Best Telescope Guide

Telescope types and mounts

The type of telescope and mount decides how it feels to use. These guides explain the differences.

Types and Mounts Telescope Mounts Explained: Equatorial, Alt-Az, Dobsonian, GoTo Equatorial, alt-azimuth, Dobsonian and GoTo mounts compared in plain language, with what each does well, what it costs in effort and which one suits you. 9 min read · Updated Nov 12, 2026 Types and Mounts Best Telescopes for Apartments and Small Spaces: Four Picks Four telescopes for apartments, balconies and small homes, picked for size, storage and setup time, with honest advice on what you can see from a balcony. 7 min read · Updated Nov 9, 2026 Types and Mounts Telescope Eyepieces Explained: What to Buy and What to Skip A plain guide to telescope eyepieces: how magnification works, what focal length and apparent field mean, Barlow lenses, and which upgrades are worth buying first. 7 min read · Updated Nov 8, 2026 Types and Mounts How to Collimate a Newtonian Telescope: A Simple Walkthrough Learn to collimate a Newtonian reflector or Dobsonian in about ten minutes, with a simple method, the tools you need and fixes for the usual problems. 8 min read · Updated Nov 3, 2026 Types and Mounts Best Portable Telescopes: Five Scopes You Can Actually Carry Five portable telescopes for travel, camping and small cars, compared by weight, setup time and what you can see, with honest notes on the trade-offs. 8 min read · Updated Oct 30, 2026 Types and Mounts Refractor vs Reflector Telescopes: Which Type Is Right for You? Refractors, reflectors and compound telescopes compared on price, maintenance, portability and views, with a clear answer on which one suits your goals. 8 min read · Updated Oct 28, 2026 Types and Mounts Best Telescopes That Find Objects for You: GoTo and App-Guided Computerized GoTo and phone-guided telescopes compared, with honest advice on which type of automatic finding is worth paying for and who should skip it. 8 min read · Updated Oct 21, 2026 Types and Mounts Best Dobsonian Telescopes: Four Picks From Tabletop to 10-Inch Four Dobsonian telescopes compared by aperture, portability and price, with honest advice on which size fits your car, your storage and your sky. 8 min read · Updated Oct 20, 2026

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