▲ 3 r/telescopes
New to the Hobby
Hello,
I’ve always wanted to get into astronomy and own a telescope, but could never really afford one. Recently, a friend gifted me a fairly new National Geographic 70mm telescope.
I have a few beginner questions:
- Is this a decent telescope for a beginner?
- The telescope is missing the Barlow lens and the phone mount. How important are these? Are they worth buying right away?
- What are some must-have apps for:
- finding dark/clear sky spots
- identifying constellations/planets
- planning viewing sessions
- Any good YouTube channel recommendations for complete beginners?
- If I decide to invest more into the setup later, what upgrades/accessories improve the experience the most for a beginner telescope like this?
Also, if there are any beginner mistakes I should avoid or general advice you wish you knew when starting out, I’d love to hear it.
Thanks in advance :)
u/BathroomStandard2105 — 4 days ago