Recommendations for Beginners

Since I got my first serious telescope during the summer of 2014, I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. But I’ve also learned a tremendous amount, and I feel like I’ve arrived in a good place in terms of my collection of astronomy gear and, more importantly, the experience I’ve built using it. I hope that what follows will serve as a useful guide to anyone who is looking to start their own journey down the road of amateur astronomy.

If I could build a time machine and take my current knowledge about the hobby back to when I was just getting started, this is what I’d tell myself:

• Before buying your first telescope, try out naked eye observing, read a few good books, and attend a star party hosted by a local astronomy club or organization.
• When you reach the point where you’re ready to make a purchase, ask yourself how much you’re willing to spend, what you want to see in a telescope, and where you plan on using it.
• Binoculars can be great first “telescopes” for many individuals. But personally speaking, I’ve never really taken to them.
• The three main types of telescopes are refractors, reflectors, and catadioptrics.
• The three main types of telescope mounts are alt-az mounts, Dobsonian mounts, and equatorial mounts.
• Having a few key accessories will greatly enhance your observing experience.
• Take it easy and keep the initial amount of gear you acquire to a minimum.

What follows are several pages that I hope will be useful to you if you are considering joining the ranks of amateur astronomy.