Telescopes extend the reach of stargazing.

They bring the stars closer to us.

The larger the telescope, the more detail is visible.

That is why there is a drive toward ever-larger telescope apertures.

Eventually, however, portability and one's budget set the limits.

Or, one builds the instruments of one's dreams oneself.

That can lead to towing a trailer out to a field for an evening of observing.

Small telescopes have their own appeal, too—perfect for a quick look at the stars.

Every telescope has its own view of the sky; it is easy to become an enthusiast and a collector.

At some point, "less is more" again, and one parts with former treasures.

What remains is the gear that is tried, tested, and frequently used.

Simply being under a truly dark sky with the naked eye is impressive.

Strolling through the Milky Way with binoculars can be fascinating.

Small optics provide a wide-field view.

For a closer look, one naturally prefers larger equipment.

That is why experienced stargazers often have several instruments in their collection.

A telescope's effective aperture is measured in inches.

For instance, an "8-inch" model is a 20 cm telescope.

Small refracting telescopes have apertures of 2 or 3 inches (5–8 cm),

while larger reflecting telescopes have apertures over 12 inches (30 cm).