There are many different types of telescopes available for those interested in exploring the night sky. The three main types of telescopes are refracting telescopes, reflecting telescopes, and catadioptric telescopes, with many variations and hybrid designs for each type.
A Dobsonian telescope with a healthy aperture is great for enjoying real-time views of the brighter objects in the sky, while a refractor telescope is best used with a camera attached, to photograph faint deep-sky objects.
The main goal of any astronomical telescope is to gather light. Therefore, the two most important factors when choosing a telescope will be your desired focal length (magnification) and aperture (how bright the object will appear).
These two factors will create a unique viewing experience based on the type of experience you are looking for (i.e. visual vs astrophotography).
Last Updated September 28, 2025 I recently assembled a budget astrophotography rig to capture deep-sky objects in my backyard. While I knew this system would be very capable, I was astonished by the quality of the pictures I took with it. Astrophotography (and photography in general) can be an expensive hobby, with high-end equipment often…
Last updated: October 23, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. If you’ve been looking at entry-level refractor telescopes for astrophotography and wondering whether it’s worth stepping up to a triplet APO, the SVBONY SV550 deserves a close look. Available in both 80mm and 122mm…
Sky-Watcher has added a dedicated Hydrogen-alpha (Hα) solar telescope to their lineup, and if you’ve never seen the Sun in H-alpha before, you’re in for a treat. Unlike basic white light filters, H-alpha lets you dive into the details on the surface of our star. Things like solar prominences, active sunspot regions, and plasma filaments…
Last updated: October 23, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The Apertura CarbonStar 200 is an 8-inch f/4 Newtonian reflector built with astrophotography in mind. While there are many reflectors available in this size, the CarbonStar 200 stands out with some clever upgrades. I’ve…
If you’re in the market for a high-performance astrograph with full-frame capabilities and a premium build, the Askar SQA106 is definitely worth a closer look. This impressive quintuplet refractor features a 509mm focal length at f/4.8 and is designed to produce flat, color-accurate images without the need for additional flattening or backfocus adjustments. In this…
I recently tested the William Optics RedCat 91 APO refractor. This is the fourth RedCat I’ve used in the RedCat series—five if you count the two versions of the RedCat 51 (version 1 and version 3). With a healthy aperture, fast optics, and a super flat Peztval design, the William Optics RedCat 91 has a…
The SVBONY SV555 is a variable aperture prime focus lens/telescope designed for wide-field astrophotography. Many of you have been requesting a review of an SVBONY telescope for years, and today, I’m excited to share my thoughts on this one. The SV555 Petzval lens is an interesting option in the competitive market of wide-field refractor telescopes,…
If you’re looking to buy your first telescope—or your first good telescope—this guide is for you. I’ll cover the most important aspects of a telescope, how much you should expect to spend, and provide four excellent examples to consider. The following choices are obviously not the only ones to choose from, but they offer a…
Last updated: October 8, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. The ZWO Seestar S50 is an all-in-one smart telescope that makes astrophotography easy. While its main goal is to deliver electronically assisted views of objects in space, the pictures it takes are pretty darn…
Remote observatories are facilities that house astrophotography equipment in dark-sky locations. Users can control the telescope remotely via the Internet. This means users can capture images without needing to be on-site. Whether you’re operating your own gear that’s been shipped to the facility or booking time on high-end equipment provided by the observatory, remote…
The Celestron NexStar 8SE computerized telescope is one of the best-selling telescope packages of all time. It features a large aperture optical telescope and a computerized GoTo mount. The NexStar series of SCTs has been around for over a decade, and I was finally able to experience this beginner-friendly telescope for myself. I was impressed…
Last updated: October 24, 2025. If you find this helpful and buy through my links, I may receive a small commission. Key Takeaways The Askar SQA55 uses high-quality optics to produce astrophotography images that are sharp, flat, and well-corrected. It features an innovative design with a variable aperture, similar to a camera lens with a…