Choosing Equipment

Choosing a telescope or other astronomical equipment can be a daunting task to the unweary. For kids with an interest in the night sky I think the right thing to do is to buy them a cheap telescope but If you are an adult then I think perhaps if you are new to astronomy, a good pair of binoculars may be a better starting point.

If you decide to get binoculars first, then you can always spend time at your local astronomical society trying out different types of telescopes before you buy. In these pages, you can find advice on binoculars and telescopes and there is even a section with advice for parents.

Choosing a Telescope

Deciding which telescope to buy can be a daunting task for the beginner. There are a number of things to consider that will determine which telescope would be just right for you and once you have discovered this, it becomes a whole lot easier.

Choosing Eyepieces

Telescopes are nothing without an eyepiece. Whilst typical birdwatching telescopes have fixed eyepieces, an astronomical telescope has interchangeable ones. Choosing the wrong or cheap quality eyepieces will seriously degrade the performance of the telescope. This section teaches you all about eyepieces and what to look for.

Buying Binoculars

Before buying a telescope, you might want to consider buying a pair of binoculars first. If you are new to the subject it will give you a slightly closer view of objects in the sky yet at much less expense than a telescope. They are also a lot easier to use and you will soon be picking out previously unseen galaxies and star clusters.

Advice for Parents

If your children are interested in astronomy then this is the section for you. It will help you choose the right first telescope for them.