
Second, most Dobsonians are entirely manual, meaning they usually don't have computers or motorization to point at targets for you automatically. Collimation normally takes around 5 minutes, but it is an added step compared to other telescopes like refractors. It's a brief process once you get the hang of it, but you'll need a special tool to do it: a collimator. This process is known as collimation, and it's similar to having to tune an instrument before playing it. So what are some downsides to using Dobsonians? For one, Dobsonians are a type of reflector telescope, meaning they use mirrors to form an image, and these mirrors need to be frequently aligned. A good rule of thumb for visual observers is to get the largest telescope you can both afford and also carry.įor a beginner looking for a telescope with great visual performance and versatility, the Dobsonian is tough to beat. Dobsonians come in a wide variety of sizes, ranging from small tabletop Dobsonians to medium and large-sized models, which can become very heavy and difficult to transport. If you ever attend a star party, you'll notice that most of the visual observers are using Dobsonians for this reason. In comparison, you can get an 8" Dobsonian for that price, which has 4x the light-gathering power of a comparably-priced 4" telescope! This translates to more overall detail in observing planets as well as being able to observe much fainter objects, so Dobsonians are especially great for observing galaxies and nebulae. Other than Dobsonians, telescopes in the sub-$500 price range rarely exceed 4" in aperture due to their cost to produce. This is due to their large aperture and therefore light-gathering area. Even with a budget of below $500, you can get an excellent performing Dobsonian for visual observing.ĭobsonians can provide fantastic views of both deep sky objects and solar system objects like planets and the moon. This is due to a simple design that's easy to manufacture large mirrors for an affordable price. Dobsonian telescopes offer the best bang-for-your-buck visual views of any telescope type.
