How to Pick a Telescope

"Starting out right" and "Juggling Ps" will help you narrow your search from the hundreds of possible choices we carry to the three or four that best meet your needs.

The "Why buy . . . " sections will give you the unbiased pros and cons about the different telescope types to help you further narrow your search.

The "FAQ" section will answer fun questions like "How far can I see with a telescope?" and "How much color can I see?"

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

We have developed and refined this copyrighted information from practical experience in selling telescopes for well over 35 years and from our years of observing experience, as well (starting as far back as 1952 in one case). 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 the right telescope for them. We hope it can do the same for you.

We have tried to make the information as complete as possible. If there's something this section doesn't explain, however, feel free to call or e-mail us and we'll do our best to get you an answer.