They are basically “point-and-shoot”, but they are less precise and have limitations when it comes to tracking objects.ĮQ mounts fix all that, but they are considerably harder to use.įor a first-time user, an AZ mount is usually recommended. There are two main types of mounts, Alt-Azimuth and Equatorial but they are generally abbreviated as AZ and EQ. The mount of a telescope is the part that connects the tripod to the tube and controls the movement. Manufacturing large telescope lenses and mirrors is very expensive so you will notice high price jumps between apertures, even if the difference is only 20mm-30mm (less than 1″). If you want to maximize the power (magnification) that a telescope can achieve, then you need to get the one with the largest aperture that your budget allows for.Īperture is also going to determine a lot about the price of a telescope. No matter how well-manufactured a lens is, at some point, it is just not possible for it to capture any more detail than what its aperture supports. It is the diameter of the main mirror and it is going to determine the maximum amount of light the device can capture. Reflectors offer more power and precise optics at the expense of portability, brightness, and occasional maintenance.Īperture is the most important specification for any telescope.Refractors are easier to use and maintain but they are expensive to produce in large apertures.We have extensive articles about that for both refractors and reflectors but here are some quick guidelines that might help you choose. From those two other sub-types are derived and there are even some hybrid models. Even if they look similar from the outside, they can use different lens configurations and designs to transmit light as accurately as possible without adding visual errors. If this is your first scope, you will definitely want to keep on reading. If you are upgrading from a basic telescope you might already know a lot of this but it is always a good idea to brush up on your knowledge. There are a few factors to consider when choosing a telescope in order to make sure that your money is well-spent. It can also be considered an entry-level astrophotography device. It can go toe to toe with more expensive models.īest portable/travel telescope – Sky-Watcher StarTravel 102 AZ3 – Light but very powerful refractor with excellent optics. Incredible optics thanks to its Extra Low Dispersion lenses. Great optics quality too.īest for astrophotography – SVBONY SV503. The telescope with the most magnification that you will find in this price range. The StarSense telescopes come with a smartphone dock and include sky-mapping technology to make objects easy to find. A powerful mid-range Newtonian telescope that is considerably below budget, which allows us to add a whole kit of high-quality eyepieces and filters.īest for beginners – Celestron StarSense Explorer DX 130AZ. If you just want to skip to the picks, here they are.īest value – Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ + Accessory kit. Thanks to being an astronomy writer, I’ve had the chance to personally test all the most popular telescopes in this category and compared them side to side to figure out which ones offer the best value, optics, and features. The good news is that I have done all the homework for you. However, choosing the best telescope under $500 that fits your needs can be tricky as there are so many options and types to choose from. And if you want to get into astrophotography, you can pick a fast, doublet, or triplet refractor with amazing optic quality. Another option is to get a computerized telescope that can automatically track objects for you. For example, you can go for the maximum possible power and select a large aperture scope of up to 150mm. This is also the price range where you can start to think about advanced and specialized features that you can choose from depending on the primary use that you want. At this price range, you can get a very powerful device that goes well beyond the “entry-level” category and is much closer to the “very serious enthusiast” side. But investing them in a telescope can definitely be worth it.
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