#Best telescope under how to#

Refractors are easy to use, don’t require maintenance, and offer great optical performance. A large, thin tube with the exit pupil at the end. It is also the image that generally comes to mind when you think of a telescope. Refracting telescopes – This is the type of telescope that I recommend the most for beginners. There are quite a few types of telescopes, but for the purpose of this article, we are going to focus on the two types that are going to be the most predominant in the $200 price bracket. If you want to learn more about aperture, check out our complete guide here or this comparison with photos so you can get an idea about what you can expect. If you find yourself trying to decide between two telescopes that are otherwise the same, pick the one with the larger aperture. When it comes to aperture, more is always better. A large aperture can make up for limitations in all of the other specifications of a telescope, and in contrast, no matter how good all the other components are if the aperture is small you will never be able to get detailed images past a certain point. It is the most important specification to consider because it is going to determine the maximum amount of light the device can capture. The aperture of a telescope is the diameter of the main lens or mirror. ApertureĪperture is the most important number that you want to look at when choosing a new telescope.

There are a few factors that you will want to prioritize when it comes to choosing any telescope, but since we are on a fixed budget, the following are going to be the most important ones.

#Best telescope under how to#

Skip to the picks How to choose a telescope under $200 Perfect beginner’s telescope with solid optics, compact body, and easy to use. Powerful Newtonian scope for people looking for the maximum possible magnification in this price range.Ī compact and lightweight device with decent optics and an excellent price-to-value ratio.īest for kids – Celestron StarMaster 70AZ It takes out many of the frustrations and complications of getting started with stargazing.īest Newtonian – Orion StarBlast II 4.5 EQ The StarSense technology is the best way for a beginner to learn without complications.

If you just want to skip to the picks, here they are.īest telescope under $200 – Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 80AZ. That’s why I have built this buying guide that assumes no prior knowledge and will help you through the whole process of selecting the best telescope under $200 dollars. Stargazing is a wonderful hobby where you can learn a lot, but that is also extremely relaxing and even a bit therapeutic. But it’s not that hard and it is absolutely worth it, I promise. But wait, you are not done, you still have to choose what type of mount you want and which accessories you should prioritize… Then you find there are many different types of telescopes like refractors and Newtonians, and each of them has its own variants. You start by reading about all these concepts that seem complicated like aperture, focal length, etc. Especially when you are on a fixed budget of let’s say $200. The resurgence in space exploration programs from both private and public sectors has made many of us look at the sky once again.īut choosing a telescope to get started can be a daunting task. The number of people getting into stargazing in recent years has increased dramatically.