As a prime example, the instrument's plastics are not glossy and cheap when compared to other telescopes within a similar price range. (2.04 kilograms), while the build is of good quality despite the low cost. The FirstScope is portable, weighing in at 4.5 lbs. There's also no need to set it up since it already comes assembled straight out of the box: a fantastic feature for the impatient youngster and parents who aren't keen on assembling a telescope on a regular basis. What we love about Celestron's FirstScope is that it's easy to use and pack away. Or, if you’re trying to tick off some names on your Christmas list, have a look through our guide to all the best space deals, which contains lots of toys and stocking fillers.
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You may also want to think about picking up some of the best binoculars, too - they’re incredibly portable and they’re cheaper, offering a bit more bang for your buck when it comes to things like glass quality and aperture.
If you do want to spend a little more money on a model, have a look through our list of the best telescopes for 2021. We recommend sticking to one of the cheaper refractor or reflector styles for young ones, especially if there’s a chance they might lose interest in skywatching. They also often come with a computerized GoTo system, which can take the hassle out of aligning your instrument before you begin observing.Ĭatadioptric telescopes often come with a slightly higher price, too, which is why we haven’t included any of them below - although they do feature in our round-up of the best beginner telescopes. Catadioptric telescopes correct some visual issues with the old-school refractor and reflector models and are usually good for viewing a wide range of objects. Refractors are best for seeing high-magnification targets, such as the moon and planets, while reflectors are usually preferred for low-magnification targets like fainter galaxies and nebulas. There are three types of telescope: reflectors, refractors and catadioptric, the latter of which comes in the form of the Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov–Cassegrain. When you’re trying to pick the best telescope for your family, the first thing to consider is what sort of things you want to see. Magnification: Relationship between the telescope's optical system and the eyepiece. Small focal ratios provide lower magnifications, wide field of view and a brighter image.
Short focal lengths offer a wide field of view and a small image.įocal ratio: Also known as the telescope's speed. Aperture: Diameter of the primary mirror or lens, which allows a telescope to collect light.įield of view: Area of sky visible through the eyepiece.įocal length: A telescope's tube length.