Expert’s Choice: Best Telescopes For City Viewing for 2023

1. Best Overall: Telescopes for Adults, 70mm Aperture and 700mm Focal Length Professional

2. Best Sale: Gskyer Telescope, Telescopes for Adults, 600x90mm AZ Astronomical Refractor Telescope,Telescope

3. Best Value: 12x50 Monocular Telescope for Adults with Smartphone Adapter Tripod Hand

4. Best Durable: Celestron – StarSense Explorer DX 102AZ Smartphone App-Enabled Telescope

5. Cheapest: Celestron - NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope - Compact and Portable

1. What should I consider when choosing a telescope for city viewing?

When choosing a telescope for city viewing, you should consider the following factors:

• Aperture: The size of the telescope's main mirror or lens, which determines how much light it can collect and how much detail it can resolve. Larger telescopes will generally provide better views, but they will also be more expensive and heavier.

• Mount: The type of mount the telescope is mounted on. Alt-azimuth mounts are good for general observation, but equatorial mounts are better for tracking celestial objects as they move across the sky.

• Magnification: The ability of the telescope to make objects appear closer. Higher magnification can be useful for observing smaller or more distant objects, but it also requires a steady mount and good eyepieces to be effective.

• Portability: If you plan on taking your telescope to different locations, you'll want to consider its size and weight.

• Price: Telescopes can range in price from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Decide on a budget before shopping and look for a telescope that fits your needs within that budget.

2. What is a good telescope for city viewing?

A good telescope for city viewing would be one with a large aperture (at least 4 inches), a sturdy mount, and a relatively low magnification (around 100x). Larger telescopes will be more expensive and heavier, so you may want to consider a smaller, more portable option if you plan on taking it with you to different locations.

3. Can I see planets and galaxies with a telescope in the city?

Yes, you can see some planets and galaxies with a telescope in the city, but the views will not be as good as they would be from a dark location with little light pollution. The light pollution from city lights can make it difficult to see fainter objects, and it may wash out the colors of some objects. However, with a good telescope and some patience, you can still see a wide variety of celestial objects from a city location.

4. How do I choose the right eyepiece for my telescope?

The right eyepiece for your telescope will depend on the magnification you want to achieve and the size of your telescope's aperture. As a general rule, lower magnification eyepieces (e.g. 20mm or 32mm) are better for wide field views and are more forgiving of small tracking errors, while higher magnification eyepieces (e.g. 9mm or 12mm) are better for detailed views but require a steadier mount.

To choose the right eyepiece, you'll need to know the focal length of your telescope and the desired magnification. The magnification of an eyepiece is calculated by dividing the focal length of the telescope by the focal length of the eyepiece. For example, if you have a telescope with a focal length of 1000mm and you want to achieve a magnification of 100x, you'll need an eyepiece with a focal length of 10mm (1000mm / 100x = 10mm).

5. How do I align my telescope to the celestial coordinates?

To align your telescope to the celestial coordinates, you'll need to set up your mount so that it is properly polar aligned. This involves aligning the mount's polar axis with the celestial pole, which is the point in the sky around which the stars appear to rotate.

To polar align your mount, you'll need to know your latitude and the current time. You can then use a polar alignment scope or a smartphone app to help you align the mount. Once your mount is polar aligned, you can

A good telescope for city viewing should have a large aperture, a sturdy mount, and a relatively low magnification. It should also be portable if you plan on taking it to different locations. You can see some planets and galaxies with a telescope in the city, although the views may not be as good as they would be from a dark location due to light pollution. To choose the right eyepiece for your telescope, you'll need to consider the focal length of your telescope and the desired magnification. To align your telescope to the celestial coordinates, you'll need to polar align your mount using your latitude and the current time.