What is the best telescope for a beginner?
The best telescope is the one that will be used the most! A telescope that is easy to set up, easy to use, and which has good mechanics and optics will be most likely to meet this criterion. You should take portability into account if you will need to transport it to an observing site. Cost is frequently a limitation for beginners, and there is a cost below which it is advisable to save your money until a better telescope is available. There is advice on telescopes available in the UK, broken down into price ranges, at http://www.astunit.com/tutorials/firstscope.htm Beginners are frequently advised to get binoculars instead of a telescope. This is sound advice most experienced observers continue to use binoculars as well as their telescope or telescopes. Binoculars also have a multitude of applications outside astronomy should the interest in observational astronomy wane. There is advice on choosing binoculars for astronomy at http://www.astunit.com/faq/binocular.
The best telescope is the one that will be used the most! A telescope that is easy to set up, easy to use, and which has good mechanics and optics will be most likely to meet this criterion. You should take portability into account if you will need to transport it to an observing site. Cost is frequently a limitation for beginners, and there is a cost below which it is advisable to save your money until a better telescope is available. There is advice on telescopes available in the UK, broken down into price ranges, at http://www.astunit.com/tutorials/firstscope.htm Beginners are frequently advised to get binoculars instead of a telescope. This is sound advice most experienced observers continue to use binoculars as well as their telescope or telescopes. Binoculars also have a multitude of applications outside astronomy should the interest in observational astronomy wane.
