Beacon Hill Telescopes 

    INTRODUCTION     

Dear Sir or Madam,

First of all may I thank you for your enquiry, I sincerely hope that you will be impressed with our range of equipment and prices.  We are Britain's most comprehensive supplier of astronomical equipment and accessories, most of which is manufactured here by ourselves. As amateur astronomers since the early fifties we are able to put many years of experience at your disposal.

Please feel free to take advantage of this.

Our complete telescopes are sold with all necessary accessories, there are no hidden extras, and all you will need is a set of eyepieces from our very extensive range. It is possible to alter the basic specification of most of our instruments to suit your own specific needs, and this can usually be done at little extra cost.

We realise that choosing the right telescope is by no means an easy task but consider the following points, they may help you decide.

• Are you chiefly interested in the Moon, Sun and other Solar System bodies or are you a Deep Sky enthusiast?

Let us consider why this is the case. The refractor has no central obstruction and is generally of longer focal length than the reflector. These two facts alone can make a significant difference to the amount of detail and contrast visible on the surface of a planet. You will often see more detail with say a 5" refractor than with an 8" or 10" reflector on the same night. Refractors are much easier to handle, are more or less maintenance free and can be used for Solar observation if the necessary precautions are taken.

The reflector, on the other hand produces a less "contrasty" image but it has a much greater light grasp, and with objects which do not necessarily require a particularly high degree of resolution, such as nebulae etc. it will perform very well. Of course this does not mean that you can only use refractors for the Solar System and reflectors for Deep Sky objects, it is just a matter of 'Horses for Courses'. 

• Do you plan to undertake Astro-photography?

If you do then an equatorial mounting is essential. A motor drive to Right Ascension at least is a must, and you should really consider a good guide scope, for deep sky photography at any rate, and a Variable Frequency Oscillator. This type of photography should not be undertaken lightly.
Should you wish to use your telescope visually then why not consider one of our very popular Dobsonians. They really do have many advantages.

Our terms are simple. Orders under £100.00, payment with order. Over £100.00 please send a 10% deposit with your order, the balance being due on completion. All goods are covered by our money back guarantee.

Please contact us with any queries you may have. Our reputation is your guarantee of satisfaction at all times.