Buying Your First Telescope

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what’s out there? Every day, thousands of amateur astronomers grab their telescope and aim it towards the open sky. Even with a small telescope, you can witness the spectacular rings of Saturn, Moons of Jupiter, Phases of Venus, Surface of our Moon and many star clusters.

The only problem is that astronomy can be quite complex, and if you don’t know how to find the best telescope for your needs, there is a good chance that you’ll end up with a frustrating experience.

We are popularizing the astronomy for several years now. "Which telescope to buy" is a very common question that we get.
Having an experience of operating over dozens of different telescopes, I've outlined below what I consider to be the top telescope choices for beginners.

1) GSO 6 inch Dobsonian

This classic 6-inch dobsonian from Guan Sheng Opticals, offers high optical performance at a low price.
This telescope is easy to setup and to operate with its alt-azimuthal Dobsonian mount.
Sharpness and contrast is beautiful.

Mount Type: Dobsonian (Alt-Az)
Approx Cost: Rs.25,000/-
Useful for viewing: Rings of Saturn, Moons of Jupiter, Phases of Venus, Surface of our Moon, many star clusters and few DSOs.

2) STAR TRACKER 150/750 HotStar Hippo Table Top Telescope
 

Promising telecope from our Indian manufacturer. The smallest 6 inch reflector I've seen. Can be carried easily.
Simplifed design for beginners. Ultra Light AZ Table Top Metal Mount Weight 1.5 KG.

Mount Type: Alt-Az, small handy tripod base
Approx Cost: Rs.22,000/-
Useful for viewing: Rings of Saturn, Moons of Jupiter, Phases of Venus, Surface of our Moon, many star clusters.

3) Celestron - ASTROMASTER 90AZ TELESCOPE

90mm refractor telescope with fully coated glass optics and a lightweight frame. Easy to operate, no-tool setup.
Panning handle Alt-Az control with clutch for smooth and accurate pointing.

Mount Type: Alt-Az, Tripod with expandable legs
Approx Cost: Rs.20,000/-
Useful for viewing: Rings of Saturn, Moons of Jupiter, Phases of Venus, Surface of our Moon, many star clusters.

4) STAR TRACKER 130/650 EQ

Nice telescope for a starter. 5 inch aperture gathers enough light and provides clear, sharp images of Solar System objects. Orion Nebula and few globular clusters can be seen through this telecope. Only thing is, it has equatorial mount, which needs little prior knowledge of how it works and how to set it up correctly.

Mount Type: EQ, Tripod with expandable legs
Approx Cost: Rs.20,000/-
Useful for viewing: Rings of Saturn, Moons of Jupiter, Phases of Venus, Surface of our Moon, many star clusters.

Please remember following things before you purchase a telescope

1) It is recommended that before buying any telescope, visit nearby astronomy club. Attend star gazing sessions where you can have hands on experience with the telecope and also understand few things about night sky.
2) Stay away from any telescope that brags about its power or magnification on the box.
3) Do not get attracted by outer looks of telescope or the amazing astronomy pictures shown on the telescope box.
4) Good telescopes are usually NOT sold in shops near you. It's always better to order a telescope from authorized dealer or from online sellers like Amazon.
5) There is no substitute for optical quality. The optical quality of a telescope is one of the most important attributes of a telescope. Read the specifications carefully.
6) The mount is as important as the scope. Chose the mount based on your experience.
7) Don't go for EQ mounts if you don't have any experience on it.

To conclude, the universe is full of mesmerizing wonders, but since they’re so far away, these objects are barely noticeable to the naked eye. With help from a small telescope, you can unlock the finer details and observe things that most people will never see.
Modern telescopes are equipped with incredible optics, and even if you can only afford a cheaper telescope, the ability to uncover and observe celestial objects is something that will never get boring.

Happy Star Gazing !
Cheers.
Amateur Astronomers Group