With the right eyepieces, an 8-Inch Dobsonian (Newtonian Reflector) will provide impressive views of the Planets and Deep Sky Objects. Saturn’s rings are more incredible than you ever imagined. It’s not the level of detail that gets you — it’s the fact that you are actually seeing it in real life.
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# The Best Telescope for Beginners

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3 min read

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Nov 20, 2018

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I’m going to give it to you straight. Anyone that can quickly give you a specific brand and model for this question without knowing your goals is giving you bad advice.

What I mean is, everyone will have their own idea of the “best telescope” early on, that delivers the results the results they were hoping for. With that being said, the telescope I’m about to recommend is what worked for me.

By “worked”, I mean that it captured my interest in astronomy on a level that changed my life forever.

# The Dobsonian Reflector

A Dobsonian Reflector requires manually moving the telescope to visually observe the night sky. This is not a computerized GoTo mount that allows you to punch in the target of your choice so the telescope can find it for you. And early on, that’s a good thing.

This is because, in my experience, it is best to learn the night sky through the eyepiece first. Although I am now an avid amateur astrophotographer, I believe it is best to start with visual astronomy before adding a camera to the mix.

The Apertura AD8 Dobsonian Reflector ($450 USD)

You can begin to experience what it means to appreciate the objects in the night sky in a very impactful way. Scanning across a dark sky with a wide field eyepiece and discovering a faint galaxy or nebula in real time is a life changing moment. You suddenly feel small, but in a good way.

With the right eyepieces, an 8-Inch Dobsonian (Newtonian Reflector) will provide impressive views of the Planets and Deep Sky Objects. Saturn’s rings are more incredible than you ever imagined. It’s not the level of detail that gets you — it’s the fact that you are actually seeing it in real life.

# Just the Right Amount of Aperture

I recommend investing in a Dobsonian Telescope with at least 8 inches of Aperture, as that is enough aperture to collect some serious light, yet still manageable. If mobility is an issue for you, a model with a smaller “Dob” will be easy to carry, but lack the detail and views of an 8-inch mirror.

The Dobsonian base provides a positive user-experience as it the viewing position is comfortable, and the smooth swiveling motion makes moving the telescope around feel very natural. The Apertura AD8 featured in the video below has high quality tension knobs for altitude adjustment.

A Dobsonian with a wobbly base or lose tension will create frustration, especially when using a high magnification eyepiece — so don’t overlook this aspect.

## Video:

The Best Beginner Telescope (8 Inch Dobsonian Reflector)

# Recommended Accessories

Carefully review the included accessories when choosing your first telescope. You won’t have the basics that an experienced backyard astronomer will have such as:

- Eyepieces
- Collimation Tools
- Filters
- Finder Scope
- Extension Tubes (For Focus)
- Star Maps

I’ve used lots of telescopes over the years, and I still consider the “Dob” to be the best telescope for beginners. It nurtures a sustainable interest in astronomy and will provide a positive user experience in the critical early-stages.

No matter which road you decide to take later on, you’ll always have room for a simple and enjoyable performer like an 8-inch Dobsonian Reflector.

# A Great Beginner Telescope

I can comfortably recommend the Apertura AD8 as an excellent beginner telescope. Read my full review on AstroBackyard.

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I run an Astrophotography Website and YouTube Channel called AstroBackyard. My primary interests are in deep sky astrophotography using a camera and telescope.

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