Expert: Paul Wagner - 12/20/2005

Question
I greet. I on what parameters have to pay back attention buying telescope? About what to ask in order to selling he thought that it has to deal with with experienced person. Merry Christmas !   Witam. Na jakie parametry mam zwracaæ uwage kupujac teleskop? O co pytac zeby sprzedajacy myslal, ze ma do czynienia z osoba doswiadczona. Wesolych Swiat!

Answer
Dear Andrezj:

Yes, buying from an experienced person is important.  The most important factors in buying a telescope are three:

Size of the optics:  The larger the primary mirror or lens, the more light you will gather, and the more things you will see.  BIgger is better.

The Quality of the optics:  bad optics will give a bad image.  Good optics will allow you to see things more clearly.  

The Quality of the mount:  A simple, strong mount is better than a complicated but unstable mount.  Computerization of the mount always costs more.  

For me, the best telescope is one with a very good, large primary mirror, and a very strong, simple mount.

I hope that helps.

Paul Wagner