So, you are ready to buy equipment to do astronomy. Awesome!
But… Stop. Take a deep breath. And plan before you purchase. Astronomy equipment can be expensive. It is important to get the appropriate equipment to best satisfy your interests and needs. Don’t rush into it.
Deciding what the best piece of equipment to buy can be complicated. The best first step is to see what is out there. We recommend find your local astronomical society, join, attend their meetings and star parties. This gives you the chance to see what other people are using to do their observing, and which equipment seems to align with your interests. Most astronomers love to show others objects in their equipment and talk about why they bought what they bought. Talk to a number of astronomers in the society. Each of us have different interests and different opinions.
One way to find your local astronomical society is to check the listings of member societies on the AL website. Start your search here. Not all societies are shown, and not all astronomical societies are members of the Astronomical League.
Avoiding the wrong piece of equipment is actually more important that getting the perfect piece. To help you on that road we have two documents:
They will not tell you what to buy, but they will help you avoid some equipment that you will not be happy with.