Top notch makers include Obsession, Starmaster, Starsplitter, Teleport, and Mag-One, to name but a few. Prices vary according to aperture size, optical quality, mechanical quality, and features (especially for "truss" designs" and those that might embed electronics). There are several makers of quality Dobsonian reflectors in sizes from 3" all the way up to 36". Electronic encoders, servo drives, and tracking platforms, especially the nice dual-axis ones, do add a lot more to the total, but those are options for a later date. Often, these can be purchased as add-ons, however. The big negative when considering the Dobsonian (or "Dob") is that you are generally limited in the accessories you can include, especially if you desire the telescope to track automatically with the stars, or even give you electronic "goto" functionality. It's pure, raw aperture with nothing other extravagances to be purchased. Thus, the Dobsonian mount has become the most popular choice for general, deep sky observing. The larger the tube, the more robust and expensive such a mount becomes. Even so, some people, especially astrophotographers, will opt to spend thousands of dollars on an equatorial tracking mount to use with these such optical tubes, known also as optical tube assemblies (OTAs). Most observers of all levels of experience purchase these in the Dobsonian mounted-design because they give the most bang for the buck, sparing the customer the added cost of a good quality (or even bad) German equatorial mount. The most common large aperture scope among amateurs is the reflector (aka, the Newtonian), mostly because it costs the least per inch of aperture when compared to other designs. Only occasionally will larger aperture scopes perform at their theoretical resolutions, though make no mistake about it, they will certainly provide some exciting views during moments of excellent seeing! Of course, those living in good seeing areas, like on the coasts or atop a mountain, will be able to make best use of the resolution granted by large aperture scopes.īut the fact that bigger scopes will accumulate more light makes them the best, and often only, choice for viewing faint DSOs, regardless of how good your seeing tends to be. While the quality of the atmospheric conditions, or "seeing," is the true limiting factor in this regard, most people will find that a good 10" scope will give great details for the majority of sky conditions. Secondly, aperture serves to provide increased resolution, or detail in your views. Thus, the larger the aperture of the scope, the more likely you will be able to see these objects, even at very low magnifications. Most objects in the night sky are rather large and would be seen EASILY by the naked eye if they were bright enough. To elaborate, bigger apertures gives a larger opening for collecting light, which is the FIRST job of a telescope. In other words, unless you want your scopes portable, APERTURE is ALWAYS important! APERTURE IS KING! Likewise, aperture size is important for the fastest photographic speed and when trying to see faint stuff from light polluted skies. APERTURE size is important if you like deep sky objects (DSOs) like galaxies and globular clusters, or high resolution views of the planets. I'll also discuss some other factors that play into any purchase decision.įinally, I will give recommendations based upon the kind of hobbyist you think you will be! Let's get started. Plus, I'll give examples of scope designs that best meet those qualifications. In this Telescope Buyer's Guide, I'll talk a bit about each of these qualities and what it will mean to you. Those five qualities are listed here, somewhat, in descending order of importance. In fact, these qualities are relevant to both the beginner and the expert, and serve as general rules to the hobby. These should be on your mind when searching for your first telescope. So instead of trying to explain to you what each type of scope does (a study for a later time), I think it's important to outline several qualities first. Apos and Achros SCTs and Maks dobs and newts RCs and CDKs.the choices can get overwhelming! But then, you must also consider how each "scope" or optical tube assembly (OTA) is mounted (see SIDEBAR: BASIC TELESCOPE MOUNT OPTIONS at right). There are just so many different types of scopes that do so many different types of things. Purchasing a telescope, especially your first scope, is a daunting task.
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