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The first question when buying astroscopes is whether you want a reflector or a refractor. Reflector astroscopes are the original type of telescope made by Galileo. They use a system of mirrors to cause light to bounce off of the objects viewed and then magnify it through a lens. A refractor astroscope has a different design. It utilizes a system of convex lenses to make light go through the main lens where the light is then focused at the eyepiece. You can tell the difference between reflectors and refractors just by the design. A reflector astroscope is going to be short and wide. It will also always have its eyepiece in the middle. A refractor astroscope is long and skinny with its eyepiece towards the back.

The benefit of opting for reflector astroscopes is that they are much cheaper to make then refractors. Because of this, you can pay more money for a higher magnification lens or wider aperture. Reflectors tend to be better for viewing dim objects, such as a galaxy or nebula. For a first astroscope, a 4.5 inch reflector astroscope is adequate. Refractor astroscopes are more expensive but are more adept for viewing objects like the moon or a planet. A 60 mm refractor is adequate as a starter astroscope. It is best to find a friend who has both types of astroscopes and take a look through both before you make your purchase. This way, you will know what to expect from your astroscope and which celestial bodies are clearest.