Scoring Methodology
How we score telescopes
Every telescope gets scored across 7 dimensions using manufacturer specs, Amazon data, and community consensus. No black boxes. No pay-for-placement. The algorithm is identical for every product.
The 7 Dimensions
Value
Performance per dollar
How much telescope you get for the money. A $200 Dobsonian with 130mm aperture scores higher than a $4,000 smart scope with 50mm aperture.
- Aperture-per-dollar ratio (primary metric)
- GoTo, tracking, and smart features add capability value
- Sigmoid curve prevents extreme outliers
Beginner
How easy to learn and use
Can someone with zero experience set this up and see Saturn's rings on their first night? GoTo pointing is the single biggest factor.
- GoTo capability (+20 points, finding objects is the #1 pain point)
- Smart telescope features (+15 points)
- Lower price, lighter weight, simpler design all help
- Amazon review sentiment (beginners rely heavily on reviews)
Astrophotography
Imaging capability
Can this telescope capture deep-sky photos? Tracking is essential for long exposures. Fast focal ratios and equatorial mounts make a real difference.
- Tracking is strongly preferred (base 25 with, 10 without)
- Faster focal ratio = more points (f/4 scores near max)
- Equatorial mount bonus (+15), live stacking (+12)
- GoTo for automated target acquisition (+8)
Portability
Take it anywhere
Can you throw it in the car and drive to a dark sky site? Weight is the dominant factor, followed by tube length.
- Weight: 2kg scores 92, 15kg scores 32, 30kg+ scores near 0
- Tube length: 250mm great, 1200mm+ problematic
- Smart telescopes get a portability bonus (+10)
Planetary
Planets, Moon, and double stars
Resolving Saturn's rings, Jupiter's cloud bands, and the craters on the Moon. Aperture and optical quality are everything here.
- Aperture is dominant (0-40 points, sqrt curve)
- Longer focal length = higher native magnification
- Optical design quality: APO and Mak score highest
- Coating quality and focuser precision matter
Deep Sky
Nebulae, galaxies, and clusters
Light gathering power for faint objects. A fast f/4 Dobsonian with big aperture is the deep-sky king. GoTo helps you find them.
- Aperture is THE dominant factor (0-40 points)
- Faster focal ratio dramatically better (f/4 scores 17, f/10 scores 4)
- GoTo for finding faint targets (+10)
- Tracking for extended observation (+8)
The Overall Score
The composite score is a weighted average of all 6 dimensions. Astrophotography, planetary, and deep sky are weighted higher because they represent the primary reasons people buy telescopes.
Products without a price skip the Value dimension and redistribute its 15% proportionally across the remaining five.
Example: Celestron NexStar 8SE
One of the most popular telescopes in the world. Here is exactly how it scores and why.
203mm aperture earns strong planetary and deep-sky marks. Enough light-gathering power for galaxies and detailed planetary views.
f/10 focal ratio is slow for wide-field imaging, which limits the astrophotography and deep-sky scores. Great for planets, less ideal for nebulae.
GoTo + tracking boosts beginner and astrophotography scores significantly. Finding and following objects is handled by the computer.
$1,699 price means the value score takes a hit. The capability-per-dollar ratio is lower than budget scopes, even though the absolute capability is high.
Where the Data Comes From
Manufacturer Specs
Aperture, focal length, focal ratio, mount type, weight, and optical design come directly from manufacturer data sheets.
Amazon Data
Pricing, star ratings, review counts, and customer feedback are pulled from Amazon product listings and refreshed regularly.
Community Consensus
We synthesize feedback from Cloudy Nights forums, Reddit r/telescopes, and other astronomy communities to validate our scoring against real-world experience.
What We Don't Do
We don't physically test every telescope
Our scores are computed from specifications, pricing data, and community consensus. We're transparent about this. It's how we can cover 150+ telescopes consistently.
We don't accept payment for rankings
No telescope brand can pay for a higher score. The algorithm is identical for every product in our database.
Affiliate commissions don't influence scores
We earn a commission when you buy through our Amazon links. This never affects how a telescope is scored. Products without affiliate links get the same algorithm.
We don't manually override the algorithm
Every score is reproducible from the product's specifications. If the specs change, the score changes automatically.
See a score that seems off? We want to hear about it.
Reach us at hello@whichscope.com