Welcome to how much does a telescope cost. This can depend on a lot of things...
Here we will go through the different types of telescopes.
Three basic telescope designs use different optics to achieve the same result. These can make distant objects look bigger and brighter than they appear to your eye. See the text for links to animations that show how light passes through the optics of each design.
• Refractors have a lens at the front of the tube. These are the type you're probably most familiar with. While generally low maintenance, they quickly get expensive as the aperture increases. In refractor lingo, an apochromat offers better optical quality, but is more expensive, than an achromat of the same size.
• Reflectors gather light using a mirror at the rear of the main tube. For a given aperture, these are generally the least expensive type, but you'll need to adjust the optical alignment every now and then. More often if you bump it around a lot but that adjustment, called collimation, is straightforward.
• Compound (or catadioptric) telescopes, which use a combination of lenses and mirrors, offer compact tubes and relatively light weight. Two popular designs you'll often see are called Schmidt-Cassegrains and Maksutov-Cassegrains.
So that covers the technical part on the three types of telescopes.
How do you decide which one is right for you?
- I'd like a telescope for a beginner - Refractor or Reflector.
- I'd like a telescope that requires little or no maintenance - Refractor.
- I'd like to also observe objects close by like wildlife - Refractor or Compound.
- I'd like to view faint, deep sky objects: Reflector or Compound.
- I'd like the best image quality: Reflector or Compound.
- I'd like the biggest bang for my buck (high value): Reflector.
The first choice is a great beginner telescope
AstroMaster 70 EQ Refractor
Brand Celestron- Series
- Quick and easy no-tool setup.
- Permanently mounted StarPointer.
- Erect image optics - Ideal for terrestrial and astronomical use.
- Quick release dovetail attachment - no tool setup.
- German Equatorial mount with Setting circles - to accurately locate and track sky objects.
- Rugged pre-assembled tripod with 1.25" steel tube legs - Provides a rigid and stable platform.
- All coated glass optics for clear, crisp images.
- Deluxe accessory tray for convenient storage of accessories.
- BONUS Astronomy Software download with a 10,000 object database, printable sky maps and 75 enhanced images.
The second choice is a great intermediate telescope
Brand Celestron- Series.
- 9.25" EdgeHD Optics.
- CGEM Computerized Equatorial Mount.
- Celestron's premium StarBright XLT coatings.
- 9x50 finderscope to help accurately find objects.
- Ultra sturdy 2" steel tripod with Accessory Tray.
- Star diagonal provides more comfortable viewing position when observing objects that are high in the sky.
HD FEATURES
- New aplanatic Schmidt telescope design produces aberration-free images across a wide field of view.
- Mirror tension locks hold the primary mirror in place and reduces image shift.
- Cooling vents allow hot air to be released from behind the primary mirror.
- Fastar compatible for fast f/2 imaging.
Celestron CGEM 925 HD Telescope 11081.
The third choice is a great advanced telescope
Celestron CGEM II Edge HD Telescope (9.25" OTA)
Brand Celestron- Series
- 9.25” EdgeHD optics.
- CGEM II computerized equatorial mount.
- Celestron’s premium StarBright XLT coatings provide maximum light transmission.
- A 9x50 finderscope, 2” mirror diagonal for more comfortable viewing, and wide
- angle 23 mm Luminos 2" eyepiece are all included.
- EdgeHD aplanatic, flat field SCT optics for pinpoint stars to the edge of the largest imaging sensors and widest eyepieces. Lightweight and portable.
- Aluminum optical tube with tube vents featuring an integrated 95-micron mesh filter allows hot air to be released from behind the primary mirror. Mirror support knobs hold the mirror in place and reduce image shift during imaging.
- Versatile design accommodates 3 focal ratios: native f/10, f/7 with the addition of a focal reducer, or ultra-fast f/2 imaging with a removable secondary mirror and third-party accessories.
EDGE HD FEATURES.
So that covers the first three telescopes on how much does a telescope cost review.
Here are some more great telescopes for beginners intermediates and experts.
Celestron NexStar 130 SLT Computerized Telescope
- Compatible with 2" eyepieces.
- High quality 130 mm reflector.
- Fully computerized Altazimuth mount.
NEXSTAR 90SLT COMPUTERIZED TELESCOPE
- High quality 90mm Maksutov-Cassegrain
- Fully computerized Altazimuth mount.
- StarPointer finderscope to help with alignment and accurately locating objects.
NEXSTAR 6SE COMPUTERIZED TELESCOPE
- Celestron’s iconic “orange tube” design is updated with all the latest features to provide the best stargazing experience for beginners and experienced observers alike.
NEXSTAR 8SE COMPUTERIZED TELESCOPE
- The world’s most beloved telescope! The classic, 8-inch Schmidt-Cassegrain revolutionized amateur astronomy in the 1970s.
Celestron CPC 1100 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2800mm Telescope with Tripod and Tube
- 11-inch diffraction limited Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
- Fully computerized dual fork arm altazimuth mount.
- Ergonomic design--Comfortably move the telescope from location to location.
- Proven NexStar computer control technology; GPS alignment.
- 280 mm aperture, 2800 mm focal length
Celestron CGX Equatorial 1100 Rowe-Ackermann Schmidt Astrograph Telescope
- 11" RASA optical tube assembly.
- CGX computerized equatorial mount.
ASTROGRAPH FEATURES
- Ultra-fast, 11-inch f/2.2 optical design with rare-earth glass for images free of false color, coma, and field curvature. Cuts imaging time by more than half.
Here are some telescopes for younger people
TwinStar 60mm Compact Refractor AstroVenture Telescope
- This scope is so easy there's no instructions. Pop open the tripod. Screw the telescope on the tripod. Attach the finder scope, insert eyepiece. Point. Look. That's why we love recommending this telescope for younger people.
Orion 10034 GoScope II 70mm Refractor
- Have you ever planned a road-trip in the family car and realized that everyone's must-have luggage leaves precious little spare room for a telescope? Orion has the answer! Kids and the whole family can still enjoy sharp daytime terrestrial views and night sky observations while on the road.
Orion 10033 FunScope 76mm TableTop Reflector
- The Fun Scope is no toy, but it is great for kids and young adults who show an interest in space and astronomy. Fun Scope is a real reflecting telescope with a 76mm (3 inch) diameter polished spherical mirror which allows you to capture 60 percent more light than a typical 60mm beginner's telescope.
Orion 09881 Observer 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope
- The Observer 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope is well suited to beginning astronomers thanks to its versatility and simple, easy-to-use design. It is a very lightweight and compact telescope, weighing just 6.5 lbs.
Here are some great books on Telescopes and Astronomy
50 Things To See With A Small Telescope
- This delightful book covers the 50 things to see and some of them are: 'North Star, Venus, Orion Nebula, Mars, Jupiter, The Milky Way, Comets, the International Space Station, and even birds'. Just a fascinating read for me which I will go back and refer to after my telescope is purchased.
NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe
- This fourth edition of the essential guide for amateur stargazers is newly updated, lavishly illustrated...and packed with facts...and a cosmic closet-full of other astronomical delights.
Star Ware: The Amateur Astronomer's Guide
- In this revised and updated Fourth Edition of the essential guide to comparing and selecting sky-watching equipment, award-winning astronomy writer Philip Harrington takes you telescope shopping the easy way.
The Everything Kids' Astronomy Book
- Aliens, space ships, and constellations, oh my! Ride on a rocket ship to another galaxy with this stellar book. WithThe Everything Kids' Astronomy Book
, astronomers-in-training will learn