Guide to Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
and Expert Astronomical Telescopes

This article is intended to be a general guide to selecting a telescope appropriate for your level of experience as an amateur astronomer. As with any such general guide, there is a lot of overlap between categories and price points within any category. There are suitable beginner telescopes priced from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars. (All prices mentioned in the course of this article are in 2009 dollars.) Most users can adapt to moving up or down a category without too much trouble. However, an advanced amateur astronomer will likely be frustrated by a beginner's telescope and a beginner might be equally frustrated trying to use an advanced telescope.

Your first telescope will not be your last telescope and you should not expect it to be. Do not buy a first telescope expecting it to satisfy your observing needs for the rest of your life. As nice as that would be, it is an unrealistic expectation. A suitable beginner telescope should allow you to see a little bit of everything, but it will not be optimum for any particular type of observing. As your skill at using a telescope increases (and your ability to use your eyes to really see increases as well), your telescope needs will evolve. So will your interests, likely in unexpected directions. You may become fascinated with deep space objects, searching for comets, observing planetary details, or solar observing. All of these require more specialized types of telescopes and mounts compared to those most suitable for a beginning amateur astronomer, so your equipment needs will evolve as your experience increases.

A good beginner scope should allow you to observe the moon, bright planets and the brightest deep sky objects. Actually, all of the planets in our solar system except Neptune and Pluto, plus the entire Messier catalog of 108 deep space objects (the most popular deep space objects in the night sky) are visible through a modest (60mm clear aperture) beginner telescope operating at no more than 40x magnification, but to get the most pleasure from observing deep space objects, a more sophisticated telescope is the ticket.

To get the maximum benefit from this article, you must also realistically evaluate your experience level as an amateur astronomer. Every one is a beginner at some point, but few have the interest, dedication and commitment to become Experts. That's okay, the point of any hobby is to have fun, so progress to whatever level matches your interest and commitment. I, for example, would rate myself as an intermediate level amateur astronomer with maybe an advanced level of knowledge about telescopes and optics. The latter is partly because I spent many years as a professional photographer, where I learned about optics. I was also the Manager of a camera and telescope dealership and I naturally tend to research things that interest me. In addition, I am an equipment junky. The instruments themselves are a big part of the hobby for me.

To start, we need to define beginner, intermediate, advanced and expert level telescopes. The nice folks at Orion Telescope (www.telescope.com) have formulated what I think are good definitions, so I will simply quote them here:

Beginner - Telescopes suited for beginners are easy to use and maintain. Very good optical and mechanical quality. A great first telescope that will show you the moon and planets. (In most cases, much more! -Ed.)

Intermediate -Telescopes for the intermediate user are more robust in features and performance. Excellent quality in optics and mechanics, but more complex in use. An intermediate telescope will allow an enthusiast to "grow" in the hobby.

Advanced - Advanced telescopes are high performance, with exceptional quality. They may require more commitment to use in set-up time and technical savvy. Some advanced telescopes are easy-to-use, but large and heavy. An advanced telescope is a purchase for a lifetime.

Expert - Expert telescopes offer uncompromising optical and mechanical quality for the most demanding amateur astronomer. They may be technically involved or designed for specialized use, such as astrophotography or detailed deep sky observation. They carry a premium price, but are designed to provide the ultimate performance in the field.

It would be impossible for me to incllude every make and model of telescope available in each class, so what I will do is list representative telescopes of various types (refractor, reflector and catadioptric) in each category. These examples will be selected from the well known and respected Celestron, Orion, Stellarvue and Vixen lines. To be sure, there are other, equally suitable, brands available. Just because a particular make and model is not included does not mean it is no good. Remember, the telescopes listed below are intended to serve as examples of suitable instruments in each category; this article is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all the telescopes available in each category or even from any one manufacturer.

Note that no "department store" telescopes are included. This is because scopes from importers such as Tasco, Jason, Bushnell and department store house brands are rarely satisfactory for any serious astronomical purpose. Nor is any telescope that is marketed of the basis of its theoretical maximum magnification listed, or any telescope not intended for use with at least 1.25" mounting barrel diameter eyepieces. The telescopes that fall into these excluded categories are intended to take advantage of uninformed consumers. This article will, hopefully, help you to become a better informed buyer and avoid such junk. No telescope with a clear aperture of less than 60mm (2.4") is included, because smaller telescopes are so limited in their light grasp that they are unlikely to prove satisfactory for anyone.

A word about mounting systems. The mounting system is as important as the telescope itself. Even the most sophisticated telescope cannot be used on an inadequate mount that does not hold it steady for focusing and observing. In general, alt-azimuth (AZ) mounts, which move the telescope in straight lines left/right and up/down, are simpler than equatorial (EQ) mounts for entry level telescope buyers to set-up and use. AZ mounts are also natural for terrestrial viewing. Equatorial mounts move the telescope in an arc across the sky, following the apparent motion of the stars and planets as the earth turns. Intermediate, advanced and expert level astronomers use both AZ and EQ mounts of increasing sophistication, depending on their personal preference and equipment requirements.

Either type of mount can be motorized and may include a computerized "go-to" system that allows the mount to find objects for the observer. Some people find these computerized mounting systems to be a great advantage and others find them difficult or impossible to master. Go-to mounts, even of the AZ type, must be aligned before use, usually by pointing at one, two or three known stars in the night sky and recording their locations as reference points for the go-to computer system.

Finally, I suggest that you read my article "Telescope Basics," which can be found on the Astronomy and Photography index page, before buying any telescope. If you are not familiar with telescope terminology, and every hobby has its own lexicon, see "Definitions for the Amateur Astronomer," also on the Astronomy and Photography index page.

Okay, here are examples of some Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Expert level telescopes:

Beginner Telescopes

A70Lf w/Portamount courtesy of Vixen Optics.

·        Celestron Astro Master series - Includes entry level 70mm and 90mm refractors as well as 76mm, 114mm and 130mm Newtonian reflectors on manual, light duty, alt-azimuth and German equatorial mounts. The Astro Master refractors are designed for both terrestrial and astronomical use.

·        Celestron NexStar GT series - The NexStar 60 GT refractor and NexStar 114 GT Newtonian reflector are sold with computerized go-to (motorized) AZ mounts.

·        Celestron NexStar SLT series - Celestron's more advanced NexStar SLT line, also computerized, includes 60mm, 80mm and 102mm refractors plus 114mm and 130mm Newtonian reflectors. This line is a step up in quality and price from the NexStar GT series.

·        Orion Observer 70 - This 70mm refractor is available on a light duty AZ (Observer 70 AZ) or EQ (Observer 70 EQ) mount.

·        Orion Star Seeker 80 - A 3.2" go-to refractor on a computerized AZ mount.

·        Orion StarMax 90mm and 102mm - These are 3.5" and 4" clear aperture Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes on light duty German equatorial mounts.

·        Orion SkyQuest XT Classic series - Newtonian reflectors on Dobsonian AZ mounts. Orion recommends the 4.5" and 6" clear aperture models for beginners, although 8" and 10" intermediate models are also in the line.

·        Vixen A70Lf - A 70mm refractor sold as a package with Vixen's lightweight Porta Mount system or, for $100 more, the beefier Porta II Mount system--a worthwhile upgrade.

·        Vixen A80Mf - My favorite beginner telescope, a very good 80mm refractor available as a package with Vixen's solid Porta II Mount system.

·        Vixen VMC95L with Porta II Mount - This 95mm (3.7") clear aperture modified Cassegrain telescope incorporates a small Maksutov type corrector lens in front of the secondary mirror and is available as a package with the light duty Vixen Porta Mount.

·        Vixen VMC110L - A 110mm (4.33") clear aperture modified Cassegrain telescope with a small Maksutov type corrector lens ahead of the secondary mirror. Available as a package with the Porta II AZ mount or with the Skypod computerized go-to mount.

·        Vixen R130Sf with Porta II Mount - A very good entry level 130mm (5") clear aperture Newtonian reflector on a solid AZ mount.

Intermediate Telescopes

Omni XLT150. Illustration courtesy of Celestron.

·        Celestron NexStar SE series - This is a line of single-fork arm mounted, go-to Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes; available apertures include 4", 5", 6" and 8".

·        Celestron Omni XLT series - 102mm, 120mm and 150mm achromatic refractors plus a 127mm Schmidt-Cassegrain and a 150mm Newtonian reflector, all on Celestron's medium-weight CG-4 German equatorial mount. Prices vary, but they are all good scopes on a good mounting system. My favorite intermediate telescope line.

·        Orion Sirius 80ED - 80mm refractor with ED doublet objective on Orion's medium-size German EQ mounts (standard or go-to).

·        Orion AstroView series - 100mm and 120mm short tube achromatic refractors and a 6" (150mm) Newtonian reflector on German equatorial mounts.

·        Orion SkyView Pro 120 - 120mm achromatic refractor on a medium-size German equatorial mount; also available with a go-to system.

·        Orion StarMax 127 EQ - 5" Maksutov-Cassegrain scope on a lightweight German equatorial mount.

·        Orion SkyQuest XT Classic series - Newtonian reflectors on Dobsonian AZ mounts. Orion recommends the 8" and 10" clear aperture scopes for intermediate users, although the SkyQuest XT Classic series also includes 4.5" and 6" beginner models.

·        Stellarvue SV70ED - Premium 2.75" short tube (f/6) ED doublet refractor with 2" dual speed Crayford focuser. Sold as optical tube only or with the M1 alt-azimuth mounting system.

·        Stellarvue SVR80ED Raptor - Premium 3.2" ED doublet refractor with carbon fiber main tube and dew shield, 2" dual-speed Crayford focuser. Sold as optical tube only or with the M1 alt-azimuth mounting system.

·        Vixen ED80SF - A 3.2" ED refractor that is suitable for Vixen's Porta II AZ mount or the German equatorial GP2 and Sphinx (go-to) mounting systems.

·        Vixen ED81S - A very good 3.2" ED refractor that is available packaged with Vixen's Porta II AZ mount or the German equatorial GP2, GDP2 and Sphinx SXW (go-to) mounting systems.

·        Vixen R130Sf with GP2 Mount - The R130Sf (5") Newtonian reflector on Vixen's medium-size GP2 German Equatorial mounting system.

·        Vixen R150S - A 6" Newtonian with either the medium-size GP2 or Sphinx (go-to) German Equatorial mounting systems.

Advanced Telescopes

SV115EDT refractor. Illustration courtesy of Stellarvue.

·        Celestron Omni XLT 102ED - A fine 4" ED refractor with an ED doublet objective and a 2" Crayford focuser that is supplied with Celestron's medium-size CG-4 German Equatorial mounting system. A review of this telescope can be found on the Astronomy and Photography index page.

·        Celestron CGEM series computerized telescopes - 8", 9.25" and 11" flat field Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes on Celestron's medium-heavy CGEM German equatorial mount.

·        Celestron CGE series computerized telescopes - 8", 9.25", 11" and 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes on Celestron's heavy-duty CGE German equatorial mount.

·        Celestron CGE Pro series computerized telescopes - 9.25", 11" and 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes on Celestron's big CGE Pro German equatorial mount.

·        Celestron CPC series computerized telescopes - 8", 9.25" and 11" premium Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes on dual-arm swing through fork mounts. The AZ motorized mount includes GPS go-to technology and a heavy-duty wedge is available to convert the AZ mount into an EQ mount.

·        Orion SkyView Pro 127, 150 and 180 - 5", 6" and 7" Maksutov-Cassegrain CAT telescopes on standard or go-to German equatorial mounts.

·        Orion SkyView Pro 8 - An 8" Newtonian reflector on standard or go-to German equatorial mounts.

·        Orion Sirius series - 120mm ED doublet refractor on Orion's medium-size German EQ mounts (standard or go-to), 180mm (7") Maksutov-Cassegrain on the go-to EQ mount and an 8" Newtonian reflector on the go-to EQ mount.

·        Orion Atlas 10 EQ-G - As the nomenclature suggests, a 10" Newtonian reflector on a heavy German equatorial go-to mount.

·        Orion SkyQuest XX12i and XX14i - These are 12" and 14" truss tube Newtonian reflectors on computerized go-to Dobsonian AZ mounts. Lots of light grasp for the dollar.

·        Stellarvue SV102ED - Premium 4" ED doublet refractor with dual speed Crayford focuser. Sold as optical tube only or packaged with the superb MG alt-azimuth mounting system. Also available with Celestron CGEM computerized German equatorial mount.

·        Stellarvue SV115EDT - Premium 4.5" APO triplet refractor with Ohara FPL-51 ED center element and 3" dual speed Crayford focuser. Sold as optical tube only or packaged with the superb MG alt-azimuth mounting system. Also available with Celestron CGEM computerized German equatorial mount.

·        Stellarvue SV130EDT - Premium 5" APO triplet refractor with Ohara FPL-51 ED center element and 3" dual speed Crayford focuser. Can be packaged with Celestron CGEM computerized EQ mount.

·        Vixen ED100Sf - A 4" ED refractor that is suitable for the Porta II AZ mount, German equatorial GP2 and Sphinx (go-to) mounting systems.

·        Vixen ED103S - A very good 4" ED refractor available packaged with the Porta II AZ mount, GP2 German equatorial mount, heavy duty GDP2 German equatorial mount or the Sphinx SXW and SXD go-to EQ mounts.

·        Vixen ED115S - A very good 4.5" ED refractor available packaged with the GDP2 German equatorial mount, go-to Sphinx SXW or Sphinx SXD EQ mounts.

·        Vixen VMC2000L - A 2000mm (8") clear aperture catadioptric scope with an open tube design. The meniscus corrector lens is placed just in front of the secondary mirror. Available packaged with the German equatorial GP2 or GDP2 mounts or the computerized go-to Sphinx mounts.

·        Vixen R200SS - A very bright 8", f/4 Newtonian reflector packaged with your choice of GP2, GDP2, Sphinx SXW (go-to) and Sphinx SXD (go-to) equatorial mounts.

Expert Telescopes

CGE Pro 1100HD. Illustration courtesy of Celestron.

·        Celestron Edge HD CGEM series - Deluxe 8", 9.25" and 11" flat field Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes on Celestron's go-to CGEM German equatorial mount. The Edge HD optical tubes are designed for flat-field CCD imaging and visual use.

·        Celestron Edge HD CGE Pro series - Deluxe 9.25", 11" and 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes on Celestron's go-to CGE Pro heavy-duty German equatorial mount. Edge HD flat field scopes are excellent for both CCD imaging and visual use.

·        Stellarvue SVR105 Raptor - Premium 4" APO refractor with triplet objective lens using Ohara FPL-53 ED center element, carbon fiber tube and 3" Feather Touch dual speed focuser. Can be packaged with MG or M7E alt-azimuth mounts or Celestron CGEM computerized EQ mount. A review of this telescope can be found on the Astronomy and Photography index page.

·        Stellarvue SV115T - Premium 115mm (4.5") APO triplet refractor with Ohara FPL-53 ED center element and Feather Touch dual speed focuser. Can be packaged with MG alt-azimuth mount or Celestron CGEM computerized EQ mount. A review of this telescope can be found on the Astronomy and Photography index page.

·        Stellarvue SV130T - Premium 130mm (5") APO triplet refractor with Ohara FPL-53 ED center element and 3" Feather Touch dual speed focuser. Can be packaged with Celestron CGEM or CGE computerized EQ mounts; also available with Mountain Instruments MI-250 EQ pier mount ($12,545), as Stellarvue's ultimate "dream machine."

·        Vixen AX103S - An Apochromatic 4" refractor with an ED triplet objective and a rear field corrector lens. Available packaged with the entire series of Vixen German equatorial mounts.

·        Vixen NA140SSf - 5.5" APO ("Neo-Achromatic") refractor with an ED doublet objective and a Petzval design doublet at the rear of the optical tube. Available packaged with the GDP2 German equatorial mount, either Sphinx go-to mount or the Atlux go-to mount.

·        Vixen VC200L - 8"" modified Cassegrain with VISAC (aberration correction) for the most discerning observer and astrophotographer. Available packaged with the GDP2 or either of the Sphinx go-to German equatorial mounts.

·        Vixen VMC260L - A 260mm (10.2") clear aperture modified Cassegrain telescope available packaged with Vixen's heavy-duty Sphinx SXW go-to mounting system. The VMC260L telescope is also available with Vixen's even larger Atlux go-to German equatorial mount/tripod.

·        Vixen VMC330L with Gaiax Mount - This is Vixen's biggest scope, a 13" modified Cassegrain available with a Gaiax pier mount. Be prepared to spend about $18,200 or fly to Saipan and stay at the Palms Resort, where you can borrow one.