A first telescope - There are two types of telescope - reflectors, which use a mirror at the bottom of the telescope to image, and refractors, which have a lens at the top of the tube. It is the diameter of the mirror or lens that determines the resolution - the bigger the diameter, the better images you will see. Small telescopes are generally not worth the cost - refractors below 3” diameter and reflectors below 4” are generally not as good as the binoculars described above. Also important is a sturdy tripod to mount the telescope on, as the ones provided can sometimes be too unsteady for a clear image. A stand with a pillar and feet is best for the purpose.

Andrew Conway from the Open University makes the following recommendations:
4" to 5" reflector telescopes: many imported Russian ones are available for under £300. Pros: They are cheap, sturdy and have good optics (i.e. give very sharp images). Cons: They are heavy and not very portable, difficult to upgrade, and rather basic. Celestron and Meade have a variety of 5" and below reflectors which are very popular and have good optics and sturdy tripod stands. Pros: Good optics, light compact and portable. Easily upgradeable and have all kinds of add on gadgets. Cons: A bit more expensive, and can sometimes be a little more fiddly to use because of their compact size.

Reviews of telescopes that have been available for the past few years, as well as the very latest models and prices, can be found on the Test Reports section of the Sky and Telescope magazine website.