The Right Telescope for Christmas

Are you searching for a decent telescope this Christmas? You will find that there are a myriad of types and models of telescopes to purchase. I have owned a couple of telescopes, but generally I prefer naked eye viewing of the night skies. If I keep myself confined to looking through a little hole in the telescope at a tiny patch of sky, then I may miss a meteor flashing by.

I will not suggest the best model telescope to buy since the person you are buying for will have different needs. They may be an expert in the field, or may be just getting started in the hobby. You will find that in the world of telescopes, you definitely get what you pay for. For example, models under $100 are generally junk and are to be avoided, unless you are buying for a toddler to play with and expect it to get destroyed. Higher end models for special applications run in the thousands of dollars. If you are looking to spend between $200 and $500, then there are some nice models to choose from, some with computerized assistance.

If you are purchasing for someone just starting out in astronomy as a hobby, what I will suggest is to look for is the stability of the mount first. Do not worry about the aperture. Most people run out and buy the telescope with the biggest lens, and light gathering ability first, with little thought to the mount. Yet, when they look through the telescope after setting it up they are disappointed to find that nothing can be viewed because the objects are so shaky and blurry.

The stability of the telescope plays a far more important role in terms of being able to view objects. Look for a telescope manufacturer that places an emphasis on quality of parts used in the tripod and mounting system. A decent camera and a stable mount or tripod system will allow an amateur astronomer to take stunning pictures, even with a smaller aperture scope.

For beginner astronomers, you just may want to consider getting a set of star charts or a star scope instead. These will help the beginner astronomer learn about the constellations and planets first. Knowledge of the night sky plays an important role in having an enjoyable evening of star watching. If you have no idea what the telescope is pointed at then it will be difficult to find some of the more unique objects that grace our night time sky.