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How to choose your first telescope

Aperture, a steady mount and honest expectations matter more than magnification numbers. What to look for, and what to avoid.

2 min read

Which accessories to buy first

A short, honest list: a second eyepiece, a Moon filter, a red light - and solar safety before anything else.

1 min read

Aperture, focal length and focal ratio explained

The three numbers on every telescope - what they mean and how they change what you see.

1 min read

Reflector, refractor or Dobsonian?

The main telescope designs, what each does well, and which suits a first telescope.

2 min read

Observing from Pakistani cities - and where to find dark skies

What works from a rooftop in Karachi, Lahore or Islamabad, when the sky is clearest, and dark sites to plan a trip to.

2 min read

Photograph the Moon with a phone

The simplest astrophotography: hold or clamp your phone to the eyepiece. Settings and steps that work.

1 min read

How a DIY telescope works

Two lenses, the right distance apart: the optics behind a home-made refractor, and how to work out its magnification.

1 min read