Quantcast

Buying Telescopes, Binoculars, and Cameras

In This Guide

Most Popular

  1. On This Day: The Great Anticipation Becomes the Great Disappointment

  2. Becoming Maurice Sendak: A Children’s Author Grows Up

  3. Harnessing Open Source Intelligence: Social Media and the CIA

  4. On This Day: White Boston Man Kills Pregnant Wife, Blames Imaginary Black Man

  5. Study Highlights the High Costs of the Death Penalty

  6. On This Day: Terry Fox’s “Marathon of Hope” Comes to an End

  7. Is Marathon Running Dangerous?

  8. Many US Schools Consider Four-Day School Week

  9. 5 Animals We Need to Survive

  10. On This Day: Witold Pilecki Allows Himself to Be Captured by the Nazis

null

Astronomy

If the Internet has as many astronomy resources as there are stars in the sky, then think of this Web guide as your map to the best and brightest. Whether you are 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.

Educators: Click here to sign up for our education newsletter.

Historical and Modern Astronomy

Astronomy is one of the oldest, most popular branches of science. Unlike practitioners of medicine ... read more »

Astronomy Pictures

Images from outer space are among the most popular scientific artifacts today, capturing the ... read more »

Buying Telescopes, Binoculars, and Cameras

Buying the right stargazing tools can be daunting, even for seasoned experts. Telescopes, binoculars, cameras, and other accessories are big investments, 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.

Dulcinea's Insight

  • 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 from your own purchases. Check the "What groups and events are there for astronomers?" section of this guide for tips on locating a star party near you.
  • 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 is professional. Check its site for customer service policies, years in business, and the general quality/currency of site.
  • A telescope is only as good as its eyepiece and mount. Don't be fooled by online stores that boast top-drawer scopes with substandard accessories in the fine print.
  • 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. And unlike blogs about string theory, bloggers' insights about gadgets can usually be trusted.

Dulcinea's Picks

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. It's not updated often, but most of the information on here is pretty standard and timeless.
go to site »
Cloudy Nights is a well-administered and organized 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-hand menu is all advertising.
go to site »
Catching the Light addresses every facet of photographing the skies you'd ever want to know, especially regarding digital cameras. Site author Jerry Lodriguss's astrophotography software is also very good.
go to site »
Telescopes.com is the leading name in online telescope and binocular sales, featuring a huge selection, great customer service, a super-functional site, and no sales tax. Check in often, as pricing fluctuates.
go to site »
Who knew?
Side Walk Astronomers provides these "build your own telescope" plans for the ultimate telescope purist.
go to site »
Back to Top

Finding Constellations, Planets and Objects in the Night Sky

So, you've bought your telescope, done a little research, and are on your way to a star party with ... read more »

Astronomy Clubs and Associations

The mantra of believers in extraterrestrial life rings true about astronomy buffs the world over: ... read more »

Astronomy News

Developments in astronomy happen at the speed of light. While scientists scramble to make sense of ... read more »

Volunteers and Careers in Astronomy

In 1995, the comet Hale-Bopp was concurrently discovered by two men: Alan Hale, a Ph.D.-holding ... read more »

Astronomy Gifts

For years, friends and family of astronomy buffs were limited to museum emporia and shopping mall ... read more »

Community Links in Astronomy

Most Recent Guides

Haunted New York
Web Search in the Classroom
Wind Power