0%

“What kind of telescope should I buy?” “How much should I spend on my first telescope?” “What are the differences between reflectors and refractors?”

Early telescopes focused light using pieces of curved, clear glass, called lenses. However, most telescopes today use curved mirrors to gather light from the night sky. The shape of the mirror or lens in a telescope concentrates light. That light is what we see when we look into a telescope. A telescope is a tool that astronomers use to see faraway objects. Most telescopes, and all large telescopes work by using curved mirrors to gather and focus light from the night sky.

As we explore the question “What type of telescope should I buy?”, we can agree that the best telescope is one that will be practical and comfortable to use frequently, and that provides exciting views of the night sky.

When it comes to buying your first telescope, there are various factors to consider to ensure you make the right choice that balances your needs and budget. Futurama offers an extensive range of telescopes and accessories with outstanding brands like Bresser, Celestron, Sky-Watcher and Carson.

Understanding your needs:

Before purchasing a telescope, decide whether you’re primarily interested in stargazing or astrophotography. These activities require different types of telescopes with distinct specifications. For beginners, starting with visual observation allows you to learn your telescope's ins and outs before venturing into astrophotography which is more complex and expensive.

Set a reasonable budget, establishing a budget will help you narrow down your options. As a beginner, it’s advisable to start with an entry-level telescope that is easy to use. Avoid small or children’s telescopes as their optics performance is below average. While astronomy can be expensive, there are affordable options that offer decent performances for beginners.

Do thorough research, given the big variety of telescopes available. Doing in-depth research is essential since there are many different telescope models, brands and qualities of materials to explore.

Practical considerations:

Choose a new telescope, as a first-time buyer, it’s generally recommended to avoid purchasing second-hand telescopes. These instruments can be fragile and it's challenging for beginners to identify potential defects. Opting for a new telescope provides peace of mind knowing that your equipment is in good condition and comes with a warranty.

Manage your expectations regarding what you can observe through a telescope, the views you see through the eyepiece may differ from the processed images you often see.

Admittedly, there is a big variety of equipment available, however, we can divide all those variations into just three basic types.

Refracting telescopes

Most people will recognize the first type of telescope invented, which is known as a refracting telescope.

One of the most popular types of telescopes, refractors have many appealing qualities. Refracting telescopes use lenses and are known for how easy it is to set up, their smart views, and how lightweight it is. It requires practically no maintenance. Interchangeable eyepieces offer varying magnifications and increase the range of viewable objects and are great for observing bright objects like the moon and planets. If you are interested in deep sky imaging, consider a refractor with a large aperture and short focal length.

Reflecting telescopes

Reflecting telescopes have an open tube at the front and a round mirror inside the bottom of the tube to reflect light, called the primary mirror. They are generally more cost-effective than refractors and are ideal for a wide range of astronomical observations.

Light entering the tube is reflected inside the tube onto a much smaller angled secondary mirror, and then out through the side of the telescope near the top end, which is where the interchangeable eyepiece goes. There are two ways of using reflectors, smaller models up to 12 inches or on tripod-styled mounts like those used for refractors.

Cassegrain telescopes

Cassegrain telescopes are quite like refractors, meaning you point the front end at the sky, and you look into an interchangeable eyepiece on the back. These telescopes combine lenses and mirrors to create a compact design. Cassegrain telescopes offer a longer focal length within a shorter overall tube length, making them versatile and suitable for various observations. They are widely used in astrophotography due to their image quality and compact design.

All three types of telescopes are available as basic models or with fully computerized controls and even built-in Wi-Fi for operation via smartphone. Whether you choose a refractor, reflector or Cassegrain, contact us on 021 851 3284 or [email protected] so we can help you choose the right telescope that fits all your needs and budget perfectly.

Bibliography

Official, N. (September 30, 2021). How do telescopes work?
Place, N. S. (2021). How do telescopes work?
Jardine, T. (2021). How to choose your first telescope. Sky at Night magazine. Matteus. (2023, July). How to choose your first telescope. (Zashka, Interviewer)