After decades and having owned more than a dozen telescopes, I’ve come to a simple conclusion: the 6-inch f/6 Newtonian may well be the ideal amateur telescope. It offers enough aperture to reveal hundreds upon hundreds of deep-sky objects while remaining reasonably compact and portable. With more than twice the light-gathering power of a 4-inch refractor, yet at a considerably lower cost, the 6-inch f/6 Newtonian offers an exceptional combination of optical performance, portability, and affordability.
I also have a 4.5-inch f/8 Newtonian reflector that was given to me by a friend in March 2025. I particularly enjoy using this telescope because it reminds me so much of my 4.25-inch f/10 Edmund equatorial reflector. That was my first very own telescope, and it opened the door to the world of serious amateur astronomy for me in the spring of 1977.
I’ll never forget that spring night in 1977 when I first observed the galaxies M81 and M82 through that telescope. My observing notes from that night included the following words: “In my mind, I was now a real amateur astronomer.”
For use with a more portable and transportable mount I use a Vixen GP, which is lightweight, but very sturdy.
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