Reflecting Telescopes | Amateur astronomy, deep-sky observation | Objective Diameter: 25mm (base) ▲70mm (advanced) Material: Aluminum alloy (ISO 5291) Mount: Equatorial (tracking capability) | Cost-effective for entry-level ▲Higher aperture (advanced) improves light-gathering Lightweight ▲Sturdier build for portability | Limited magnification (25mm) ▲70mm ▲114mm (advanced) for planetary details Requires collimation (▲Pre-aligned in advanced) |
Refracting Telescopes | Planetary observation, terrestrial use | Lens Aperture: 50–70mm (ASTM E284) Mount: Alt-azimuth (no tracking) | No collimation needed Compact design ▲Waterproof variants (advanced) | Higher cost per aperture ▲Chromatic aberration (reduced in advanced with ED glass) |
Catadioptric Telescopes | Astrophotography, compact storage | Aperture: 90–130mm (ISO 14139) Optics: Compound (mirror + lens) | Compact size ▲Faster focusing (advanced with motorized focus) Excellent for imaging | Complex optics ▲Higher price ▲Less light-gathering than reflectors of same size |
Dobsonian Telescopes | Casual stargazing, large-aperture viewing | Aperture: 150mm+ (▲250mm in advanced) Mount: Alt-azimuth (no tracking) | Affordable for large apertures ▲Easy setup Great for deep-sky objects | Bulky design ▲No tracking ▲Limited portability (▲Lightweight carbon fiber in advanced) |
Binoculars | Casual astronomy, terrestrial use | Magnification: 7x–10x (▲20x in advanced) Lens Diameter: 30–50mm (▲70mm in advanced) | Handheld ▲Waterproof (advanced) Wide field of view | Limited aperture ▲Eye relief discomfort (▲ergonomic design in advanced) |
Spotting Scopes | Hunting, daytime observation | Aperture: 50–80mm (▲100mm in advanced) Zoom Range: 20x–60x (▲100x in advanced) | Detailed terrestrial views ▲Weather-resistant build | Not for deep-space viewing ▲Bulkier than compact telescopes |