Astronomy is a fascinating hobby. Depending on what type of telescope you buy, it is possible to view detailed images of the moon, the other planets in our solar system, and even distant galaxies in deep space. If you are just getting started in amateur astronomy and are ready to buy a telescope, there are a few things you should know. First of all, there are three basic types of telescopes: refractors, reflectors, and catadioptics (or "compound" telescopes as they are also called.) Each one has its own particular strong points. Before you Buy A Telescope of any type, you need to understand aperture. Many people who are new to amateur astronomy will buy a telescope based on its magnifying power instead of on the size of its aperture. Quite frankly, most people outside of the field have never even heard the word before, but aperture refers to the size of the primary lens or mirror in a telescope (whichever is the main optical element.) The larger the aperture, the be...
One of the first things you will learn if you're interested in buying a beginner telescope is that aperture, not magnifying power, is the key to a good telescope. The aperture of a telescope refers to the size of its primary optical element-in a refractor it's the lens, in a reflector it's the mirror, and in a compound it's both. Aperture effects how bright objects in a telescope will appear and how much detail will be revealed. So the larger the aperture, the better the viewing through a beginner telescope. Each type of beginner telescope-be it refractor, reflector, or compound-has its own advantages and disadvantages. Refractors, for instance, are known for providing the brightest and sharpest images relative to any other type of scope with the same sized aperture. Because of this, however, they are more expensive. And for someone buying a beginner telescope, sometimes it's a good idea to start off with a less expensive model with which to get your feet w...