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Types of Telescopes & Mounts Explained

Comparison of four telescope types: refractor on Alt-Azimuth mount, reflector on equatorial mount, Dobsonian on ground Alt-Azimuth base, and Cassegrain on computerized Alt-Azimuth mount

Choosing a telescope can feel overwhelming. There isn’t just one type — different designs suit different goals, from daytime viewing to deep-sky astronomy and even astrophotography. Just as important as the telescope itself is the mount — the stand that holds it steady and, in some cases, helps you find or track objects.

This guide explains the main telescope types, the mounts they usually come with, and how each choice impacts your experience.

Jump to: Quick Comparison | Refractor | Reflector | Dobsonian | Cassegrain

Refractor Telescopes

Black refractor telescope on an Alt-Azimuth mount with tripod

Why you might want this type

  • Excellent for both day and night use (wildlife, ships, scenery + moon and planets).

  • Classic look, very low maintenance.

  • Simple and intuitive — easy for beginners.

  • Note: Most refractors are ≤120 mm aperture. Great for daytime and crisp planetary views, but relatively small if your main goal is faint deep-sky.

Mount and GoTo options

  • Alt-Az (Alt-Azimuth): simple up-down, left-right movement. Great for daytime and casual astronomy.

  • Computerised / Wi-Fi GoTo-Alt-Az: motors find and track objects automatically.

  • App-guided navigation (StarSense Explorer): phone + app shows arrows guiding you to objects. You move the telescope; no motors or batteries required.

Impact on your experience

  • ✅ Great for daytime and astronomy.

  • ✅ Ready to use straight out of the box.

  • ❌ Price climbs quickly as aperture size increases.

Shop Refractor Telescopes


Reflector Telescopes

Black Newtonian reflector telescope on an equatorial mount with counterweight

Why you might want this type

  • Smaller Reflectors ( 76–114 mm aperture) Great for Moon, planets, bright clusters/nebulae
  • Larger Reflectors (≥130 mm aperture) also good for Deep-sky (galaxies, nebulae)

  • More light-gathering power for your money.

Mount and GoTo options

  • Equatorial (EQ): tilted axis matches Earth’s rotation, lets you track stars smoothly.

  • GoTo EQ (e.g. SynScan): motorised version; finds and tracks automatically.

  • App-guided navigation (StarSense Explorer): available on reflector models; app guides while you move the telescope.

Impact on your experience

  • ✅ Affordable way to see faint night-sky objects.

  • ❌ Not suitable for daytime (image inverted/reversed).

  • ❌ Requires occasional mirror alignment (collimation).

Shop Reflector Telescopes

 

Dobsonian Telescopes

White Dobsonian reflector telescope with ground-based Alt-Azimuth base

What are Dobsonians?

  • They are Reflector telecope tudes on Dobsonian mounts 

Why you might want a Dobsonian

  • Simple, powerful, affordable way to get a large aperture.

  • Very stable — easy to push and follow objects.

Mount and GoTo options

  • Dobsonian base (Alt-Az style): rotates left–right, tilts up–down. Intuitive and rock solid.

  • Computerised Dobsonian GoTo: some models include full motorised GoTo.

  • App-guided navigation (StarSense Explorer): app guides you to objects while you move the scope.

Impact on your experience

  • ✅ Easiest way to get big mirrors at low cost.

  • ✅ Very stable to use.

  • ❌ Bulky to store or transport.

  • ❌ Astronomy only (not daytime).

Shop Dobsonian Telescopes

 

Cassegrain Telescopes

Silver Cassegrain telescope on a single-arm computerized Alt-Azimuth mount with tripod

Why you might want a Cassegrain Telescope

  • Compact, versatile design for astronomy and astrophotography.

  • Smaller Cassegrain's ≤150 mm (≤6" aperture): possible for daytime viewing Note -image is back to front
  • Often come with computerised mounts and GoTo systems.

Mount and GoTo options

  • Alt-Az GoTo: motorised, easy to use for casual astronomy.

  • App-guided navigation (StarSense Explorer): some models include this dock system for phone + app guidance.

Impact on your experience

  • ✅ Compact and portable despite larger apertures.

  • ✅ Excellent all-rounder for observing and imaging.

  • ❌ Higher price per aperture compared to reflectors.

Shop Cassegrain Telescopes

Quick Overview

🔭 Telescopes for Daytime Use

  • Refractor: ✅ Excellent for daytime and astronomy — but limited in size (≤120 mm aperture). Fine for Moon/planets, less so for faint deep-sky.

  • Reflector: ❌ Not recommended — designed for astronomy, orientation not suited for daytime

  • Dobsonian: ❌ Not suitable (bulky, astronomy only)

  • Cassegrain:

    • ≤150 mm (6" aperture): possible for daytime (mirror-image view, narrow field, high magnification)

    • ≥200 mm (8" aperture): ❌ Not suitable (heat shimmer + too much magnification)

⭐ What the Types of Telescopes are Best For

  • Refractor: Scenery, Wildlife, Moon, Planets, Limited for faint deep-sky (aperture capped). 

  • Reflector:

    • 76–114 mm: Moon, planets, bright clusters/nebulae

    • ≥130 mm: Also - Deep-sky (galaxies, nebulae)

  • Dobsonian: Affordable large-aperture astronomy (excellent for faint deep-sky)

  • Cassegrain: Some daytime ( depending on size) All-round astronomy + astrophotography (compact SCT/Maksutov)

⚙️ Mount / GoTo Options available with the Different types of Telescopes

  • Refractor: Alt-Az • Computerised/Wi-Fi GoTo • App-guided navigation (StarSense Explorer)

  • Reflector: Alt-Az • EQ • GoTo EQ (e.g. SynScan) • App-guided navigation (StarSense Explorer)

  • Dobsonian: Dobsonian base • Computerised Dobsonian GoTo • App-guided navigation (StarSense Explorer)

  • Cassegrain: Alt-Az GoTo • EQ GoTo • App-guided navigation (StarSense Explorer)

🎒 Telescope Portability

  • Refractor: Mid

  • Reflector: Mid

  • Dobsonian: Mid–Low (base is bulky,)

  • Cassegrain: High (compact, portable)

💲 Telescope Prices

  • Refractor: $–$$$

  • Reflector: $–$$

  • Dobsonian: $–$$

  • Cassegrain: $$–$$$

🔧 Maintenance

  • Refractor: Very low

  • Reflector: Moderate (collimation required)

  • Dobsonian: Moderate (collimation required)

  • Cassegrain: Low–Moderate (occasional adjustments)

📝 Notes

  • Refractor: Classic beginner choice, easy to use

    • Most refractors top out around 120 mm aperture. That’s excellent for daytime use and crisp lunar/planetary views, but relatively small if your main goal is deep-sky astronomy. If you’re buying primarily for astronomy, larger reflectors or Dobsonians give more light-gathering power.

  • Reflector: Has its eyepiece on side/top of the telescope and is designed to be pointed up

  • Dobsonian: No tripod, ground-based.

  • Cassegrain: Versatile, GoTo-friendly

Final Thoughts

Choosing a telescope is about matching the design to what you want to see and how you want to use it:

  • Refractors are the most straightforward, and the only type that truly doubles for daytime and astronomy.

  • Reflectors and Dobsonians give the most aperture for the cost, making them ideal if your priority is astronomy

  • Cassegrains balance portability with capability, and are popular for those who want a compact scope that works well with a GoTo system and imaging.

Think first about your main use — daytime, Moon/planets, deep-sky, or astrophotography — and let that guide your choice.

Still unsure? Explore our telescope collections or contact us for tailored advice.

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

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