Magnification

Galaxy's visible through a telescope

The diameter of the telescope is the most important aspect for a decent Telescope.(not the Magnification)

Just to give an idea,(using the NGC 2000 star Catalog) what is visible through the following size telescopes on a dark clear unpolluted night,(Northern and Southern Hemisphere's)with good eyesight.

Naked eye	Magnitude 6	�2Galaxy's
50mm Telescope	Magnitude 9	�36Galaxy's visible
75mm Telescope	Magnitude 11	�358 Galaxy's visible
100mm Telescope	Magnitude12.2
150mm Telescope	Magnitude 13	�2175 Galaxy's visible
200mm Telescope	Magnitude14.2
300mm Telescope	Magnitude 15	� 6791 Galaxy's visible
400mm Telescope	Magnitude16.1

This means that you should look for the biggest diameter telescope you can afford with your budget. (not magnification)

Magnification

Reflecting Telescope

The maximum usable magnification on any reflecting telescope should be 35x every 25mm Diameter of a telescope. A lot of telescopes are sold nowdays to customers with a maximum magnification way out of range. I have seen 50mm refractors been sold, displaying on the box 625x magnification. Yes that telescope might be able to do that magnification, but you would not be able to see any objects with such a magnification through a 50mm telescope. Reflecting telescopes is normaly better value for money and can get any size diameter without glass sging problems..

Telescope diameter	Maximum usable magnification
50mm Telescope	70x Max magnification
75mm Telescope	105x Max magnification
100mm Telescope	140x Max magnification
150mm Telescope	210x Max magnification
200mm Telescope	280x Max magnification
250mm Telescope	350x Max magnification

Refracting Telescope

The maximum usable magnification on any refracting telescope should be 50x every 25mm Diameter of a telescope. The refracting telescope does not have anycentral obstruction like the Reflecting telescopes. ED Aprocromatic refracting telescopes is also about 3x the price of a reflecting telescope but the quality is unmatched and stars is pinpoint. Refracting telescopes won't be bigger than 6" as you will start having problems with saging glass.

Telescope diameter	Maximum usable magnification
50mm Telescope	100x Max magnification
75mm Telescope	150x Max magnification
100mm Telescope	200x Max magnification
150mm Telescope	300x Max magnification
200mm Telescope	400x Max magnification
250mm Telescope	500x Max magnification