Telescope in Houston

[tard]

Question.<br /><br />I like in cloudy, smoggy Houston, so seeing stars/planets/etc in visual light is near impossible.<br /><br />I would like to get a telescope, but a visual based one is for the reason discussed above pretty worthless.<br /><br />Are there any telescopes out there that are not visual and that can shoot thorugh the clouds/smog and be of some interest to an amateur astronomer? And that are affordable? Just something I can use while outside drinking beer on Friday and Saturday nights.<br /><br />Hell, even something that LISTENS to whats out there would be great, so I could listen for ET <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Any help would be appreciated.

 

[nevers]

Hi Tard - <br /><br />Certainly the weather there is not as bad as you made it out to be, I used to live near Austin (yeah, it's a little further inland) but there can be some nice day/nights in Texas. A 'scope like eddie mentioned would be fine. But if you still wanna just listen:<br /><br />Radio Astronomy: link 1<br />Radio Astronomy: link 2<br /><br />If these intrerest you, I have a couple more.

 

[tard]

NEVERS, those look like links to detecting meteors. I was really wanting to listen for ET. Is there any detection device I can point at a star or galaxy or something and attempt to hear stuff coming from that direction?<br /><br />Thanks alot!

 

[nevers]

Hi Tard - <br /><br />The only thing I know of to listen to ET is the SETI program which you can download for free. Of course, you can't hear anything or do any searching yourself but you can use your computer to help Berkley anylize the signals they get back from the Aricebo Telescope. ???? Sorry, don't know 'bout anything else...