The scopes discussed here are not made for astrophotography. They are, however, much less expensive than a photographic setup. They may be of interest to someone just getting started who has a camera and wants to use it on a fixed tripod, or barn-door mount, and wants to do some observing at the same time.

The next section will cover telescopes that can be used for both visual observing as well as astrophotography, but they are much more expensive than these.

Visual Astronomy as a Hobby

Astronomy can be a terrific hobby because it explores the amazing wonders and profound mysteries of the universe. Discoveries about the nature of the cosmos can be mind-boggling. Astrophotos of astronomical objects can be stunning and beautiful. Wouldn't it be great to get out under the starry night sky and see this stuff with your own eyes through a telescope?

Yes it would!

A simple, small, inexpensive Dobsonian telescope is an excellent first telescope for visual observing.

However, when it comes to actually observing these amazing objects in the night sky, observational astronomy becomes a very subtle hobby. Very few of these objects look better in a telescope than in a picture. The Moon, Saturn, bright comets and a few other objects can be stunning, but NGC 7239 and the overwhelming majority of thousands of other deep-sky objects are just going to be a faint gray smudges, and they can be difficult to find if you don't know your way around the sky.

In many ways, observational astronomy is the antithesis of today's modern culture of spectacular special effects in movies and video games. The true pleasure of observational astronomy comes more from the intellectual appreciation and understanding of what you are observing than from any kind of in-your-face, blow-you-away, natural beauty like the Grand Canyon, or Niagara Falls.

There are several really bright objects, such as the Moon and Saturn, which can, in fact, knock your socks off when you look at them in a telescope. It's just that there aren't many of these crowd pleasers, and most of the rest are very subtle visually. The beauty of these faint objects comes with the realization that actual photons of light have traveled across immense distances to hit the retina in your eye and interact with your brain and consciousness to truly unite all of creation.

You should have a basic knowledge of astronomy and the way the night sky moves before you think about buying a telescope. You first need to be able to answer these questions:

1. How much do you know about astronomy?

   Can you identify some constellations? Do you know where the planet Mars is right now? Why does the Sun rise in the east and set in the west? Do you know what Right Ascension and Declination are?

   If you don't know the answers to these questions, then do not go out and buy a telescope because you will just be frustrated when you can't find anything in it.

   Consider, instead, subscribing to Sky and Telescope magazine, joining a local astronomy club, or taking an introductory class at a local college to learn about astronomy first.

   Consider buying a pair of binoculars instead of a telescope. It's much easier to find things with a pair of binoculars.

2. How much do you want to spend?

   There are a lot of bad inexpensive telescopes out there. Do not go out and buy a telescope from a department store or one you see on a television shopping channel, no matter how much of a bargain it seems to be. You will be disappointed.

   Set a budget and stick to it. Expect to spend at least $200 - $300 for a decent beginner telescope for visual observing.

3. What do you think you are going to see in a small telescope?

   The craters on the Moon will be spectacular, and you should be able to see the rings of Saturn, the equatorial bands on Jupiter, the crescent of Venus, the Pleiades, and perhaps even the Orion Nebula.

   However, you really must be warned that galaxies and nebulas that look absolutely spectacular in long-exposure photographs will only be faint smudges in most amateur telescopes if you can see them at all. This is especially true if you view them from an urban or suburban area with light pollution.

   But, you object, the photographs look so great! Yes, and this is the magic of astrophotography - it reveals things that you can't usually see. Nebulas and galaxies can be very colorful in photographs, but you are not likely to see any color in deep-sky objects visually though a telescope (with very rare exceptions), even in a big telescope, and even from a dark-sky location. They just are not bright enough to produce the sensation of color in our visual system.

Honestly, I don't want to discourage your interest in astronomy because it truly is a fascinating and fantastic hobby, but... people who have to ask what telescope to buy are usually not ready to buy one yet. You definitely need to do some research before you buy a telescope. Sky and Telescope has a very good article that I recommend you read on Choosing Your First Telescope.

Yea, Yea, Yea, Ok... But Really... Which One Should I Buy?

If you have gotten this far, and you still want to know what telescope to buy for visual use only, I will make a couple of suggestions as starting points.

For Kids:

• Celestron Firstscope 3 inch Reflector

For Adults:

• Dobsonian Telescope

• Computerized Telescope

It is important to note that these telescopes are recommended for visual use only. These scopes are not recommended for astrophotography.

Astrophotography requires a completely different set of considerations as to which telescope to buy. We'll cover that in the next section.

Visual Telescopes for Beginners - The Bottom Line An inexpensive 6 inch Dobsonian telescope is the best telescope for beginners for visual, but not photographic, use.