The BEST Telescope for Beginners (What You Need to Know)

What is the best telescope for a beginner wanting to get started in astronomy and stargazing? In this video, I talk about the best telescopes for beginners, from smart telescopes to the telescopes you should avoid.

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00:00 Introduction
01:24 Telescopes to avoid
03:21 Smart telescopes for beginners
05:09 Best telescope type
06:39 Best telescope for beginnerss
07:49 Best big telescope for beginners
09:53 Astrophotography

[AmatureAstronomer]

I just got into the hobby in August 2023. I had a $300 budget. I wanted to do deep space astrophotography. Everyone said I must buy a Dobonian and aperture is king. So, I bought a 10" Dobsonian. Then found out it was too heavy for me to drag into the back garden and not well suited for photography.

Then, I bought a 150mm Newtonian on a CG-4 mount. Still too heavy and no motor drive.

Then, I bought a 130mm Newtonian on a EQ-3 motorized mount. Great! Not too heavy and could track. But, in my Bortle 6 sky, looking through my cataracts, I could not star hop.

Then, I bought a Sky-Watcher AZ GTi mount and an 80mm ED refractor. Worked nicely. Started taking pictures. But, field rotation kept eating my photos.

So, I recently purchased a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi equatorial mount, a 6" SCT, a x0.63 reducer and a Hyperstar 4 v6. When the weather clears, I hope to use this setup for most all photographical needs. Oh, and I am over budget.

[josipmatic]

My 6 year old daughter is crazy about astronomy and space and begs me to buy a telescope. This was super helpful. Thnx.

[crabbyreef]

Great video, just wish I had seen it before throwing money away on an EQ scope. The awkwardness of the EQ is spot on! Junk! Thanks again!

[Sinan-gf]

I have been interested in buying a telescope for a long time. However, I found it difficult to find out more about it. This video gave me some very good tips and advice to help me make a decision. Very helpful video and very nice explanations. Subscription is out.

[fghuriv]

I've been watching so many videos so help simplify the language required to purchase a great scope for my 8 year old. This video was by FAR the most helpful. Thanks.

[k.shawndohm]

Came across your video by accident. Glad I did. Recently started paying attention to what's above instead of what's put in front of us. Found your information insightful and helpful . Subscribed and look forward to videos and information. Thanks

[Broshan]

Hey, as a beginner, i got a 152/1200 dobsonian to learn the sky and constellations. I got to see m29 and m39 in cygnus! I am in b4 germany. I am loving it!

[absorbingphotons]

This is my new favorite video to send people when I get the "what telescope should I buy?" question from my friends who are beginners. Agree entirely with everything you recommended. I especially love the GoTo tabletop Dobs like the Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTI 150p. 👍

[dusk]

What’s the point of smart telescope if your just going to look through an iPad or phone? Might as well just google the images then…

[FlorianSalta]

Thank you for putting together this helpful video!!

[cameronross]

Great, informative video. Despite being rather experienced with telescopes and astrophysics myself, I learned more here. What is your opinion on the Flex-tube vs. traditional Dobsonian? I always viewed the open flex-tube as inviting unwanted light pollution....

[TransformersHoarder]

Before I watch this video, I think I did ok for our first telescope, went with a Celestron Starsense 8” Dob. My problem is Glass. Eye relief, field of view and so forth. I know I’m collecting a good amount of light but eyepieces seem to be more important if not just as important. From my limited research it seems as Tele Vue is the Rolex of the glass world. But man are they crazy expensive. I know, I know… buy once cry once but at these prices I think I’ll only get away with buying a couple pieces per year. Another issue is we are in a high light pollution area and I need a good light pollution filter to combat some of it. Thinking of starting with Tele Vue 24 mm Panoptic 1.25" Eyepiece, Tele Vue 9 mm Nagler Type 6 Eyepiece, Tele Vue 2.5x - 1.25" Powermate, and a Celestron 1.25" Ultra High Contrast (UHC) Light Pollution Reduction Filter. From there not sure where I would go?

[napke]

Nice vid, I am using a Skywatcher 200mm Newtonian ( 200P ), Skywatcher 102mm/f500 ( very compact ), Teleskop Service 102mm/1100mm refractor with fine dual focuser ( my best lens and view quality for the planets ) and a Bresser 127mm/F9, 5 refractor ( nice but not especially better than my other refractors ). All fine scopes for very reasonable prices. But please boys and girls, spend some money on better eyepieces and the mount, it WILL change the hobby! My favorite scope is my smaller 102mm/F500, you know why? Very easy to handle and the setup is done in 2 minutes, the only one that is also possible to travel with without car. Crispy clear views one Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon and some star clusters and yes Andromeda is watchable as well. The best telescope is the one you use the most, simple as that :)

[BillyTheTrap]

I really need this! I’m getting myself into astronomy!

[decibellone]

Ive been at this hobby a long time (51 years), get the best you can afford, Go-To doesn't seem important at this point, but trust me if you like it (the hobby) you will need it.

[LearnToStargaze]

Carroll and Ostlie has to be the only book titled “An Introduction” that is over 1300 pages.

[ekgsijr]

The first thing I learned about using my "department store" telescope was to set the whole thing, tripod and all, up on a table so I didn't wreck my back looking through it for more than a minute. The second thing I learned was that it's surprisingly hard to find what you're looking for. The third thing was, the farther away you're looking, the more you have to keep moving the thing to keep up with what you're looking at.

[oggy_reviews]

Man thanks a lot it was very helpful
But lemme just ask
Whats the poimt of smart "telescope" if you gonna watch the image on ur phone or laptop

I want that classic feeling of watching them with my own eyes
Gonna go for dob telescope ig fir visuals
I will surely buy a diff one in future for astrophotography

Thanks man
Alao if you have time i would like to talk to you bout astronomy
It will be very appreciated thanks

[fwqmeeq]

hey lan
thank you I have learned so much from your video
so I want to get my first telescope but I want some thing that is traditional and smart but not fully smart 
I want a telescope that locate the objects in the sky since I don't have any experience in the sky
can you please recommend me some
I have seen many but I couldn't decide what to get, I want to see if I'm really in to it

[vitalife]

Hi. What do you think about Celestron 8se? I want to do astro photo. Thanks