Don’t Get Fooled by Telescope Marketing: What You Really Need to Know
- Jordan Joumon
- Mar 27
- 4 min read
The astronomy market offers dozens of telescope brands, each advertising the ability to see Jupiter or other celestial objects up close, like in NASA photos. For beginners, this can quickly become confusing.
I’ve decided to cover this topic based on my personal experience. Over the years, I’ve used more than thirty telescopes from various brands, all acquired during my learning journey. I hope this gives me enough perspective to share honest advice with you.
Before we go further, I want to clarify that none of the brands mentioned here have sponsored me. Everything I write is completely impartial and based solely on personal experience. With that said, let’s take a closer look at the brands that have accompanied me on my astronomy journey.
To make things simple, I’ll start with models I recommend for beginners, then move on to more advanced options as your experience grows.
Step 1: Start with a Manual Telescope
When starting out, I always recommend using a manual telescope. This helps you learn the night sky and identify visible celestial objects during your observations. Understanding where to look is key, if you don’t know this, a motorized telescope won’t help much.
Back in 2012, there weren’t many mobile apps to help locate stars. While inconvenient at the time, it actually helped me learn the sky map more thoroughly. Today, apps like SkySafari and Stellarium put this technology at your fingertips. One brand that has made the most of this is Celestron, with its StarSense Explorer series.
If there’s one series I recommend to anyone starting astronomy, it’s the StarSense Explorer. These telescopes combine the best of both worlds: a manual telescope to learn instrument handling, and a mobile app that syncs with the telescope using your smartphone’s gyroscope. Calibration is simple, and the app guides you to visible objects in the sky.
The series offers several models, all with the same technology. The universal rule is: the bigger the telescope, the more light it captures, the farther you can see, and the higher the cost. So no matter which StarSense Explorer model you choose, the app experience will be the same; only the magnification will differ.
Step 2: Moving to Motorized “GoTo” Telescopes
Once you’ve mastered basic telescopes and feel limited by your instrument, it’s time to invest in a motorized telescope, commonly called a “GoTo” telescope, usually with an azimuth mount. Don’t worry about the technical terms; for now, just know that azimuth mounts are simpler to use than equatorial mounts (a topic we’ll cover in detail in another blog post).
Several azimuth mounts offer excellent performance, such as the Celestron NexStar series, which has been delivering reliable performance for over 27 years. Personally, if I were recommending your first GoTo telescope, I’d suggest the SkyWatcher AZ GTi or GTe.
This mount is sold as a kit with an OTA (Optical Tube Assembly), or you can attach any compatible telescope weighing up to 5kg. It offers excellent performance and is one of the best value-for-money options. I own two AZ GTi mounts myself and can attest that even after more than ten years in astronomy, their performance remains remarkable.
Another advantage is that this mount can also be controlled with a smartphone via the free SynScan Pro app (available on Play Store and Apple Store). Through Wi-Fi, you can access all mount functions from your phone, enjoy smooth tracking, and even start basic astrophotography with small telescopes or lenses.
Step 3: Advanced Equipment for Experienced Astronomers
If you are already experienced and know whether your focus is observation or astrophotography, it’s time to consider more advanced and specialized equipment.
For mounts, I recommend the SkyWatcher EQ3, paired with a SkyWatcher 150/750mm reflector or equivalents from brands like Explorer Scientific or Omegon for versatile use. If you are more interested in lunar or planetary observation, a Celestron C6 or C8 on this mount is excellent.
At this level, major components can be purchased separately, allowing you to build a setup that fits your specific needs. By now, I assume you have enough knowledge to make informed choices about telescopes. If not, check out my other article dedicated to this topic.
Trusted Brands
The brands I recommend, proven over time and suitable for different budgets, include:
These brands offer consumer telescopes as well as advanced accessories. A final piece of advice: never buy a telescope marketed with flashy claims but no technical details. In Mauritius, you generally won’t find a quality telescope under Rs 20,000; cheaper models are often toys with subpar optics, which cause more frustration than wonder.
Personalized Guidance
If you want more advice for starting astronomy, feel free to contact me.
I also provide personalized support for purchasing all kinds of astronomy and astrophotography equipment.
-Jordan JOUMON, March 2026
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