Telescopes

Antique telescope at Chabot Space and Science Center

If you're interested in telescopes, we've got all your options covered.

Learn and Use

Telescope Clinics

Learn how to use your new telescope, via personal instruction from SFAA and the San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers.

Getting Started

Tips, advice and resources to help you get started in astronomy.

Build

Building Telescopes

Building your own telescope?!? How cool is that? Learn how. Take part in a telescope building class, offered each fall here in San Francisco at the Randall Museum.

Fixing the Department Store Telescope

We advise against buying cheap telescopes from department and mall stores, online shopping channels, and other non-specialty shops. But if you already have such a scope, here's some tips to make it work better.

Buy

Your First Telescope

When shopping for your first scope, it is most important to know what not to buy.

SF Bay Area Telescope Stores

Telescope Stores in the San Francisco Bay Area. Shop here first.

Borrow/Give

Borrow a Telescope

Places where you can borrow or rent a telescope in the Bay Area. Borrowing is a great, no-risk way to discover if astronomy is the hobby for you.

Selling or Donating

Information for those seeking to sell or donate used telescopes.