Buying Telescopes, Binoculars and Cameras

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Astronomy

If the Internet has as many astronomy resources as there are stars in the sky, then think of the Astronomy Web Guide as your map to the best and brightest. Whether you're looking for planetary data, celestial gifts or fellow star seekers, we'll help you navigate the heavenly sphere of astronomy-related sites and tools on the Web.

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Buying Telescopes, Binoculars and Cameras

Buying telescopes, binoculars, cameras and other accessories is a big investment, and the salesperson at the optics store is hardly going to let you take something home for a night to test it out. Fortunately, the Web has plenty of resources for you to consult before taking the plunge.

Insights for Buying Telescopes, Binoculars and Cameras

There's a lot of technical jargon associated with buying a telescope. You can learn what some of it means at Space.com.

Before you begin shopping, try attending a local "star party." At these events, astronomy buffs get together with their telescopes, gaze at the sky, and talk shop about astronomy news and equipment. Trying other people's scopes will give you an idea of what to expect.

Telescopes, binoculars and cameras are precision instruments that can be bulky. Consequently, shipping can be expensive and risky, so buy from a local dealer when possible. If you buy from an online merchant, make sure it's professional.

If you're considering a specific telescope, camera or set of binoculars, type the make and model into a search engine and look for blogs where people talk about it. Hobbyists tend to be fanatical about equipment and enjoy sharing their opinions with peers.

Top Sites for Buying Telescopes, Binoculars and Cameras

The Heretic's Guide to Choosing and Buying Your First Telescope is a must-read for all beginners. There's lots of solid advice on what to look for and what to avoid.

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Cloudy Nights offers a collection of reviews about sky-gazing equipment. It attracts a large community of sky watchers who really know their stuff. Be aware that the content on the right menu is all advertising.

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Catching the Light addresses every facet of photographing the skies you'd ever want to know, especially regarding digital cameras. Site author Jerry Lodriguss' astrophotography software is also very good.

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Telescopes.com is the leading name in online telescope and binocular sales, featuring a huge selection, great customer service, a functional site and no sales tax. Check in often, as pricing fluctuates.

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Who knew?

The Sidewalk Astronomers link to several outside Web sites with "build your own telescope" plans for the ultimate telescope purist.

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