The following three telescopes are Bintel’s recommendations for an adult’s first telescope, at increasing cost depending on how much you want to spend. These telescopes will not only provide stellar views of celestial objects (with varying degrees of capabilities in terms of astrophotography and alignment), but will also allow upgrades and modifications to be made down the track should the new telescope owner prove extremely keen to dive deeper into this fascinating hobby.
Recommendation 1 – Simple reflector with a big aperture!
If you’re a beginner looking for something a little more advanced, the SkyWatcher BK is a very good choice. The Newtonian design and large aperture makes many of the fainter galaxies and nebulae a fun enjoyable viewing experience. The sturdy EQ3 German Equatorial mount and adjustable tripod allows you to track objects in the night sky. Attach your DSLR camera to capture beautiful photos of the moon and planets!
https://bintel.com.au/product/skywatcher-bk-p150x750-eq3-deluxe-mount-steel-legs/
Recommendation 2 – Small SCT Cassegrains with computerised mounts!
Since the 1970’s, Celestron’s Cassegrain Telescopes have been taking amateur astronomers by storm. Combining quality Cassegrain Optics with a smooth computerised altazimuth mount, the Celestron NexStar SE line is perfect for beginner astronomers of all ages. With top of the line computerised star finding technology (StarSense), navigating the night sky is as simple as a push of the button! It’s simple fork mount design makes traveling with a NexStar SE a breeze. Bintel stocks the NexStar 4, 5 and 6 SE, depending on your viewing needs. For quality and useability, you can’t go past a Celestron NexStar!
Recommendation 3 – Celestron’s premium electronic telescopes with plenty of room for upgrades!
Like the original NexStar SE, the NexStar Evolution Telescopes feature the same high quality SchmidtCassegrain Telescope (SCT) optics but benefits from modern improvements including a smooth computerised mount, improved optical coating, and no-nonsense, easy to use StarSense technology. The NexStar Evolutions are the first SCT with integrated WiFi. Forget slewing with a hand controller, the NexStar Evolution uses wireless technology to connect with your iPhone or iPad. Find and identify celestial objects with just a tap of your finger using the Celestron SkyPortal iOS and Android app!
Unlike the older NexStar SE, the NexStar Evolutions have an inbuilt ultra-long life lithium-ion phosphate battery. Leave the batteries at home and enjoy up to 10 hours of uninterrupted stargazing. If astrophotography is in your future, the NexStar Evolutions are an affordable way to get started. Simply attach your DSLR camera to start capturing today! As you advance, you can add an Evolution Equatorial Wedge allowing for longer exposure photography for more detailed deep sky portraits. Bintel stocks NexStar 6, 8, and 9.25 Evolutions, depending on your viewing needs. If you want the ultimate precision stargazing experience, then the NexStar Evolution is for you!