If you are new to astronomy, the first investment you need to make should be a beginner telescope. Of course you could buy a telescope with all the advanced features with a big price tag, but we would suggest that you start with a telescope that is a little less complicated, easy to use, and more affordable.

Why Start With a Beginner Telescope

The reasons we suggest that you start on a smaller scale is that you want to avoid the frustration of attempting to use an advance telescope without training and experience. A beginner telescope will afford you with a great number of opportunities to view the stars and planets while you learn the basics of stargazing.

While you may find telescopes with all the “bells and whistles” you could ever imagine, making your choice of a beginner telescope should be an educated one. Avoid spontaneous decisions and do your homework – it could be the difference between starting a new exciting hobby and losing interest and wasting money.

Making the Right Choice

Choosing a telescope can be a difficult process for the novice. If you do not make the right choice, you may lose interest, or worse yet, your child may lose interest in astronomy forever. Choosing a telescope that allows for optimal viewing of celestial bodies and entering the amazing world of astronomy is an important step. Since knowledge is important in choosing the right telescope, we suggest that you first determine what you will be using the telescope for – general viewing of the heavens, a photographic journey of the stars, or watching the neighbors (just kidding!).

Telescopes can be a very affordable investment. If you are searching for a child telescope, you may want to stay with a low-end model. If you are looking for a beginner telescope for an adult, you may want a few more features. For just a little more money, you might be impressed with the results.

Recommendation for the Novice Astronomer

We have found that the Meade 114EQ-ASTR telescope provides a nice balance of price and features. This is a great child telescope, (preferably an older child), and will let the budding astronomer grow into all of its features.

However, it has many of the features of the more expensive telescopes and is perfect for the adult to get them started on their new hobby. You can read more about this very affordable beginner telescope by reading our Meade 114EQ-ASTR telescope post.