If you’re just starting out as a hobby, choosing one of the best astrophotography telescopes can be tricky.  There are many factors to consider before you make your choice.  But whether you’re seriously considering buying your first telescope or just thinking about it, this guide will help you narrow down your options.  Read this article to find out the essential requirements for the best astronomical telescope, and follow these instructions to buy your telescope., and follow these instructions to buy your telescope.  

1. Essential requirements for the best astronomical telescope

(1) Weather resistance  

We rarely stargaze in the rain or snow, but it’s usually dark.  Accidents happen, and if they fall into puddles or on the wet or snowy ground, waterproofing may help.  

(2) Durability  

Like waterproofing, we didn’t want to abuse our fancy astronomical binoculars, but something unexpected happened.  We recommend that you never buy binoculars that look or feel cheap and flimsy.  Some telescopes may offer rubber coatings to improve grip and durability, which is a nice feature.  

(3) Coating  

It is micron thin and applied to optical surfaces in multiple layers to improve the performance of oscilloscopes.  When applied to lenses, these coatings help prevent incident light from reflecting off the surface (and thus being lost) and will be optimized for nighttime observations of celestial bodies — often focusing on highlighting certain wavelengths to improve observations.  When applied to mirrors (whether primary, secondary, or diagonal), they add reflection to achieve 100% reflection.  The best coating is dielectric, which can reach more than 99+%.  

(4) Ocular relief  

Distance is the maximum distance you can place your eye from the lens at the top of the eyepiece when you see the full field of view.  The specification relates to viewing comfort and head position.  This is usually an unpleasant experience if you have to keep your eyes on the eyepiece all the time, which often happens with eyepieces that are about 5 mm to 8 mm short.  If you wear glasses while viewing, and if your viewing eye has significant astigmatism, which is important, a long distance of 18 mm to 20 mm is essential.  Some eyepieces, especially those with a long focal length, have a long eye distance, which makes it difficult to position your eyes to get the full field of view.  

(5) Multilayer coating optics  

Multilayer coated optical elements are coatings that help reduce glare, provide clearer images and reduce atomization.  Multilayer coated lenses appear on higher-quality binoculars, so keep this in mind when shopping.  

(6) Weight  

Weight is the last major component of an astronomical telescope.  Some binoculars used for stargazing have huge objective lenses that can make your binoculars weigh up to 10 pounds.  When you look up at the stars, this weight falls on your eyes and quickly becomes uncomfortable.  If the binoculars you are looking at weigh more than two pounds, we highly recommend that you make sure it has a tripod attachment.  

2. Everything has its price

Resist the urge to buy the cheapest telescope, tempting as it may be.  Most are of poor quality, optically, mechanically, or both, and can be disappointing.  You can get a decent telescope for less, but only if you shop carefully.  Even so, you’ll get an oscilloscope with a very moderate aperture.  The cheapest oscilloscopes without serious compromise are 6 – or 8-inch DOBs, which range in price from about $300 to $500.  

On the other hand, even if you have a lot of money to spend, don’t buy the biggest, most expensive telescope you can currently afford.  Start smaller and more manageable.  Most serious observers have two or more telescopes for different purposes.  It makes sense to start with a cheaper option before you explore your options and discover where your long-term benefits lie.  

Also, be sure to save some astronomical budget for additional eyepieces to expand the range of magnification, detailed sky atlas, good guides, and any number of other accessories.  

3. Final advice  

Whether you’re interested in casual stargazing or complex astrophotography projects, choose telescope mounts and tripods that help ensure optimal stability and clear image quality.  Choose a telescope with a tripod, or try a separate optical tube assembly with various mounts.  Lightweight tripods and carrying cases are ideal for frequent business travelers, while heavy-duty tripods and anchored docks provide maximum support for sturdier models.