How to Buy a Telescope : Deciding What Size Telescope to Buy

Finding the right size of telescope for your needs. Find out the right telescope for you in this free home astronomy equipment video from a telescope designer and manufacturer.

Expert: Bill Burgess
Bio: Bill Burgess is the owner and founder of Burgess Optical, which is world-renowned for its custom-built telescopes and planetary eyepieces.
Filmmaker: Dimitri LaBarge

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• telescopes
• science
• optics
• astronomy
• free
• how
• to
• Expert
• Village

[foxjourney]

@dmana3172- i suggest that you buy the best the market can offer. try a pair of binnoculars with night vision. it'll give you great satisfaction.

[Jules7892]

@dmana3172 Don't forget, even your 14" SkyQuest, the Aperture is Large for a Dobsonian but you are still limited to "Visual Use Only" .. No Astro-Photography possible even on a point Keypad SkyQuest 14". The same $2,000 will get you an 8" GOTO Meade Computerized Telescope, Fully capable of Astro-Photography and a bigger Bang for your Astro-Photographic Dollar!!!!

[amanuel1231]

what is a good price for a telescope

[skittlepower95]

@dmana3172 look on the meade site they make good telescopes, probably the best you can buy

[dmana3172]

I have saved up to $2,000.00 and I'm ready to buy a telescope that is mind blowing. I don't want to be bored with it like I was with my 4.5inch and I'm looking for one where portability is important and the size too. Which one would that be? I want the highest qualities and see more things. I was looking at SkyQuest 14 dobs by Orion, but not sure if it's a good scope. What do you think?

[Flagged4PvP]

@dmana3172 Any with a quick-release mount helps alot for quick set up.

[dmana3172]

@Flagged4PvP, thank you very much for assisting me. I will check. Also, I have another question for you. Which overall telescope is the fastest and easiest to set up outside? I don't like spending times for set up. I just want to take it out, look at the stars, galaxies, and would like to do astrophotos sometimes. Would that be the Cassegrain, Newtonian or Dob reflector, or Refractors?

[Flagged4PvP]

@dmana3172 Cont... OR look for sales going on through the mfg. websites, occasionally there are month long sales on alot of stuff. Then just compare prices (retail/free shipping or directly from site/shipping fee) Howevr you probably won't find anything bigger than an 8" in retail stores. Which is more than enough for a first telescope. You will for sure see Jupiter/Saturn(Cassini Division!)/Venus/Mars and much more with an 8" As far as exoplanets go, I'd say something like Hubble. : )

[Flagged4PvP]

@dmana3172 Celestron and Meade are 2 of the best brands of telescopes for amateur-intermediate astronomy. I would suggest visiting either of their websites and look for reviews on different size scopes to find what you are looking for. When you get your heart set on one, it may be best to search large retail supplier web-sites (wal-mart,target, etc.) and see if they have any 'available for shipping to store.' I know wal-mart has a SiteToStore deal which charges no shipping fee.

[dmana3172]

What size of scope do I need to barely see exoplanets around nearby stars?