Telescopes are used for a number of purposes. Both telescopes and binoculars are commonly used for bird watching, stargazing, and several other activities. If you are interested in buying a telescope for observing, a few factors will have to be considered first. For instance, you will have to identify what you are going to use it for. Larger telescopes provide wider and sharper images, while smaller ones are more limited in what they allow users to see.
The craftsmanship of a telescope is one of the most important characteristics to look at. This refers to the materials and the way it's manufactured. Optical instruments of any kind require fine engineering to work properly, so the details really matter. Some will say that consumers should avoid shopping for telescopes at department stores, and instead visit ones that are certified in telescopes. These stores have people who have expertise about them, and can thoroughly explain the differences between each model.
Another telescope attribute to consider is optical design. Several different types are available, such as refractor, Newtonian Reflector, Schmidt - Cassegrain, and the Maksutov Cassegrain.
What you should also think about is the atmospheric turbulence. This refers to how well a telescope displays faint objects. You will also have to decide how big of an aperture you want. The larger it is, the more light it can gather and the result is a brighter image. A larger aperture however also means that the telescope will be more expensive.
If you are have limited or no knowledge about telescopes and aren't sure what to buy, then try asking others who have more of an expertise. This could be someone at a store in your area, or maybe there is a club in your area that is about astronomy. There are telescope forums online as well as review sites that are also helpful. Most of these people have at least some knowledge and experience using telescopes. Magazines are also an excellent resource that will help you find a telescope and help you learn more about astronomy.
There are many different types of telescopes that are designed specifically for certain purposes. This is why it's so important that you do research before buying one. You want your telescope to be able to perform in a manner that is suited for your purpose. Of course, you will also have to decide how much you are willing to spend on one. Generally, the more expensive a model is, the higher the quality.
