Is the Jiehe 80×800 Telescope a good telescope for beginners?
Not for a beginner, no. This is an 80mm telescope (“aperture” or diameter) which is what you should probably be most concerned with when purchasing one. This is the size of the optic (lens or mirror) that gathers the light, and, generally speaking, you want to gather as much light as possible. The design of this telescope’s mount also often discourages beginners because it can be difficult to point. For beginners, I usually recommend a Dobsonian-design telescope. Several manufacturers make these kind (Orion, Meade, Zhumell, etc.) and they’re very easy to operate. They’re also hard to mess up, i.e. even if something happens to it, often times it’s something you can easily repair yourself. The three main functions of a telescope are (1) to gather as much light as possible, (2) resolve fine details, and (3) magnify. Unfortunately, many people who are new to stargazing fall victim to promises of “high power” because they are unfamiliar with what the telescopes main functions are. When purc
