featured in astronomy books & online publications, including the NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD).
