Buyer's Guides

Man looking at the stars with telescope beside him. Credit: iStock

How to choose your first telescope

CEM-equatorial-mount

A Basic Guide to Telescope Mounts

New astronomy kit for a new year

The three most common designs of eyepiece you’ll come across as an observer: an orthoscopic (left), a Plössl (middle) and a wide angle (right). Image Credit: The Secret Studio

The importance of eyepieces

Christmas astronomy credit: iStock

Festive first light?

ZWO-camera

Cool as a camera

The Sky-Watcher SynScan V4 hand controller that comes with the AZ-EQ5GT mount has a database of over 42,900 objects including the Messier, NGC and IC catalogues, variable stars, double stars, planets and named stars. Credit: www.thesecretstudio.net

Telescope mounts: astronomers’ Helping Hand

BBC Sky at Night Magazine art editor Steve Marsh contemplates the assembly of the massive 20-inch StarGate 500P Dobsonian, during its photoshoot for the April 2018 issue. Credit: Iain Todd / BBC Sky at Night Magazine Carousel image: iStock

Telescopes: how big is too big?

BBC Sky at Night Magazine's Will Gater reveals what to look for when buying your first telescope.

Vodcast: how to buy your first telescope

08 - binos

Hold steady: the virtues of image stabilising binoculars

An all-rounder: Bresser's Solarix © Secret Studio

What equipment should astronomy beginners buy?

Clouds: an astronomer's nemesis. But it does help to have decent gear for when the skies do eventually clear. Credit: iStock

The importance of portable astronomy kit

The typical elements of an equatorial mount; on display here is the Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro. Image Credit: www.thesecretstudio.net

What’s in a telescope mount?

Skyvision T600

Aperture fever

Sony A7s camera

Astrophotography: is faster better?