IF YOU COULD ONLY OWN ONE TELESCOPE

If you could only own one telescope what would it be? I believe it has to be the easy to use and inexpensive Dobsonian Reflector Telescope. John Dobson made owning a telescope a possibility for the general public and helped popularize astronomy for the general public in a way no one had before him. In this video I explain how to care for and use a Dobsonian Telescope and the ways you can use a Dobsonian Telescope and get the most out of one. I go over collimation, lining up your finder scope and telescope, and how to attach a camera to your Dobsonian to take photos or videos. I show the best way to transport a Dobsonian Telescope and make some recommendations on getting the most enjoyment out of a Dobsonian Telescope. I am a huge fan of Refractor Telescopes but let's face it; to get as much aperture out of a refractor as a Dobsonian you would need a huge mount to hold it and you would need to stand on a ladder in order to look through it and it would weigh far more than a Dobsonian telescope. I love my refractors but if I could only have one telescope I would choose the Dobsonian just because you can get enormous aperture for an affordable price and still transport it and move it around and see incredible things in the night sky. I know that astrophotographers will disagree but if you ever go to a truly dark place with say a 60mm refractor you will be limited to taking photos and not actually see much detail of the deep sky objects.
Even though I own a 6" Refractor that I love, I frequently get out my Dobsonian Telescope and use it. There is just so much freedom with being able to take out a telescope and not have to polar align or worry about cables or a battery or something malfunctioning and just putting your Dobsonian on a flat surface and pointing it wherever you want and seeing so much and learning so much about our amazing universe. If you are a beginner looking to purchase your first telescope you cannot go wrong with a Dobsonian Telescope. They are very easy to set up and use. You can get started right away without learning how to polar align or without any additional equipment other than a couple of eyepieces. Because you have to find objects yourself you will have to learn the night sky, an essential step to becoming an amateur astronomer. If you take care of it, your Dobsonian Telescope will last a lifetime.