Factors to Consider When Purchasing a Telescope

When you go to purchase your first telescope, there are many things you should consider before buying it. Among them are portability, Maintenance, Storage Space, and Price. The goal is to get the most viewing ability for what you can afford.

If you live in the city and long for some clear skies at night to view, you may have to move the telescope to a better seeing area. Usually in the country or rural area, you can get a beautiful expanse of sky in which to use to view your objects. Make sure your telescope is easy to carry and will fit in your car. Another good rule is to make sure you know how to assemble it in the dark.
Maintenance is upkeep of the telescope and its pieces. Probably the most common maintenance will be keeping the mirrors or lenses aligned properly. Also, the open ended telescopes are famous for collecting dust and debris. You may have to clean the mirrors and then realign them.
When you are not using your telescope, find a safe place for it to stay. You need a space that is dust and moisture free as possible. Cover your telescope, when not in use, to prevent dirt and dust from getting into it.
The prices for telescopes vary these days from inexpensive to expensive and everything in between. They can range from the $2 toy store model to a few thousand dollars. So know what you are looking for before you buy. You may even try a used one to see if the type is really what you want. Depending on the type, here are some average costs for a few common telescopes: Small Reflectors - $250 to $1000, Achromatic Reflectors - $250 to $1000, Large Reflectors - $300 to $2000, Compound Telescopes - $1000 to $3000, and Apochromatic Refractors - $2000 to $10,000.