If you are an amateur astronomer, an avid observer of the night sky who wants to take things up a notch, or just a friend of an astronomer who wants to buy the perfect gift, the one solution to all your problems is the perfect telescope. But buying the right telescope might not be the easiest task, especially if you are new to the task. The telescope, like any other technical instrument, has various types and classifications based on features and specifications that are not always easy to grasp. But knowledge is power and the best thing you can do before buying a telescope is reading up on it and getting some perspective. Here a few things to consider before you buy the perfect telescope.

1. Size & Portability

The telescope is used mainly to observe the mysterious night sky and where better to view it from a place where the night sky is not dulled by fluorescent street lamps? If you have a place of your own where you can set up the telescope and would not need to move it, then you do not have to worry much about the telescope being portable. But if you like to travel and observe the night sky from different locations, you might want to think about what size of telescope would be best for you. Telescopes come in various sizes – from small ones that can be carried in shoulder bags to huge monsters which are not too portable. Deciding on an observing location helps in deciding what size of telescope to buy.

2. Lens Size & Magnification

The main part of the telescope is the lens. The bigger the lens, the more objects it makes visible, or the greater is its magnification. And the greater the magnification, the clearer the image it will produce. When out to buy a telescope, you need to know how deep your interest in astronomy and how far into space your interest extends. This will help you decide on the perfect lens size for your specific astronomical purposes.

3. Types of Telescopes

There is a plethora of telescopes each of a different type and with its own pros and cons. The very basic telescope that comes to mind, the tube with a lens at the end, is a type of refractor telescope, and there are reflector and catadioptric telescopes also and then there are a myriad of sub types. There are all differentiated based on lens type, focal length, aperture, chromatic aberration, and other features and specification that may sound very technical but become less intimidating when you read up on them. Decide on the kind of celestial objects you want to observe and then find the right type of telescope for you.

4. Remember Your Budget

Probably the most important thing to remember before buying a telescope is to keep your budget in mind. Telescopes can be reasonably priced and also can be very expensive. The expensive ones may seem better, but the less expensive ones will also do pretty much the same task without breaking your bank. Save yourself from buying the expensive telescopes when a less expensive will do just fine.