Telescopes

Looking for the perfect telescope this Christmas?

Read our Telescope Gift Guide to help you focus in on the perfect gift!

Whether it’s a first telescope for the kids or a serious instrument for deep-sky viewing, we’ll help you choose one you’ll actually use. We stock Celestron and Sky-Watcher telescopes, from tabletop Dobsonians to computerised GoTo models, along with smart telescopes from Seestar, Vaonis and Unistellar. Talk to us in store at 201 Oxford Street, Leederville.

What’s the best telescope for a beginner? A tabletop Dobsonian such as the Sky-Watcher Heritage 5″ or 6″ is simple, sturdy and shows the Moon, Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons clearly. If finding objects is a worry, Celestron’s StarSense Explorer range uses your phone to guide you to them.

What can I see with a telescope? Even a small telescope shows craters on the Moon, Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s cloud bands and moons, and bright star clusters. Larger apertures (6″ and up) start to show galaxies and nebulae from a dark site away from city lights.

What is aperture and why does it matter? Aperture is the diameter of the main mirror or lens. More aperture gathers more light, which means brighter, sharper views of faint objects. It matters more than magnification.

What is a smart telescope? Smart telescopes such as Seestar, Vaonis and Unistellar have a built-in camera and are controlled from your phone. They find objects automatically and build up colour images of galaxies and nebulae on screen — great for city skies and for sharing with family.

How are telescopes delivered? Telescopes ship Australia-wide for a flat $50 per order, or pick up in store in Leederville.