what kind of telescope should i ask for?

Question

My birthday is coming up and i want to ask for my first telescope. But no matter where i look i cant figure out which is best. not to mention they say all this stuff like power and computerized and i dont get it. I dont want it to hook up to computer and I cant have it cost too much. so any ideas?

Answer 1

Get the largest Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount that you can afford and handle, such as these:

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/pc/1/c/12/13.uts



I wouldn't recommend anything smaller than a 6-inch.



Here are a few web pages with good information on beginner's telescopes:

http://www.gaherty.ca/tme/TME0702_Buying_a_Telescope.pdf

http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html

http://observers.org/beginner/j.r.f.beginner.html



For more advanced information, read Phil Harrington's Star Ware, 4th edition (Wiley).



You'll get the greatest value for your money with a Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount, such as these:

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/pc/1/12.uts

http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swtinc/product.php?class1=1&class2=106



Buy from a store which specializes in telescopes and astronomy, either locally or online; don't buy from department stores, discount stores or eBay as mostly what they sell is junk. Find your local astronomy club and try out different telescopes at one of their star parties:

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/organizations



I strongly recommend that beginners steer clear of astrophotography until they have learned their way around the sky. Astrophotography is by far the most expensive and difficult area of amateur astronomy.



Many people who buy telescopes have no idea how to find interesting things to observe. A good introduction to finding things is NightWatch by Terence Dickinson (Firefly). A more advanced book is Star Watch by Phil Harrington (Wiley).

Answer 2

Hi Lynn -



Here are a few things that are important to look for, and why:



1. Aperture - The old saying "aperture rules" is as important now as it always has been. Aperture is the diameter of the opening that allows light into the scope - usually, it's pretty close to the scope diameter itself. This is important because most astronomical objects are not hard to see because they are too small. They are hard to see because they are too dim. The larger the opening to let light in, the more photons can be funneled into your eye at the same time, and the brighter and clearer the image will be. Aperture almost exclusively determines what you will and will not be able to see with your scope. I would seriously recommend that you try to find a scope that has at least 8 inches of aperture. This means a reflector telescope.



2. Solid mount - Flimsy aluminum tripods are found on a lot of cheap telescopes, and they are rendered nearly useless by this one shortcoming. It is critical that you have a solid mount, because without it, the tiny patch of sky that you are looking at will be moving constantly - just enough that it will be impossible to actually see anything for more than a second or two. Solid mounts are essential, and the lowest cost for a solid mount is a Dobsonian mount.



3. Ease of setup and transportability - Most beginners think that they will do most of their observing alone in their own back yard. Most experienced amateurs observe with others all the time. This indicates strongly that you should buy a scope - now, not later - that can easily be packed up, moved, and set up again. This criterion again favors the Dobsonian design, which is substantially simpler than the other configurations that are out there.



4. Source - Do not buy a used scope unless you know how to repair it. Do not buy from Ebay, Walmart, or other department stores. The agents in these otherwise respectable venues know less than nothing about astronomy. When you need help (and we all need help), they will be cluelessly reading the manual with you. That's not what you need. Buy from an expert, a dealer in telescopes and optical equipment, who speaks the language and understands what he is selling.



5. Cost - The cost for a decent telescope ranges from $350 to well over $10,000. You will generally get what you pay for, But my advice is to spend your available budget on better optics, not on fancy electronics and computers. There is not much in this hobby that is as disappointing as finding out that you purchased a computer that will aim the scope at 4,000 objects, but the optics are so limited that you can only see 20 of them. A good 8 inch Dobsonian will allow you to see hundreds of objects on a clear night, but you will have to learn how to find them. This requires patience, but frankly, that's half the fun.



The link below is a rather standard 8 inch Dobsonian that is a great choice for beginners. There are others out there that are similar. I bought one like this for my son, and he like it a lot.



http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT8-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/13/p/8943.uts?refineByCategoryId=13



The advice about attending a few local star parties is sound. This will help you to learn what to expect at the eyepiece and at the cash register. You will receive a warm welcome, and lots of chances to try different kinds of scopes. Try before you buy! Good Luck and Clear Skies!

Answer 3

Let's start with optics. A 12" Zhumell is probably the best bang for your buck. You can see low light, deep space objects with little or no image distortion. However, these telescopes can be very bulky and it's not always convenient to have to move them. I own one of these and it's a good scope. You could always try a 10", 8", or 6". A 6" is handy because it is easier to move (and less likely to bump and throw off the mirrors inside.)



http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/dobsonian-telescopes/zhumellz12deluxedobsonianreflectortelescope.cfm



If you want a smaller telescope, but one that is able to be moved, then the apochromatic reflectors are excellent. The image dispersion is low, so the image you see is very sharp. These are more expensive.



http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Refractor-Telescopes/Orion-EON-120mm-f75-ED-Apochromatic-Refractor-Telescope/pc/-1/c/1/sc/10/p/9925.uts



If you think you can find the nebulas, galaxies, and planets yourself, then forego any telescope with a "tracking" system. The tracking system makes it easier for you, but if you're dealing with a limited budget, then you're spending money on tracking as opposed to optics.



Personally, I like being able to find the deep-space objects by utilizing the constellations as a guide. But sometimes I'd rather be able to immediately find what I'm looking for. Both aspects have an advantage.



Anyhow, good luck and once you start looking to the heavens, it has a way of making things on earth seem less important. For that reason, astronomy is a lot of fun.

Answer 4

Lynn



I would advise you to attend some local star party or other volunteer outreach event. There are some near any city small or large. Google search "astronomy club" and look around. It would be beneficial for you to look thru others' equipment.



You did not mention how familiar you are with the night sky. The digital and go-to stuff can be somewhat necessary for those who cannot find their way around the constellations. Likewise, it can be a huge help for those in areas of moderate light pollution (there is no real saving grace for light polluted areas though), since it is hard even for star-hoppers to hop with too few stars.



If you like to spend most of your time with planets and the moon, I recommend an f/8 to f/10. If you want to see lots of deep sky objects, and have little patience for looking at planets (for hours), I recommend a f/4.5 to f/7. For lower f-ratios, I also suggest 2" focusers.



Lots of recommendations depending on your budget. Stay away from "department store" scopes, especially the cheap refractors (the 60mm size is not the problem, it is the crummy unstable mounts). Look at online outlets such as www.astronomics.com or www.telescope.com (Orion), as well as others. A little reflector will be easier to use than a little refractor, at the low-end budget range anyway. This is especially true if you do not do "go-to".



Peruse used scopes also, such as www.cloudynights.com (classifieds). There are often lightly-used small scopes at really great prices (often 40-50% off).

Answer 5

A 6" f/8 or 8" f/6 Dobsonian mounted reflecting telescope is the ideal beginner telescope. If your benefactor can spring for it, an 8" will show significantly more than a 6". Don't get smaller than 6" or you will very soon have aperture fever -- a 6" will show a lot more detail on planets than a 4.5"



Some good sources as follows:



http://www.telescope.com

http://www.telescopes.com

Answer 6

If you don't want to use it to take photographs, then your best bet for the money is a Dobsonian. That refers to the type of mount, and they're made by all the major telescope manufactorers - stick to Meade, Celestron, or Orion brands, and get one with a primary mirror of at least 4.5 inches if you want to see more than you'd see with a good pair of binoculars.

Answer 7

Since it's just for personal use or for minor observations, you can request for the portable digital telescope. But if you need to discover more about the solar system, you have to make use of the mega-gigantic telescope which is always powered in astronomical stations.

Answer 8

http://www.telescope.com/Orion-SkyQuest-XT10-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/p/8947.uts?keyword=%20xt10