Magnification is important for making objects appear larger, but it does not create more detail. Aperture is more important for determining the overall quality of the image, including its brightness, resolution, and contrast. However, magnification can still be useful for getting a closer look at specific features of an object that you can already see with lower magnification.

All telescopes are affected by light pollution to some extent, but Dobsonians and reflectors are generally less affected than refractors. This is because refractors have more internal surfaces where light can bounce around and cause glare. If you live in an area with a lot of light pollution, you may want to consider a Dobsonian or reflector, or find a dark observing location.

A computerized mount can be helpful for finding and tracking objects in the night sky, especially for beginners. However, they can also be more expensive and complex to set up. A manual mount is perfectly usable if you are comfortable learning how to navigate the sky yourself.

The essential accessories for your telescope will depend on your specific needs and interests. However, some common recommendations include:
Extra eyepieces: This will allow you to change the magnification of your telescope to suit different observing conditions and objects.
A finder scope: This is a small, low-power telescope that helps you aim the main telescope at the correct area of the sky.
A collimation kit: This is used to adjust the alignment of the mirrors in a reflector telescope.
A star chart or planisphere: This will help you identify objects in the night sky.

The portability of a telescope depends on its size and weight. Dobsonians are generally the most portable, while refractors and large reflectors can be more bulky. Consider how you plan to use the telescope before making a purchase.

Dobsonian telescopes are generally the easiest to set up, as they typically only require placing them on the ground and aligning the finder scope. Refractors and reflectors may require more assembly and alignment, but the process is not overly complicated. Many telescopes come with instructions and online resources can also be helpful.

You may need a few basic tools, such as a screwdriver or Allen wrench, to assemble some telescopes. However, you do not need any special knowledge to get started. There are many resources available to help you learn how to use your telescope, such as online tutorials, books, and astronomy clubs.

The amount of detail you can see with a telescope will depend on a number of factors, including:

Aperture size: Larger telescopes can gather more light, which allows you to see fainter objects and more detail in brighter objects.
Observing conditions: Light pollution, seeing conditions (steadiness of the atmosphere), and transparency (amount of dust and moisture in the air) will all affect how much detail you can see.
Your own eyesight: If you have poor vision, you may not be able to see as much detail as someone with good vision.

Here is a general guide to what you can expect to see under typical observing conditions with different telescope apertures:

50mm-70mm: You can see the phases of Venus, the moons of Jupiter, and some brighter deep sky objects like the Andromeda Galaxy and the Orion Nebula.
70mm-100mm: You can see more detail in the planets, including the rings of Saturn and the cloud bands on Jupiter. You can also see more faint deep sky objects.
100mm+: You can start to see more challenging deep sky objects, such as galaxies, nebulae, and star clusters. You can also see more detail in fainter objects like comets and asteroids.

Here are some popular options:

Mobile Apps:

Star Walk 2: This app uses your phone's camera and GPS to overlay a real-time map of the night sky on your screen.

SkyView Lite: Similar to Star Walk 2, SkyView Lite uses your phone's camera and GPS to identify objects in the night sky. It has a simple interface and is completely free, with no ads or in-app purchases.

SkySafari: This app offers a comprehensive and detailed view of the night sky, with information on thousands of stars, planets, galaxies, nebulae, and other objects.

Google Sky Map: This is a simple but effective app from Google that allows you to see a map of the night sky and identify objects by name.

Computer Software:

Stellarium: This free and open-source software is a powerful and versatile planetarium program that allows you to explore the night sky in stunning detail.

Cartes du Ciel: This free and open-source software is another excellent option for exploring the night sky.

NASA Night Sky: This website from NASA provides a daily sky chart that shows you what planets, stars, and other objects are visible in your location.

In addition to these apps and software, there are also many online resources that can help you identify celestial objects, such as:

The International Astronomical Union (IAU): https://www.iau.org/
The Sky & Telescope website: https://skyandtelescope.org/
NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepixFull.html

We are often advised that you are able to see them through any small telescope, or even binoculars. But you really need a telescope with at least 40 times magnification to clearly see the detail of the rings as separate from the planet. And the bigger the telescope, the better.

For Galactic Observations: A reflecting telescope with a larger aperture (150mm-250mm) and a moderate focal length (750mm-1250mm) is ideal for capturing distant galaxies. Telescopes such as the Orion XT8 or the Celestron Advanced VX 8" offer excellent light-gathering capabilities and versatility.

A good telescope is essential for getting started in astronomy, but with so many brands and models available to choose from, it's hard to pinpoint how much a good telescope costs. A good telescope costs between $300 and $8,000, depending on your needs and level of expertise.

Optical telescopes, for example, can see objects up to billions of light-years away, while radio telescopes can detect signals from even further distances. However, when it comes to observing the universe's earliest moments, telescopes can only see so far.

In general, a top-quality 4-inch refractor shows deep-sky objects about as well as a 5-inch reflector or catadioptric, and might even do a bit better on the planets. Most telescopes with apertures of 80 mm or less are refractors.

Refractor Telescopes: Refractors use lenses to gather and focus light, offering crisp and clear images. They are excellent for planetary observation due to their ability to provide high contrast and detailed views.

Some of the most newly detected objects may be over 13 billion light years away, as derived from a standard model of the Universe. However, a powerful new generation of telescopes, like the James Webb Space Telescope, will be needed to confirm the suspected distances of these objects.

For Planets: Refractor telescopes are best for viewing planets and lunar details. A 4-6 inch aperture refractor with an equatorial mount in the $300-500 price range will show good details on the planets and Moon. Popular models are the Orion AstroView 120ST and SkyWatcher 120/600.

Anything too cheap (less than $100) might be too frustrating to use and not give you much viewing satisfaction. The starting price range for a good quality beginner telescope is around $200 to $400 with the upper end being for the computerized mounts.

The most important aspect of any telescope is its aperture, the diameter of its main optical component, which can be either a lens or a mirror. A scope's aperture determines both its light-gathering ability (how bright the image appears) and its resolving power (how sharp the image appears).

The telescope you want has two essentials: high-quality optics and a steady, smoothly working mount. And all other things being equal, big scopes show more and are easier to use than small ones, as we'll see below. But don't overlook portability and convenience — the best scope for you is the one you'll actually use.

With just a small or medium-sized telescope, skygazers can easily observe planets. You'll be surprised how much of our solar system you can see! And you don't need a dark sky to view all of our solar system's planets; even under city lights, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn can be easy to see with a telescope.

In summary: Refractors generally have the edge over reflectors for a quality image, both from the standpoint of lens/mirror quality and precision optical mountings, and lack of central obscurations.

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