I get emails every day from customers asking me if a 50mm or 60mm
telescope is a good choice for a
first telescope and my standard answer is no, not really.
Telescopes this small just don't have enough potential to do more than whet your appetite for a larger telescope or, worse yet, may discourage you from staying with astronomy. I know the economy is down, but buying a 50mm or 60mm telescope is almost a guarantee that you will be buying another, though larger, telescope down the road should you manage to stay with astronomy. Telescope size, in terms of the lens or mirror diameter determines how much you can see, not advertised magnification. If you are shopping for a first telescope and you want to see more than just the moon and a glimpse of the planets, try to start with at least an 80mm telescope. There's a reason those small 50mm and 60mm telescopes end up in garage sales.
