FAQ

Start by thinking about your interests, what do you want to see. The Moon and planets are relatively easy targets, while galaxies and nebulae require darker skies and, in many cases, different equipment

The next step is to think practically about you living situation (i.e. do you have access to a garden), what size and weight of telescope can you realistically manage (i.e. what can I carry outside or load into the car?), your budget (i.e. how much do I want to spend?).

To help you, we have created a series of short buying guides specifically for newcomers that will cover these topics in more detail. You don’t need to know everything about astronomy before buying your first telescope but answering some simple questions like these will help you find a telescope that is right for you.

There isn’t a single, simple answer. A modest budget can provide a very enjoyable introduction to visual astronomy, while smart telescopes offer an easy-to-use and affordable solution for anyone interested astrophotography. Of course, as optical quality and technological sophistication increase so does the cost.

The important thing is to spend your money on a well-matched system, rather than simply choosing the telescope with the biggest specification. We recommend that you read our buying guides for newcomers, message us with any questions you might have, or make an appointment for an online video consultation.

This is a very good reason to keep things simple.

For visual astronomy, the simplest option is a Dobsonian telescope. Smaller aperture models  (8-10”) are manageable for most people, and the rocker box system performs the same role as the mount and tripod. You just need a few eyepieces, and maybe a lunar filter and you’ll be exploring the night sky on your first clear night. There are smaller telescopes, but nothing beats the Dobsonian for value.

It’s also worth considering a smart telescope which are extremely easy to use and generally relative inexpensive. Of course, most smart telescopes are designed solely for astrophotography. You use your smart phone or tablet to control the telescope and view the images taken by the telescope. If you look at objects with your own eyes, then a more traditional telescope is your best option.

Remember … The best telescope is often the one you use frequently.

Not necessarily. Ultimately it always comes back to the question … what are you interested in? While the optical quality of refractor telescopes produced by the most respected manufacturers will be superb, if you’re interested in observing the planets or distant galaxies, buying a small telescope with a shorter focal length will not help. If you’re budget will stretch to a big aperture, long focal length refractor with a high-quality mount, you’ll be fine. However, if it’s your first telescope you might be better off with a compact catadioptric telescope.

If your interest is astrophotography and you want something more involved than a smart telescope, a small, short focal length refractor would be a good choice. However, remember that the mount is the most important part of your astrophotography rig so buying a high-quality mount should be your first priority.

For a first telescope, a complete package can be a very convenient way to start. It gives you equipment designed to work together and avoids having to understand every potential compatibility issue. However, these packages are generally designed with affordability in mind, and so you should anticipate, entry-level performance. At NSO we have created a series of All in Bundles that are designed to fit a range of interests and budgets.

Building a system, component by component, is certainly possible. We recommend that you read our buying guides for newcomers and/or book a video consultation so we can help you find the right setup.

Yes, and this is often a sensible approach.

You can start with a telescope and mount that meet your current needs, then add or replace accessories as your interests develop. However, some upgrades can be expensive or limited by the original equipment, so it’s worth considering your likely future interests before making a major purchase and seek advice from us.

Usually not.

Many entry-level telescope packages come with the basic accessories required to get started. To avoid disappointment, never assume, always check what’s in the box before placing an order. One eyepiece is sufficient to get started, you can add eyepieces with different focal lengths and fields of view later. For more information on choosing eyepieces, we recommend reading our eyepiece buying guide for newcomers.

For a child interested in the Moon and planets, look for a telescope that is a manageable size, simple to set up, and easy-to-point. The telescope doesn’t need to be huge or complicated to provide impressive views of the Moon. However, for a decent view of Jupiter and Saturn, you will need a telescope with a longer focal length (>1000mm). While Dobsonian telescopes are generally suitable for the planets, a smaller telescope on a stable, easy-to-use mount might be a better choice.

Maksutov Cassegrain telescopes (MCTs) would be a good choice as they are compact, lightweight and offer longer focal lengths. Please resist the temptation to buy a cheap telescope from the bigger online retailers, in the amateur astronomy community these telescopes are known as ‘hobby killers’ as their performance is far off the wild claims that appear on the packaging.

Importantly, we recommend that children are always supervised by an adult – please read our Safety, Risk and Control Measures Policy for information on the safe use of a telescopes.

A telescope can open up an entirely new world for a child, turning the night sky from something distant and mysterious into something they can explore with their own eyes. Seeing the Moon’s craters, Jupiter and its moons, or the rings of Saturn can spark a sense of wonder and curiosity that stays with them for a lifetime. For many children, a telescope can be their first real invitation to explore the universe, and has kick-started the career of many famous scientists and astronomers.

However, we do not recommend young children use telescopes unsupervised. The potential for accidental misuse, for example, looking at the Sun, and the risk of permanent eye damage is simply too high. Discovering the night sky together is a great way to spend quality time with your children safely.

Generally, children aged 12 and older can operate a basic telescope independently, in a secure garden, after being taught how to use the equipment appropriately by an adult. Of course, this is highly dependent on how responsible the child is. We recommend that you read our Safety, Risk and Control Measures Policy which clearly outlines how to safely use the optical products we sell.

Buying a complete visual astronomy or astrophotography rig for someone is possible but it’s not easy. Think about the person you’re buying for. What are they interested in observing or imaging? Where do their live? Do they have access to a back garden or a car? Do they live in a heavily light polluted area?

Initial guidance can be found in our buying guides for newcomers. However, if you’re unsure, please ask us before ordering – in these situations, we recommend a video consultation where we can help you find the right choice. A little information about the recipient can make it much easier to recommend something suitable.

Alternatively, you can give someone a NSO gift voucher so they can buy exactly what they want; gift vouchers are available up to a maximum value of 500 EUR per purchase.

Our goal is to dispatch all in-stock products the next working day. Shipping time completely depends on the performance of your selected courier service. Most products will arrive in 2-3 days. We understand that you’re not able to hang around all day waiting for a delivery, that’s why you can now request that you items are delivered to a local collection point to be collected at a time that’s convenient to you or request a specific delivery time slot.

Yes, we ship products to all 27 EU member states.

While it’s possible to collect your order directly from us, our opening times are limited. Please email us to confirm a suitable date / time.

If you live within 100km radius of our premises, we offer a direct delivery service; flat-fee (20 EUR). We recommend this option to customers buying equipment with a total weight in excess of 50kg as this is less expensive than shipping with a courier service.

Occasionally, popular products are sold out. We do our best to avoid stock outs of our most popular products through proactive stock monitoring and automatic reordering. Typically these products will become available again within a couple of days and any pre-orders will be dispatched immediately upon arrival.

Worst case scenario, when sourced from within the EU, pre-ordered items will be shipped to you within 5-7 working days. However, items coming from outside of the EU, typically from the far east take a little longer, usually 12-14 days. If we’re not able to fulfill your order within these timelines, we will contact you by email to confirm the anticipated delivery date – if you don’t want to wait, we offer a 100% no hassle refund.

Read more: Click here to read our full Pre-Order policy.

The most common causes are poor focus, poor atmospheric (seeing) conditions or using too much magnification.

Start with your lowest-power eyepiece (i.e. higher focal length) and carefully adjust the focus. If the image shimmers or changes rapidly, atmospheric turbulence may be limiting the view.

Take a look at the optics, are the mirrors / lenses, eyepiece and diagonal clean? If not, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning. Do not use household cleaning products as this may damage protection coatings.

On clear nights, telescope optics can become colder than the surrounding air, causing moisture from the air to condense on the lenses or mirrors as dew. This is particularly common on humid nights and can eventually obscure the view, so a dew shield and, for longer observing sessions, a dew heater can help keep the optics clear.

If you are using a reflector telescope, the mirrors might be misaligned. This can happen fairly regularly, especially if you’re transporting the telescope by car along bumpy roads. Adjusting (collimated) the mirrors is a fairly straightforward procedure, however you will need a collimation tool to help you.

Yes – depending on the telescope.

Astronomical telescopes are designed primarily for observing the sky, where an upright image isn’t particularly important. Some telescope designs naturally produce an inverted image.

It doesn’t mean that anything is wrong with the telescope. Using a standard star diagonal will correct the image so everything is upright. Using an Amici diagonal (also known as an erecting prism diagonal) will correct the image so it appears as you would see it with your bare eyes.

Finding faint objects takes practice. Celestial apps such as Stellarium or a star atlas will help identify two or three bright, easily identifiable stars that can act as reference points for your target of interest.

Use an optical or red-dot finder to roughly align your telescope with one of these bright reference stars. You should start with your eyepiece with the longest focal length and widest apparent field of view so that you can see much as possible through the telescope. Make sure you can see your reference start in the centre of the eyepiece. Now slowly move your telescope in the correct direction, using the other reference stars as directional guides until your telescope points towards the desired target. This technique is known as star hopping.

A computerised GoTo mount or plate-solving system can make finding objects easier, but it still helps to understand roughly where an object is in the sky.

GoTo systems need to know where the telescope is, what time it is and how the telescope is oriented.

First check the date, time and location are correct. If necessary repeat the alignment procedure – all of these steps should be clearly described in the user manual. Also make sure the tripod and mount are set up correctly and the mount is level – most mounts include a bubble indicator to help you, adjust the length of the tripod legs until the bubble is well centred.

When you tell the mount to slew to a known object, if the system consistently points to the wrong part of the sky, check the alignment procedure again rather than immediately assuming there is a fault – 99% of the time, the issue is human error, not a technical fault.

Changing experience usually means a change in focal length which changes the true field of view (TFOV), sometimes the field of view gets smaller and so the object may no longer be within the visible field.

First, refocus so that any stars in the visible field are pin sharp. Second, recentre your target object in the new eyepiece.

When finding an object, it’s usually easier to start with a lower-power eyepiece, centre the object and then switch to an eyepiece with a shorter focal length – this will increase the magnification.

Think about what might have changed since the last time. Did you follow the same setup routine? Missing one step can make a huge difference.

Systematically check all parts of your rig. Check that your power supply still has charge and is properly connected, double-check the other connections, and mount setup. Is everything balanced correctly? If you’re using a computerized system, check that the date, time and location information are correct – remember that you location needs to be updated if you change observation site.

To minimize the risk of these frustrating moments occurring, we recommend that you check our practical astronomy guide #4 which covers how to prepare for a night under the stars. We’ve also created a series of printable checklists that you can use so that you don’t forget anything.

If you still can’t identify the problem, contact us with the equipment model and a description of what is happening. A description of your setup procedure, photographs, video or screenshots can often help. In all honesty, 99% of these moments are attributable to human error, the secret is to establish a consistent workflow and before you know it, setting up becomes a routine and everything works as smooth as a Swiss watch.

You may cancel any purchase, not just telescopes, within 14 days, without giving a reason and without penalty. The period of 14 days starts on the day after you, or someone you have appointed other than the carrier, physically receive the product. You may also withdraw before delivery, for example while a preorder or backorder is still on its way.

Read more: Click here to read our full Returns & Exchanges policy.

For information concerning product warranty, please refer to our full Warranty and Support policy.

Please check all deliveries when they arrive for visible signs of damage. If the packaging or the product is visibly damaged, take photographs of both, keep all packaging materials and report the damage to us as soon as possible, preferably within 48 hours; this helps us recover the damaged goods from the carrier and solve your case quickly. It is a kind request, not a condition.

If the product appears undamaged, please check that it still in working order. Remember all products are covered by a legal conformity guarantee of two years as described in our Warranty and Support Policy.