Now, the hard part . . . For example, let’s say your main interest is observing the planets. From the previous discussions and charts, you might have decided that any of a number of telescopes might do a nice job on the planets – a 6” f/8 reflector for example, or a 4” refractor, or a 3” compound scope. But – if you have to transport your scope downstairs to the backyard or out to a distant site each night to observe, the compound scope’s greater portability might well be the most important consideration. Or maybe you’re mainly interested in deep space observing. An 8” reflector might be appealing – but not if you live in a tenth floor apartment in a light-polluted city. Hauling its 50” long optical tube downstairs and then out to the dark skies that it needs in order to work best can be a major undertaking.

So match your astronomical ambitions to how far you have to go to find a suitable observing site, and to your strength and transportation (vehicle size) limits. If you have to drive to get to your observing site, don’t get a scope that’s too big for your car.

Don’t overbuy – either in size, weight, or price. If you want a big scope, choose one you can carry and set up by yourself in case your spouse or significant other can’t or won’t go with you. See our FAQ on “How big a scope do I need?” for some insights on telescope size.

A small telescope that sets up quickly for an hour of backyard observing – instead of watching another Star Trek rerun or Monday Night Football – can satisfy your astronomical interests for years. There’s a lot of sky to see, even with a modest aperture scope. And be sure to observe favorite objects frequently. The more you look, the better trained your eye will become, and the more you’ll see in those old friends every time you look at them. A better-trained eye can also find unfamiliar objects more easily and will see more detail in those objects once they’re found.

Use the charts and the material on the previous pages to pick the telescope types and sizes that match the kind of observing you want to do most. Then use your own common sense to judge which of those scope sizes and types is going to be the easiest to transport so you can easily get it to the observing site you’ll use most often. You can print out hard copies of the charts by clicking on the “Printer Friendly” icon at the top right of each page to make referring to them easier.

Be realistic – about how much time you can spend setting up or maintaining a scope, and about how convenient (or inconvenient) it’s going to be to get your scope to your observing site. The links at the top and bottom of this page will take you back to those sections on “Why buy a reflector . . . refractor . . . compound scope” in case you need a refresher on the pros and cons of the different scope types.

Once you’ve decided what type and size scope might best suit your needs, you can jump to the appropriate refractor, reflector, or compound telescope category to see the scopes available. You can also look at what the individual manufacturers have to offer with these links – Bushnell, Celestron, Konus, or Meade. At that point, your budget – and our discount prices – may make the final choice for you. Since you will probably want to add some extra eyepieces and accessories to start with, be realistic about your total budget, as well. Don’t spend it all on a scope and leave yourself with no money for a much-needed additional eyepiece, Moon filter, etc.

The “FAQ” tab above will answer some fun questions like “How far can I see with a telescope?” and “How much color can I see?”

The “Terms” tab will explain those cryptic technical terms and specifications that the manufacturers assume everyone already knows, but which may be new to you.

If you have trouble deciding on a scope or accessory, or if you have some requirements that are not covered in the information on this web site, send us an email or give us a call toll-free at (800) 422-7876. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you might have.

We’ve developed and refined this copyrighted information from practical experience in selling telescopes for more than 25 years and from our years of observing experience, as well (our staff has a combined total of more than 160 years of experience in using and selling telescopes). Several major telescope manufacturers have used this information to train their employees and new sales reps. It is used, with permission, by several universities and numerous high schools as a basic text in observational astronomy courses. This information has helped tens of thousands of people pick their right telescope. We hope it has done the same for you.