If you decide to do astronomy, and the starry sky attracts and beckons with its magical light, it is time to acquire a telescope and look at it more closely. But how do you choose it?
Optical system
The choice of the telescope optical system depends on the tasks at hand. A telescope with a refractor system is not suitable for home use - it works best in open areas. But a reflex mirror lens will cope with this task much better. This optical system is ideal for those who want to observe distant objects emitting dim light without overpaying.
Lens and magnification
Often, beginners purchase high-magnification lenses and eyepieces for their telescope, literally throwing away money. This is one of the most common buying mistakes. You will be surprised, but the most powerful eyepiece may not live up to your expectations at all, and its more visually impaired counterpart, on the contrary, will give a picture of better clarity. How so?
The fact is that the initial capabilities of the telescope itself, even when amplified with large lenses, are not at all limitless. To determine the maximum magnification factor of your future telescope with additional lenses, the value of the objective diameter, taken in millimeters (aperture), must be multiplied by a factor of 1. 4. An increase in this magnification will give image defects - darkening, blurring, etc.
Support and size
For a home telescope, a support or mount is very important. Their models differ not only in brands and functional options, but also in strength and structure. There are three types of mounts in amateur telescopes: azimuth, equatorial, and Dobson systems. The simplest is azimuth. This mount is perfect for a beginner astronomer and even a child. In the support of the equatorial type, it is possible to define objects by coordinates from the specified parameters. The Dobson mount is an intermediate version of the first two models. It will not find distant objects so clearly, but it will be easy to use and affordable.
Another important issue is the size of the telescope. If you are purchasing a model for the home and do not have a separate room equipped for an observatory, think about where you will store and install your telescope. Today there is a wide selection of hobbyist models specifically designed for home installation or portability. An important detail is the weight of the system. If the telescope needs to be constantly removed and installed, make sure that this procedure does not turn from pleasant to painful.
