The eyepiece determines the magnification of the view through your telescope. Divide the focal length of your telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece to find the magnification. Eyepieces come in focal lengths ranging from 2mm to 56mm.

The highest useful magnification for a telescope is about twice the aperture size in mm. For example a telescope with a 150mm aperture is limited to a 300x magnification before the view will become too blurry. But this also depends on your atmospheric conditions while observing and on the quality of your optics.

Eyepieces come in 2 sizes: 1.25 inches and 2 inches. A 2″ eyepiece requires a 2″ focuser but a 1.25″ eyepiece is more versatile. It’s usually the higher end eyepieces that come in the 2″ size and they tend to be heavier and more expensive.

Types Of Mounts

The mount is a very important part of the telescope. Some types of telescopes are better suited for a particular type of mount. There are 4 main types.

Alt-Azimuth Mounts:

Alt-azimuth mounts are the simplest type of mount, and they are similar to a camera tripod. They allow you to move the telescope up and down and side to side. But it can be difficult to track the stars and make precise adjustments. For this reason they are mainly suited for smaller, low-power telescopes.

Equatorial Mounts:

Equatorial mounts allow a telescope to track the sky as Earth rotates. They do this with motor drives but do not necessarily require a computer system to track, although some equatorial mounts are computerized for finding objects.

Most equatorial mounts are German equatorial mounts, which use counterweights to balance the telescope. This type of mount is versatile and breaks down into smaller pieces, making even large telescopes portable.

Dobsonian Mounts:

The dobsonian is a variation of the alt-az mount, designed for reflectors. Instead of using tripod legs, it uses a heavy base that is often made of wood. This is a stable design that doesn’t cost a lot and allows for more precise movements.

Fork Mounts:

A fork mount is designed for shorter tube telescopes (usually the compound type). They are motorized and do not require a counterweight since the telescope is balanced at it’s center of mass. But they are often heavier than other types of mounts.

Types Of Telescopes

There are 3 main types of telescopes:

Refractor Telescopes:

This is the classic design that most people picture when they think of a telescope. Light enters through a lens at the top of the telescope before bouncing off a diagonal mirror at the bottom to the eyepiece. Smaller aperture refractors can be found for a low price, but larger aperture designs quickly become very expensive.

Reflector Telescopes:

A reflector telescope contains a large concave mirror at the bottom of a tube which bounces light toward a secondary mirror at the top and then to the eyepiece. Larger reflectors may use an open truss design instead of a tube to save weight. A reflector is one of the most cost-effective designs that allows you to get the most aperture for your money. This is especially true if used with a dobsonian base.

Compound Telescopes:

A compound (or catadioptric) telescope is made with a combination of mirrors and lenses. It is the most complex type, but this usually results in a more compact and lightweight design compared to the others.

Conclusion

Our top pick for the best intermediate telescope for beginners is the Celestron – AstroMaster 130EQ. Designed for near and deep-sky observation with a fast focal ratio for astrophotography/imaging, Celestron’s AstroMaster 130EQ 130mm f/5 Reflector Telescope features a 650mm focal length and an oversized parabolic mirror that produce detailed images of the Moon, clear views of the planets, and the ability to resolve distant objects such as nebulae and galaxies.

Our next best intermediate telescope for the money is the Celestron – NexStar 6SE Telescope. Its 6-inch aperture with excellent light-gathering ability provides impressive views of the Moon and planets, along with deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula, while retaining a compact form factor.

Also, the fully automated GoTo mount with a database of 40,000+ celestial objects automatically locates and tracks objects for you.

The Celestron – NexStar 127SLT is our pick for the best intermediate telescope for astrophotography.

Designed as an entry- to mid-level astronomical observation platform, the Celestron NexStar 127SLT 127mm f/12 Maksutov-Cassegrain GoTo Telescope gives users the ability to make detailed observations of the Moon, with the ability to easily see planets and reach outside the solar system to resolve distant objects like galaxies, nebulae, and binary or variable stars.