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Mercury, November/December 2000 Table of Contents

By following some easy guidelines, you can purchase the ideal telescope for you or that special someone on your gift list.

by Phil Harrington, author of Star Ware and several other astronomy books

"One of the most important decisions that you will make as a stargazer is selecting a telescope. But there are so many telescopes on the market today that selecting that perfect one can be confusing. There are exotic refractors, mammoth reflectors, and sophisticated catadioptric telescopes all beckoning your attention. Which is best for you or, in this holiday season, for a relative or friend? Here is some advice that will hopefully make your purchase a little less daunting."

In this article, veteran amateur astronomer and author Phil Harrington outlines the three major types of telescopes on today's market. He tells you the advantages and disadvantages of each type, and what kinds of telescopes to avoid as you would avoid the Ebola virus. He explains why bigger telescopes are usually better, but why high power is not as important as one might think. A table tells you want level of performance you can expect in a given price range. Another table lists major telescope manufacturers and their websites.

The article also describes the other kinds of equipment that you'll need to get started. A rock-steady mount and quality eyepieces are essentials. If you're interested in getting involved in amateur astronomy, this is the article that can help get you started.