Telescopes

Telescopes

The specialised optical design of refractor telescopes means they are generally preferred for astrophotography. Reflectors, meanwhile, tend to offer a larger aperture at a lower price, meaning they are generally a solid option for beginners and those on a budget. Catadioptric telescopes tend to be much more compact and portable than other types (particularly refractors, which have an optical path that requires a relatively long barrel).

When it comes to using telescopes for astronomy, something that’s just as important as the scope itself is the mount you use it with. The main types of telescope mounts are Dobsonian, alt-azimuth, and equatorial. Alt-azimuth mounts are the simplest type, based on two axes of movement – horizontal and vertical. Dobsonian is essentially the same but is a specific type of mount designed to support a heavy telescope with a large aperture – for that reason, they tend to be quite a bit bulkier. Equatorial mounts move along one axis, aligned with the axis of the Earth’s rotation. They take a fair bit of time and precision to set up but allow for incredibly smooth tracking of celestial objects as they move along the night sky.

If you’re looking for your first telescope, experts will likely point you towards a reflector telescope with a Dobsonian mount. This provides an inexpensive but powerful viewing platform for spotting objects in the night sky, and in many cases, it will be a relatively simple proposition to set it up for astrophotography.

When viewing the night sky through a telescope, it’s not enough to just point and hope – you need to know where you’re looking. Many modern telescopes come with companion apps that make it easy to calibrate and aim to maximise viewing potential on any given night. Alignment is much quicker and simpler than it used to be, and you don’t need to be an expert to find the best points of interest in the night sky.

With sophisticated optical coatings and high-end glass elements, modern telescopes offer greater clarity and magnifying power than ever before. Don’t let the long words and technical jargon put you off trying out astronomy and astrophotography for yourself. There are a great deal of resources online to help you make the most of your telescope and catch a glimpse of the wonders of the universe.

View Our Awards »