Many of us have looked up at the night sky and wondered what’s out there. Choosing a telescope seems like the first logical step—but once we start searching, the flood of unfamiliar terms like aperture, focal length, and GOTO can make things confusing.

If you’re feeling lost, you’re not alone. We’ve been there too. In this guide, we’re going to walk you through the key points that helped us make a clear, confident decision.

We Learned What Really Matters

The most important part of any telescope is its aperture—that’s the diameter of the main lens or mirror. Why does this matter? Because a bigger aperture collects more light, allowing us to see dimmer objects in the sky.

- A 4-inch (100mm) telescope collects four times more light than a 2-inch (50mm) one.

- The more light, the better we can see faint stars, galaxies, and nebulae.

So, while magnification might sound important, it’s not the top factor. Without enough light, even high magnification won’t give us a clear view.

We Compared the Telescope Types

There are three main types of telescopes, and each has its pros and cons:

- Refractors: These use lenses and are great for observing the Moon and planets. They’re simple to use and need little maintenance, which is perfect for beginners.

- Reflectors: These use mirrors instead of lenses. They’re usually cheaper for the size and great for viewing faint deep-sky objects. But they do need regular alignment.

- Catadioptrics: These combine both lenses and mirrors. They're compact, powerful, and good for all-around viewing—but they can be pricier.

We chose based on what we wanted to see and how often we planned to use it. Some of us focused on lunar and planetary viewing, while others aimed for distant galaxies.

We Didn’t Ignore Portability

Here’s what we learned quickly: the best telescope is the one we’ll actually use. A large telescope might offer more power, but if it's heavy and hard to move, it might end up collecting dust. That’s why we considered:

- Weight and size

- How easy it is to set up

- Whether it can be left in one place or needs to be packed away after each use

For beginners, a compact telescope with at least a 4-inch aperture strikes a good balance.

We Paid Attention to the Mount

The mount holds the telescope steady and allows us to move it to follow the stars. There are two main types:

- Altazimuth mounts move up/down and left/right. They’re easy for casual observing.

- Equatorial mounts follow the sky’s rotation, which is great for long sessions and photography, though they take time to learn.

We found that even the best telescope won’t perform well without a solid, stable mount.

We Considered Extra Features

Modern telescopes often come with automatic tracking or computer-assisted navigation. These features, called GOTO systems, allow us to select objects and let the telescope find them. They’re a great help—but only if we’re willing to learn how to set them up correctly.

We also looked at accessories like:

- Star maps or apps for guidance

- Extra eyepieces for different magnification

- Carrying cases for easy transport

We made sure not to overspend on extras we wouldn’t use right away.

We Practiced Before the Big Night

Before our first night out under the stars, we practiced setting up the telescope during the day. Trust us—it’s much easier to learn where everything is when it’s bright outside. We also read the manual carefully and watched online setup tutorials.

Getting familiar with how everything works made our first stargazing night much smoother—and way more fun.

We Grew Into the Hobby Naturally

Instead of trying to get the biggest or most high-tech telescope right away, we started simple and learned as we went. Over time, we understood the sky better, got more confident with equipment, and knew exactly what upgrades were worth it. The journey itself was part of the joy.

We Invite You to Look Up With Us

Lykkers, if you’ve ever dreamed of exploring the night sky, now’s the time. Don’t let the complex terms or flashy models scare you off. Start with what suits your lifestyle, your location, and your curiosity. The stars have been there forever—waiting for us to notice them.

So, which telescope are you thinking of trying first? Let us know—we’d love to hear how your stargazing story begins!