Buying and Using a Telescope

Star gazing is a favorite part of astronomy for many people. However, star gazing can be done easily with the naked eye. What most people really want to do is use a telescope to view other planets, and some deep space objects that can not be easily seen with the naked eye.

If you have already spent some time looking up without an optical aid, and have tried some simple binoculars for sharper viewing, you may be ready to step up to a good telescope. This is a great place to start your search for the right telescope.

Sky Map: You'll need a good skymap to help you discover objects you'd like to view with your new telescope. There are many available, but here's our free skymap: About Astronomy/Space Skymap.