Telescope

[gotigers44]

I am thinking about buying a telescope and want to know how much i should spend on a good one?

 

[vogon13]

What have they got in Hubble so far? Three or four billion at least. Keck was easily in the hundreds of millions. Better call Visa before you whip out the plastic.<br /><br /><br />Sorry for the humor, couldn't resist.<br /><br />We need some more info from you. Do you want to view moon and planets or stars and galaxies?<br /><br />View all night? Or just an hour or two before going to bed? Stay home or travel to view?<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[gotigers44]

i want to view stars, planets, galaxies, and nebulas.<br />(Anything you can think of)

 

[bbrock]

GoTiger<br /><br />OK, the problem is you have a very generic interest. The selection based on your description is almost endless. I will assume you have little experience and would like to learn much more and do this as inexpensively as possible. Based on my assumptions, I suggest you consider buying a Dobsonian Telescope, with an aperture of at least 6 inches and preferrably more. I suggest you consider the Orion Telescopes because they are an excellent quality for the price. You can find out more by going to ( www.Telescope.com ). However, I just baught an Orion 4.5 dobsonian for my grandchildern and I must admit, the star test I did with it rivals the best I have ever seen on any reflector. The views are spectacular and sharp. Just not very bright. <br /><br />You should also consider some additional equipment, but lets stop for now and get more input from you. Any of these telescopes will give you what you want. The larger the aperture, the brighter the image. <br /><br />Bill

 

[nevers]

You may want to try this website: Orion Selection Wizard. Not to say that you have to get an Orion Telescope (although I'm at least very fond of them), but the "Wizard" will help you narrow down your choices that best suit your needs and maybe like most of us: fit in your budget.

 

[jeremy_swinarton]

I would suggest buying something small at first. I would only spend about $100-$200 on a small telescope. I have heard of people who have bought huge telescopes and, after the novelty wore off, they stopped using it either because it was too big to transport or they no longer had an interest in astronomy. <br /><br />Where can you look at the sky? If you live in a light polluted area, I would suggest perhaps a lighter telescope so you can transport it easily. If you live somewhere where you can see everything from your backyard, a heavier one might do because you don't have to transport it far. But that's just my advice.<br /><br />Hope it helps!<br />Jeremy

 

[bonus]

Stay away from the Meade DS-2000 series. They are junk to the bone.

 

[toothferry]

I hunted that one up and it showed a couple of different refractors, 70 and 80mm. Looked like an awful price to pay for such a tiny telescope, but then again it did have cumputerized locating setting circles to find everything, right?

 

[bonus]

Star hopping will build your skills using sky maps. It's old school but fun. I like using a compus and a computer software program that genertes to the moment skies. Stay away from the Meade toy telescope stuff. You'll be glad you did. By the way the Meade drives for the toys are a waist of your money because they break easily.

 

[astropro2009]

I read all the articles ye have concerning buying a telescope however, for buying one for 1-2 thousand euros, which one would be the best for:<br /><br />1. Getting great details on planets.<br />2. Great detail on nebulae.<br />3. Fantastic detail on Galaxies.<br />4. Portable.<br />

 

[SpeedFreek]

E1000 - E2000 = $1250 - $2500 approx <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000">_______________________________________________<br /></font><font size="2"><em>SpeedFreek</em></font> </p> </div>

 

[astropro2009]

I was thinking of getting either the C10 NGT, C8 NGT or 12" Celestron Dobsonian? Are the computers any good or are they just a gimmicky thing, would I be better off without the computer, therefore going for the Dobsonian, or the C8?<br /><br />Which one would you go for any why?

 

[tfwthom]

First thing you have to decide is where your main interest is. No one scope does it all. <br /><br />Refractors: Refractors rule planets and the Moon. You want detail that blows you away? You invest in a top quality refractor, good eyepieces, and a stable GEM. On good seeing night the 50x per inch rule does not apply to refractors. I've had my 5" Tak up around 500x on the Moon on a good night, it's like being inside the crater. Drawback is cost.<br /><br />Reflectors: Big reflectors rule deep space. You can get more aperture and that's what's needed for deep space. Those faint galaxies are dim and the more aperture the more light. Drawback is you need a truck or van to haul the big dobs.<br /><br />Compound telescopes: (SCT, Mak, etc) Portability and accessories are their selling points. They fit in the trunk of your car. Most astrophotography is being done with compound scopes. Drawback is they are just OK scopes, you are not going to blow anyones socks off.<br /><br />Computers: I like them, some don't. Some like DSCs, some don't. I've have and use both. I've used my 8" LX90 and computer to put a Telrad on the sky so we could pick up objects with a 28" dob, saves a lot of hunting. Also use it a Messier Marathons if someone needs a hand.<br /><br />What you need to do is join an astronomy club and/or go to a star party. There you can "test drive" the scope you are thinking about.<br /><br />Where to find astronomy clubs:<br /><br /> Night Sky Network <br /><br /> Astronomy groups <br /><br /> Clubs & Organizations <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[tfwthom]

Afterthought:<br /><br />Why I don't own a big dob:<br /><br />Members of the club have: Dennis 28", Ara 24", Brad (NEVERS) 16", Adam 14.5" Starmaster (he just got last week) Geoff 12" Starmaster. Sometimes I just take the wife's TV85 for it's rich field (RFT) and play with everyone else's scope. When I want deep space I just use one of theirs, saves money. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

GEM= German Equitorial Mount<br /><br />SCT= Schmitt-Cassagrain Telescope<br /><br />DSC= Digital Setting Circles.<br /><br />If he's looking for a telesope, may be a beginner.<br />Might be a good idea to explain the acronyms, IMHO<br />(In my humble opinion) <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[astropro2009]

Post deleted by AstroPro2009

 

[toothferry]

do you usually use filters to view various nebula with?

 

[toothferry]

are you using a broadband, narrowband or special LPR?

 

[astropro2009]

What size will the planets appear to me, for example I have a Celestron Powerseeker 114mm, a pretty poor scope, however, when I saw Jupiter a few weeks ago, it looked quite small like a few times bigger than a full stop or 2-3mm, just slightly enough for me to barely see the lines.<br /><br />How big will Jupiter appear to me now in a certain eyepiece? And what will Nebulae and Galaxies appear to me in size and in what quality will all of the above be in?<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[astropro2009]

I was thinking of getting the Celestron C10 N which as a link here is the criteria:<br />ble to see the images below in that si<br />http://www.celestron.com/c2/product.php?CatID=10&ProdID=50<br /><br />Would I be able to see the images below in that size, I understand the quality won't be as good.<br /><br />Or would I be better off going for the Starhopper 12":<br /><br />http://www.celestron.com/c2/product.php?CatID=7&ProdID=23<br /><br />Which one?

 

[tfwthom]

Four Infamous Telescope Myths <br /><br />"Large telescopes are more impaired by light pollution than small ones." <br /><br />This claim has no basis whatsoever in truth, but it's pretty easy to see how it arose. The "logic" behind this myth is that since large telescopes gather more light than small ones, they must also collect more unwanted light (light pollution). This is true, but the real issue is image contrast. The brightness ratio between a galaxy like M31 (say) and the background sky is the same regardless of telescope size. All telescopes are equally impaired by light pollution compared to what they would show under a dark sky. A large telescope's advantages — superior light grasp and resolution — are the same under bright skies and dark ones. <br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[astropro2009]

Well, why should I buy a Orion 10" when I could buy the Celestron 10".....is there any difference?

 

[tfwthom]

Not much difference really. Both are made by Synta in China so the mirrors are the same.<br /><br />You get two eyepieces with the Orion, but you get a cooling fan with the Celestron.<br /><br />So it's a choice of Chevy or Ford. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>

 

[toothferry]

I've got the Orion 10" .. slight differences in mirror glass (Orion will use pyrex, Celestron will use BK7 ..I'd expect both to be nearly equal in optical perfection. The Celestron is slightly longer f5 where as the Orion will be a f4.7 ..therefore a tiny bit more magnification with the Celestron and a slight wider field and shorter tube with the Orion)<br /><br />So close I wouldn't expect much difference. Go with the one you feel most inclined to buy. <br /><br />But my only other advice is think twice about the first telescope you linked, since its a 10" tube on a equatitorial mount it will be something of a monster to setup. On the other hand the dobsonians are soooo easy to use... just dont expect to do any photography unless maybe its a snapshot of a bright object like the moon or Jupiter or Saturn.

 

[tfwthom]

To SVMsmiles...you said:<br /><br />I would guess the best thing to do, (unlike I did,and yet to do) is to probably go to one of those places where people gather together to observe stars and planets. Most of them would be happy to let you see the views in their scopes. ( of course, this may also lead you to want an observatory I would guess LOL ) <br /><br />Well got something for ya and anyone else that is heading to Arizona.....I'm doing some future planning. (just cutting and pasting from an email I sent around) <br /><br />Ok I know it's early but......I'm looking ahead to Oct and Nov and for those that need to take vacation time, like my wife, it's just looking into the future.<br /> <br />Ellen and I are planning observing sessions at Two Trees nights of Friday Oct 20th and Saturday Oct 21st with the Orionids the morning of Oct 22nd. 10 to 15 per hour<br /> <br />In November with the Leonids on Nov 18th we are planning on arriving at Two Trees Friday Nov 17th and staying the weekend. 10 per hour.<br /> <br />Same set up as usual, I will try to arrive at Two Trees about 5pm to set up the camper, I will tarp in the canopy of the camper with the propane heater for a warm up/wind break area. Directions to Two Trees are on the website. Feel free to pass the info along to others in your clubs. I'll post it on AZ-Observing as time gets closer.<br /><br />(Brad (NEVERS) answered that he would join us in Nov at Two Trees)<br /><br /><br />Another thing....have you met Brad (NEVERS) yet? The wife and I are heading to LV the end of Sept (our only vacation that we don't take telescopes) We are staying at the LV Hilton starting Sept 28th to Oct 3rd. Brad is going to join us for dinner Saturday evening Sept 30th there. If ya want join us there.<br /><br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1" color="#3366ff">www.siriuslookers.org</font> </div>