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Telescopes

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Telescopes bring the universe within reach — from entry-level refractors ideal for beginners to advanced reflectors for serious astronomers. Browse our telescope selection for visual observing and astrophotography, and find the aperture, mount, and optics that match where your curiosity leads.
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Telescopes for Astronomy & Astrophotography

From first-time stargazers to dedicated deep-sky imagers, Impulse Cameras carries telescopes and mounts to match every skill level and budget. We stock refractors, reflectors, Dobsonians, and Schmidt-Cassegrain designs from trusted brands — and our Milwaukee team can help you match an optical tube to the right mount and imaging system for your goals.

Buying Guide: Choosing a Telescope

Telescope Types Explained

Refractors use glass lenses and deliver sharp, high-contrast views ideal for planets and the Moon. They require minimal maintenance and are compact for travel. Reflectors (Newtonian design) use mirrors to gather light — they offer more aperture per dollar and excel at faint deep-sky objects. Dobsonian telescopes are large-aperture Newtonians on a simple rocker-box mount: outstanding light-gathering at low cost, but not motorized. Schmidt-Cassegrain and Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes are compact, high-focal-length designs perfect for astrophotography and high-magnification planetary viewing.

Aperture: The Most Important Number

Aperture — the diameter of the main lens or mirror — determines how much light the telescope collects. More aperture means fainter stars, more nebula detail, and finer planetary resolution. A 70mm refractor is excellent for the Moon and bright planets; a 100mm+ refractor or 150mm+ reflector opens up galaxies and globular clusters. For serious astrophotography, 80-100mm apochromatic refractors on equatorial mounts are popular starting points.

Mounts: Alt-Az vs. Equatorial

Alt-azimuth mounts move up/down and left/right — intuitive for visual observing but not suited for long-exposure astrophotography. Equatorial mounts align to Earth's axis and track stars as they appear to move across the sky, enabling sharp long exposures. GoTo mounts add computerized star-finding: tell the mount which object you want, and it slews there automatically. These are invaluable for beginners navigating a dark sky and for imagers who need repeatable pointing.

Eyepieces & Focal Length

Magnification = telescope focal length ÷ eyepiece focal length. A 25mm eyepiece on a 1000mm focal-length scope gives 40x magnification — a good wide-field view for star clusters. A 6mm eyepiece gives 167x — appropriate for planets when seeing conditions are steady. Start with a 25mm and a 10mm eyepiece, then add a Barlow lens (2x or 3x multiplier) for extra magnification flexibility without buying more eyepieces.

What telescope is best for a beginner?

For visual observing, a 6-inch (150mm) Dobsonian reflector offers the most aperture for the price and is easy to set up and use. For astrophotography beginners, an 80mm apochromatic refractor on a motorized equatorial mount (like the Sky-Watcher EQ5 or iOptron CEM26) is a popular starting combination that grows with your skills.

Can I use a telescope for astrophotography?

Yes, but the mount matters more than the telescope for photography. A motorized, equatorial GoTo mount that can track stars accurately is essential for long exposures. Pair it with a DSLR or dedicated astronomy camera (like a ZWO ASI or Player One) connected via a T-ring adapter. Shorter focal-length telescopes (400-600mm) are more forgiving for beginners than long focal-length scopes.

What's the difference between a refractor and a reflector?

Refractors use glass lenses — they're sealed, low-maintenance, and deliver high-contrast views great for planets and the Moon. Reflectors use mirrors — they collect more light per dollar and excel for deep-sky objects like galaxies and nebulae, but mirrors need occasional collimation (alignment). Apochromatic (APO) refractors minimize color fringing and are popular for astrophotography.

What magnification do I need to see planets?

Planets show meaningful detail at 100x-200x magnification on steady nights. Most planetary observers use 150x-300x when atmospheric seeing allows. Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn show the most detail; Mercury and Venus show phases but little surface detail due to atmospheric haze. Quality eyepieces and atmospheric steadiness matter more than raw magnification.

Do telescopes work in Milwaukee with light pollution?

Yes — bright objects like the Moon, planets, star clusters, and double stars are beautiful even from light-polluted urban skies. For faint galaxies and nebulae, driving 45-60 minutes outside Milwaukee to darker skies makes a dramatic difference. Light-pollution filters (narrowband or broadband) help with emission nebulae even in the city.

Can I use my camera with a telescope?

Yes. Most DSLRs and mirrorless cameras connect to telescopes using a T-ring adapter matched to your camera mount (Canon EF, Nikon F, Sony E, etc.) plus a T2 nosepiece or direct-focus adapter. We carry adapters in-store and can help you find the right fit for your camera body and telescope focuser.

Browse Related

Visit Us in Milwaukee — Our team loves astronomy. Stop in to discuss telescope options in person, or email sales@impulsemke.com to talk through your stargazing or astrophotography goals.
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