Top 5 Telescopes for Beginners

by Magdalena Szczypa

We have all gone through this. You decide to do something with your passion for astronomy and want to buy a telescope, but you have no idea of what equipment is best for you. Often, due to inexperience, you end up buying a telescope too advanced and too expensive to your liking, causing frustration which makes you lose interest.

The first telescope should therefore be easy-to-use and provide the user with a pleasant learning experience. After attaining a certain level of expertise, it is time for more advanced, expensive and demanding telescopes.

When buying your first telescope, look for the following characteristics:

1. Optics- the quality of a telescope’s optics is of utmost importance when it comes to astronomy. The telescopes described in this article are versatile in regards to their performance in the planetary, deep space observation or in the terrestrial viewing.

2. Ease of use- the biggest nightmare of any novice astronomer is to have a big, heavy and cumbersome telescope which takes ages to set-up. Moreover, some telescopes may be very complex systems to master due to various mounts, lenses, navigation systems, and such. However, always look for good optics and quality mechanics.

3. Astrophotography- many novice astronomers rush into astrophotography. In general, it is not advisable as it can be quite a difficult technique to master for inexperienced photographers. However, if you are determined to learn the technique, it is better to start off early if only to save money later on.

However, I realize that every user is unique and has different astronomy-related goals, and therefore needs different equipment. Hence, I strived to make this list as differentiated as possible in order to address a wide audience of eager novice astronomers.

Bear in mind that this list, being compiled for beginners, indicates that it does not include any telescopes with the advanced, and often expensive, Go-To systems. I believe a beginner should learn to spot the heavenly bodies without any computerized help.

The inspiration for this list and the specifications of these telescopes, I took from www.telescopeplanet.co.uk.

MEADE LIGHTBRIDGE 8″ DOBSONIAN DLX

This list starts with a personal favourite – the Meade Lightbridge 8” Dobsonian DLX. If you have been looking for your first telescope, there is a good chance you have come across this telescope on various forums. It is one of the most commonly recommended telescopes for beginners. Despite its size, it is easy to transport and setup, as well as being surprisingly lightweight when compared to telescopes of a similar size. However, you still need a spacious room to store it appropriately.

Due to its large aperture and substantial light gathering capacity, it allows you to view many different planetary objects including Jupiter and Saturn. Moreover, possessing objective diameter of 203 mm and focal ratio of f/6, it is the best telescope in this list for deep space observations.

In addition, it is equipped with altazimuth mount and it is operated manually, allowing the newbies to learn all the basics, including finding and following the stars. Nevertheless, for the individuals who, in the near future, plan on getting involved with astrophotography, because of its mounting, choosing this telescope is not recommended.

All in all, if you do not want to deal with any overly complicated systems, you would like to spend most of your time on observing the celestial objects, and you are not interested in daytime terrestrial observing, this is the telescope you are looking for.

CELESTRON ASTROMASTER 130EQ

The Celestron AstroMaster 130 EQ telescope is a so-called reflector telescope (also known as a Newtonian telescope) which means that it uses mirrors instead of lenses. This telescope is very good if you want to focus your observations both on celestial as well as terrestrial viewing.

It is provided with very clear assembly instructions, which makes it quite easy for the beginners to assemble it quickly. Additionally, it does not require any tools to do so. Due to a very strong construction, it belongs to the category of heavier telescopes; however, it is still very easy to transport. Moreover, the steel tripod that comes with the telescope is very stable and stands well on uneven ground.

This model has an (optional) tracking motor. The motor allows you to follow an object you want to observe automatically. Furthermore, it is equipped with the equatorial mount which allows smooth tracking of the stars. Both the tracking motor and the mount are very important for those who would like to try astrophotography in the future.

In regards to the observations, it is better suited for lunar and planetary observations rather than with deep sky. The objects you may see include: Jupiter, Saturn and its rings.

The biggest shortcoming of this telescope is the so-called RedDot (Star Pointer) function. Most beginners have difficulty in using it properly because they do not know how to configure and point it. Nevertheless, in order to save time and frustration, it may be exchanged for some other model.

All in all, Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ is a very good telescope for beginners who would like to have a taste of every kind of observation and are thinking of astrophotography in the future.

BRESSER LYRA TELESCOPE

The Bresser Lyra Telescope is a refractor telescope thus using lenses rather than mirrors. It is definitely a good choice for a limited budget. Being the cheapest telescope in this list, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Bresser Lyra has the lowest objective diameter (70 mm) of all the telescopes described in this article.

A major plus-side is that it is very easy to transport due to its light weight and is relatively easy to assemble and disassemble.

The Bresser Lyra has an equatorial mount, making tracking of the stars relatively simple and creating the possibility for lunar and planetary astrophotography. It also can be used for both celestial and terrestrial observations; however, it performs the best during planetary and lunar viewing. It shows high quality during observations of the moon, Saturn and its rings, Jupiter and some double stars.

The stability of this telescope is one of its biggest disadvantages. The tripod that comes with the telescope is largely to blame. It is quite lightweight, made largely from plastic and overall quite flimsy.

In conclusion, considering its price/quality ratio, this telescope is recommended for beginners who are not certain whether astronomy will remain their hobby or whether it is something temporary.

BYNOSTAR SPN 130-900 TELESCOPE

Another good beginner’s telescope is the Bynostar SPN 130-900 Telescope. It is a reflector telescope that is equipped with electronic motor which assures that the objects within the view will stay in sight. Considering that it is a Newtonian, you do not need any additions to have a comfortable observing position.

Similar to the other telescopes, it also has an equatorial mounting. An amateur astronomer should not have a problem with its usage as it is not overly complicated and requires little time to set-up. Having a focal ratio of f/7, it is a telescope that is good for viewing all-around; therefore, it performs as well with deep space objects as it does with lunar and planetary astronomy.

This telescope is somewhat heavier than for example the Bresser Lyra or the Astromasters 130EQ. However, it also improves stability and its ability to be positioned properly on more difficult surfaces.

Some objects that are easily observable are the Moon craters (up to 1.7 km) during clear night. Moreover, Jupiter, Saturn, as well as all 110 Messier objects are also clearly visible with this telescope.

The Bynostar SPN 130-900 is a very comprehensive telescope that allows viewing a wide range of objects; however, its price is more in the top range especially for a novice astronomer.

CELESTRON OMNI XLT 102

The Celestron Omni XTL 102 is a refractor telescope made only out of the highest quality materials. Refractors are superior to reflectors because they lack secondary obstruction, coma or because they require less maintenance.

I recommend the Omni XTL 102 because of its sharp optics, fast cool down, and great performance in dark locations. It also possesses one of the best price/quality ratios. This telescope performs very well in planetary and lunar observations; and considering deep space observation it is second best after a Dobsonian. It is also advised for terrestrial viewing.

There is no substantial difficulty in regards to the transportation or set up time; however, it is the heaviest telescope of all five, mainly due to the very heavy tripod and counterweights.

The vibrations are, therefore, minimized significantly. Additionally, it has the high quality mounting system which combines the tools for smooth and very precise movement. This makes this telescope one of the best for astrophotography.

Being a telescope of a very high quality, beginners who decide on purchasing the Omni XTL 102 have to be aware that it takes some time to learn how to operate it properly and become comfortable with all its features.

In conclusion, it is the best telescope for individuals who plan on using this telescope for a longer period and are not afraid of a small challenge at the beginning of their journey with astronomy.

Which one should you buy?

The best answer which I can give you is (perhaps a bit unsatisfactory), it ‘depends’. Which telescope is the best one depends entirely on you. Do you really want to travel around with the biggest telescope you can find or do you prefer something portable? Do you want to make stunning photographs or casually observe the night sky for heavenly bodies? Furthermore, there are lots of advantages and disadvantages with the different designs of telescopes.

However, before you make any decision as to what telescope is best for you, it is of great importance that you try them out first. The best way to do so is to get involved with a local astronomy club which organizes viewing nights during which you could try and use different telescopes yourself. Remember that the best telescope is the one you will actually use.

Specifications

Below you can find the comparison of five telescopes described above.

Filed under: Astronomy Articles