home publications > mercury . ... Buying a Telescope . ... By following some easy guidelines, you can purchase the ideal telescope for you or that special someone on your gift list. by Phil Harrington, author of Star Ware and several other astronomy books . One of the most important decisions that you will make as a stargazer is selecting a telescope. ... In this article, veteran amateur astronomer and author Phil Harrington outlines the three major types of telescopes on today's market. ...