One of the most common beginner questions is: “Which telescope should I buy?”

The answer may surprise you - you do not necessarily need a telescope to start enjoying astronomy.

Your eyes are enough to learn the major constellations, identify bright planets, follow the phases of the Moon and watch meteor showers. A basic pair of binoculars can also show far more than many people expect, including:

Large star clusters
Bright nebulae under darker skies
The Moon’s craters and mountain ranges
The moons of Jupiter under suitable conditions
Rich star fields along the Milky Way

Binoculars are easy to carry, require almost no setup and give a wide field of view, which makes finding objects much easier than through a telescope.

A good way to begin is:

Learn a few bright stars and constellations.
Spend time observing the Moon.
Use binoculars to explore bright star clusters.
Attend a local astronomy club evening or star party.
Only then decide what type of telescope suits your interests.

Different telescopes are better for different purposes. Someone interested in planets may choose differently from someone interested in wide-field deep-sky observing or astrophotography.

What did you use when you first started - your eyes, binoculars or a telescope?