Astronomy Gear for Hobbyists: GoTo Scopes & Premium Eyepieces

GoTo mounts have built-in computers that automatically point to thousands of celestial objects. Type in "M31" and the scope slews to the Andromeda Galaxy.

The advantages are obvious: you spend more time observing and less time hunting. You can find faint objects you'd never locate manually. And they're genuinely fun to use.

The tradeoff is complexity. You'll need power (batteries or a power tank), and initial alignment takes a few minutes. But for most hobbyists, the payoff is worth it.

Your telescope's performance is limited by its eyepieces. Upgrading to premium glass is like putting HD glasses on your scope.

Wider fields of view make finding objects easier and provide immersive views. Budget eyepieces offer 40-50°; premium eyepieces offer 70-100°.

Better edge sharpness means stars look like points across the entire field, not just the center.

More eye relief makes viewing comfortable, especially if you wear glasses.

Filters screw into eyepieces and selectively pass or block certain wavelengths. For hobbyists, two types matter most:

Light pollution filters block the wavelengths produced by sodium and mercury vapor lights, improving contrast on deep sky objects from suburban locations.

Narrowband/line filters (like O-III or H-beta) pass only specific nebular emission wavelengths, dramatically enhancing objects like the Veil Nebula or Horsehead.