Your budget goes primarily towards how powerful the telescope is (the size of the light-gathering mirror) rather than fancy electronics.Ī Dobsonian telescope with a 6″ mirror costs in the region of £280, an 8″ about £360 and a 10″ approximately £520. They are terrific fun to use too, and little can go wrong if you look after them! How much does a Dobsonian cost?īeing of simple design, Dobsonian telescopes are amongst the best value telescopes that money can buy without too much compromise. They are good value for money, ideal for beginners (including children from about 10), and great for observing the Moon, planets, and the brighter deep sky objects such as galaxies and nebulae. They move up and down and twist on a rotating base, meaning they can point at any part of the sky. Named after their inventor John Dobson, an amateur astronomer from San Francisco, these telescopes are sturdy, have good quality optics, and come with large reflective surfaces (mirrors) that gather more light.ĭobsonians are extremely easy to use. The team here at Go Stargazing highly recommends a particular type of telescope known as a Dobsonian. The best telescopes have good light gathering area, quality optics, a solid mount and are easy to setup and use. The power of a telescope is determined by how much light it can collect - not by how much it can magnify! The more light a telescope can gather, the brighter the image formed and the more detail you will see. The light that is gathered by the telescope forms an image which is then magnified using an eyepiece that you look through.
If you are going to buy a telescope, it’s good to understand how they work! Telescopes work by gathering light - some do this using mirrors (reflecting telescopes), and others use lenses (refracting telescopes). The best advice we can give before buying a telescope is first to visit your local Astronomical Society or Astronomy Club who will be happy to help you choose a suitable instrument - many will be able to offer hands-on practical experience with a variety of telescopes explaining the pros and cons of each design.įor your nearest Society or Club check our events map or the Federation of Astronomical Societies website. In a nutshell, the best beginner’s telescope is used regularly and not one that lives in its box! It, therefore, needs to be easy to set up, practical and enjoyable to use. This article offers advice on which one may be most suitable for you, your budget and your circumstances. With such a variety of telescopes on offer, it can be tricky to choose which one is most suitable, especially for beginners.
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