Could someone recomend me a good telescope ?

[Candymancan]

Im a very ammature wanna be astronimer hehe. Iv always tho been fascinated with space unlike my family who doesnt care about even looking up at the stars. Love Star trek and stuff like that and i think the space photo's from diff telescope's around the world are very cool.

I have this very old telescope my dad bought me when i was 11 years old that was 12 years ago and its pretty much at the end of its life. I lost the weight and pole to it, and the little attachments you use to turn the telescope up and down are kinda cheesy they always get in the way, usually when i find something i always have to eyeball the object and move the scope by hand in that direction once i find the light i put in the lens's and focus. Pretty crude but it works and iv seen the moon obviously upclose, Mars, Jupiter,Saturn, and some other objects im not sure what they were maybe uranus or something because it was very big and blue.

I dont use it much tho last nite i saw Jupiter again, i was wondering what the bright star was in the sky iv been seeing the last couple years. I thought it was the ISS, but i guess i was wrong and i saw 4 of its moons. Anyway to get to the point i have like $570 to spend and im hoping there is a telescope out there that would allow me to see the planets much better because my telescope fully focused and using the smallest lense that i have which is some 2.5-4mm lens i can barely make out Jupiter when i saw it it was just some big white dot i only knew it was Jupiter because i barely saw 3 diff colored stripes on it altho that was very hard to make out.

I would like a telescope that could easily make out the planets and one where i could see galaxy's and nebula's and not just blue or white blobs like my current telescope. One where if possible i could take pictures im not sure what or how much a telescope would cost that does all that. There are just so many brands and so many telescope's on these telescope websites that im really confused. Im not sure about lense size's either is a bigger lens better or worse? What about the tube length ? ? What about the little lens's you put inside the tube that you look through ? Most of the telescopes im looking at n my price range all have some kinda thing where you type in the name and itll move or show you where to move in that direction but i dunno what to buy.

The telescope i currently have i forgot the name i think its like Galaxy 3000 or something, its a very long blue tube about 3-4 feet long and like 11 inchs in diameter

Its looks exactly like this one http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=09854

[Ampatent]

Well to be blunt, it really depends on what you want to look at. Most telescopes are going to be good for viewing the planets and the Moon, but certain scopes are better than others when it comes to viewing Deep Field and Messier objects.

For astrophotography, if you just want to take single frame or short exposure shots then any telescope that you can mount an SLR camera to or dock a digital camera will do fine. However, if you plan on taking pictures of Messier objects or anything that's very far away and requires long exposures, you will need a larger aperture to let in as much light as possible as well as a tracking base.

My suggestion for your price range would be the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT package at telescopes.com. Granted, it's a basic package, but it will certainly give you a decent start into viewing the stars.

If your more inclined to do research there are tons of guides on the internet about what types of telescopes are good for what type of observing.

Good luck to you on your search and clear skies.

[Candymancan]

Well i want to look at Galaxy's, Nebula, and other things like that. Iv seen Jupiter and Mars a million times, i want to see something else other then a blue blob in the sky when i point my current scope at a star.

[Candymancan]

Is this scope any good ? Says its 200mm which is bigger then the one you linked. I dunno if thats good or bad tho

http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...1-6195b79db454

[aurora]

We always recommend that you visit a local astronomy club, and any star parties that you are able to attend so that you can look at and through a lot of different telescopes and ask lots of questions.

Some clubs have telescopes that members can borrow and try out.

I recommend that you get the book Turn Left at Orion, which will help you find things in the sky and set your expectations for what you are going to see. You can buy it in lots of places, or probably find it in your local library. This book may also negate the need for you to get a computerized telescope, as you can find objects yourself.

Generally, an 8 inch Dob is a good scope for a beginner. So the last one you pointed to is probably a good choice for you.

[Candymancan]

Would the telescope be any good with sky's that are kinda hard to see in? Like Here in Virginia its hard to see any stars with the naked eye anymore. I can probably see maybe 10 stars and thats it. I cant even see the Orion Belt, or Little and Big dipper the light and air polution is that bad i guess. I wish i was still living in Arizona, the sky here is just black and thats it no stars or anything

Im worried if i buy a telescope i wouldnt be able to see anything wasting my money

[Tucson_Tim]

Candymancan,

Your question is one that a lot of us have asked. If you look back through this section of the forum you will probably find dozens of threads discussing this very question. I will post a few links.

ETA: (I only went back to March 2009 - there are many, many more threads than these)

http://www.bautforum.com/astronomica...take-leap.html
http://www.bautforum.com/astronomica...xpect-see.html
http://www.bautforum.com/astronomica...questions.html
http://www.bautforum.com/astronomica...endations.html
http://www.bautforum.com/astronomica...-purchase.html

ETA:

I can probably see maybe 10 stars and thats it. I cant even see the . . . Big dipper the light and air polution is that bad i guess.

Now, if you can't see the Big Dipper (which is mostly first and second magnitude stars) then I don't think observational astronomy is something you should waste money on - unless you plan to travel and set up your scope somewhere else. In that case then you want a more compact scope.

[Siguy]

If your light pollution is that bad then you'll probably want a scope that's portable, so that you can travel to better observing areas. If you're not interested in astrophotography then you'll probably want a small altazimuth mounted scope. Or if you think you can haul it, you could perhaps buy a larger scope like a dobsonian or equatorial newtonian.

A common mistake beginners make is to buy a telescope that costs as much as their budget, therefore limiting the accessories they can purchase.

That's about all I can say so far. There are just so many completely different scopes in your price range.

[Candymancan]

If your light pollution is that bad then you'll probably want a scope that's portable, so that you can travel to better observing areas. If you're not interested in astrophotography then you'll probably want a small altazimuth mounted scope. Or if you think you can haul it, you could perhaps buy a larger scope like a dobsonian or equatorial newtonian.

A common mistake beginners make is to buy a telescope that costs as much as their budget, therefore limiting the accessories they can purchase.

That's about all I can say so far. There are just so many completely different scopes in your price range.

I already have a small scope. Its a Tasco like 50-80mm scope. I want something that can actually make out the planets not see them as a white dot.


The Dobsin 8" is only $500 because of the computer, i could always get it without and itll be $330 allowing me to get other things i just dont know what to buy. I was reading some stuff about eyepeices, what do you think about these ? http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=20025 to go with http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=08943

[Nick Theodorakis]

It looks like the scope already comes with the 25 mm one. I have the Sirius Plossl 10 mm and 25 mm eyepieces and I think they are fine ones to have.

Nick

[Candymancan]

Yea i noticed that I'll get the 10mm by itself then. I wish i could afford the one with the computer, so it can point me to stuff instead of me just pointing and looking at stars. Maybe I'll get the 6" Computer Dob instead of the 8" without. I mean either or it has be alot better then my 50-60mm scope lol. I will see things in color right ?

[Nick Theodorakis]

Yea i noticed that I'll get the 10mm by itself then. I wish i could afford the one with the computer, so it can point me to stuff instead of me just pointing and looking at stars. Maybe I'll get the 6" Computer Dob instead of the 8" without. I mean either or it has be alot better then my 50-60mm scope lol. I will see things in color right ?

If you're talking about the Intelliscope option, it's more of an aid than real GOTO. You still have to know enough about the sky in order to calibrate it, and then, depending on how good you are at accurate pointing, it could still be off by up to half a degree or so.

Nick

[Candymancan]

Well iv been prety good at pointing my 50mm or 80m whatever it is scope at things. Its duct taped onto the tripod and the finder scope is broken, and iv managed to find like 6 Planets by just aim and look using the normal eyepeice and then going to the smaller ones while moving the scope to keep on track of the planet. If thats what you mean by pointing lol.

Well im looking at this kit http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=05631 someone linked with a telescope earlier. It comes with like 6 eyepeices and a bunch of filters, but im not sure on the telescope. With shipping and the thing i linked above i couldnt even afford the 6" scope with the computer. I hate how this stuff is so expensive... $200 for a little keypad seems rediculous.


http://www.galaxyphoto.com/nebulae.htm
I want look at stuff like this website, of course these pics are using like 12" scopes but i should still be able to see something like that right ? I might buy that kit i linked and this scope. I could afford that
http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=08943

[redshifter]

First off, the Orion XT8 is a great scope, and may be all the scope you'll ever need. I've owned it and now own the XT10. I don't have trouble getting it out to a dark sky site a hour from where I live. You WILL need to get it or any other scope you buy out to a dark sky to see much of anything. It sounds like you're in a very light polluted area. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars punch through most light pollution fairly well, and 8" is plenty to see detail in Jupiter and Saturn's rings. However, even when you get a scope to a dark sky site, objects will NOT look like the colorful photos. They will look a lot more like the way they're drawn in the book Turn Left at Orion. Our eyes just don't collect light the way a CCD chip or a camera does, and cannot 'build up' an image like cameras can.

I highly recommend you read this: http://scopereviews.com/begin.html

Also, read the other 'what scope should I get' threads; links were provided earlier in the thread. Don't get anything till you've done some research!

[Candymancan]

So images will be black and white ? Damn that sucks, i didnt know that.

[redshifter]

Well, they don't call DSO's (Deep Sky Objects) 'faint fuzzies' for nothing...though I'd still rather look at those objects with my own eyes as opposed to photographs. Not that I don't like looking at DSO photos, just that I prefer seeing them through my scope/binocs.

[Candymancan]

So itll look like this then right ?

http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/~kenyon/i...PairGalaxy.jpg

[redshifter]

Hmmm...well, here are a couple primers on what you can expect to see. I HIGHLY recommend you read all the links posted on this tread.

http://www.waid-observatory.com/arti...can_I_see.html

http://www.ovas.org/seeinscope.htm

http://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/m13/index.html

[Candymancan]

I have a bunch of times, thanks for those 3 links. i wasnt expecting that was what it was going to look like. I wish they didnt mislead people with color images on telescope's. Now i dunno if even want to spend $500+ on this thing just to see a blob of white dots haha..

I found some other links for photography and stuff if anyone is reading this thread and wants to know soem about that

http://www.astropix.com/HTML/I_ASTROP/SCOPES.HTM

http://www.astropix.com/HTML/I_ASTROP/INTRO.HTM

[Siguy]

The eyes are more sensitive to blue and green than red, the problem being that most bright nebulae are red and not green or blue. However, the Orion Nebula has bright enough green regions that it's possible to see some faint color in even a small scope. (I'm not sure whether I have seen color in my 6 inch, but I certainly have in a 20 inch) With a really, really, huge scope it is even possible to see some red, but don't count on getting a 60 inch telescope...
http://www.donaldedavis.com/2002_addons/DEEPCLRS.html

However, don't be discouraged because you won't be able to see color! All kinds of detail can be seen in many different objects. You really have to see it yourself to appreciate its beauty. When someone shows you some photograph of a galaxy or star cluster or nebula, and says how pretty it is, you can brag that you've actually experienced it.

Seriously, don't shy away from astronomy for a silly reason like that.

[Candymancan]

Ok assuming i buy the Dobson 200mm scope, and the Filter/eye peice set with it. What do i need so i can start searching for specific things like if i wanted to find the orion nebula how do i go about doing that ? Tbh all i would know to do is setup the scope and point at something i see with my eye and look at it.

I wish i was living in a diff area this one sucks, is all surounded by lights and tree's

[Ampatent]

Most scopes today, though I'm not sure about the Dobsonian model your referring to, have auto-star or some other similar guide. All you really need to know is the coordinates of the object you want to see in the sky and know how to enter it into the telescopes computer.

[Siguy]

The Orion Nebula isn't going to be visible for a couple of months, and even then only in the early morning. You have to wait until winter. But it is really easy to find, from most reasonable skies you can see it as Orion's fuzzy "scabbard" with the naked eye.

Anyway, I highly recommend Stellarium. It is an open source planetarium program that lets you go really deep into the sky. Incredibly useful for timing when objects will appear.

You could also consider a planisphere, a device that shows a simple representation of the night sky when you set the time and date. They're good for knowing what constellations will be up at a given time.

Pocket sky atlases are useful. I know there are a few different ones, not sure what's best.

If you want to go really, really deep, the 2 volume plus guidebook Uranometria 2000.0 will show you everything. But they're a hardcover (not spiral bound) books that weigh a ton and are rather difficult to take into the field. Plus I don't think a beginner needs a $100 sky atlas (that was my mistake.)

Most scopes today, though I'm not sure about the Dobsonian model your referring to, have auto-star or some other similar guide. All you really need to know is the coordinates of the object you want to see in the sky and know how to enter it into the telescopes computer.

That's not necessarily true, most scopes on the market under $1000 don't have computers, and while a great deal of them do, you're assuming that they're buying one of them. They were talking about an Orion XT8, and while there is a push-to version (intelliscope), they're typically assumed to be non-computerized. Also, you don't need to know an object's coordinates to use GoTo/push-to. Just the object's name.

[aurora]

Ok assuming i buy the Dobson 200mm scope, and the Filter/eye peice set with it. What do i need so i can start searching for specific things like if i wanted to find the orion nebula how do i go about doing that ? Tbh all i would know to do is setup the scope and point at something i see with my eye and look at it.

As i said previously, I really recommend Turn Left at Orion.

Take a look at it anyway.

[Tucson_Tim]

What do i need so i can start searching for specific things like if i wanted to find the orion nebula how do i go about doing that ? Tbh all i would know to do is setup the scope and point at something i see with my eye and look at it.

To enforce what the others have said, if you want to become a good observational astronomer then you should learn the night sky and learn how to "star hop". You will need a good star atlas for this. If you just want to go out once in a while and "see something" then a computerized "go to" scope is what you need.

[Nick Theodorakis]

The Orion Dobs are pretty good scopes for the money. I have the 4.5 in. and the 10 in. Dobs and am pretty happy with them. I doubt I would ever travel with the 10 in. one, but I have taken the 4.5 in one on trips. The 8 in. scope sounds like a good compromise between having enough light gathering ability to keep you happy yet still being portable enough to take it to a dark (or darker, anyway) sky site for better seeing.

You would probably like to add an eyepiece in the 8mm-12mm range, and also a good 2X Barlow.

Nick

[redshifter]

Here are the eyepieces I use with my XT10:

The 30mm version of this line for low power scanning: http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...d-6f5e464f6458

This one for most DSO and low power planetary observing: http://www.shopatron.com/product/part_number=3897/715.0

The 9.5 mm version of this line to replace the 10mm plossl that ships with the XT scopes (it's a lot easier to observe with this one than the 10mm plossl): http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=E0010

A Vixen lanthanum 7.5 mm for higher power planetary observing; I don't think that line is available any longer.

This barlow: http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=08725

FWIW, I use the 30mm and the 17mm for about 75% of my observing.

[Candymancan]

Ok i have another question for you guys, how easy it to setup and view through the dobson telescope's? Due to my back i cant lean over standing up for long periods of time so if i have to stand and bend over completetly to use this scope i probably wouldnt buy it.

Im also looking at this http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes...ttelescope.cfm a scope someone mentioned in the begg of the thread. Its computerized, uses a tripod but it costs more then the Dobson 8" (without the computer) its only a 5" scope. The tripod i like tho because i know with those you can sit in a char and set the height of the scope to whatever you want.

Does bad eye site hurt you when viewing stars ? I found out 2 weeks ago i have 20/40 vision while i can read easily i have 1 bad eye my right eye, so i usually use my left eye when looking in the scope i have. However after putting on some glass's my dad had i noticed i could see alot of dim stars i couldnt see now matter how hard i looked with my naked eye. I think the problem i have with my eyes is its harder to see fine details on everything to clothing,carpet and now stars it seems.

[redshifter]

While not the most compact, IMO a dob is by far the easiest telescope to set up: simply place the mount on the ground, put the tube on the mount, and you're ready to observe. A collimation check is usually a good idea before an observing session as well.

With my XT 10, I am able to do all observing while seated on a stool/observing chair. No standing required. I don't know what effect lugging the mount and tube will have on your back however. It sounds like you need to check out a star party or two so you can play around with the various types of scopes and see what works for you.

[Siguy]

Let's not make this thread another Dob crusade, please. Beginners should be free to look at different types of scopes that may suit their individual needs without being constantly being told that the Orion Skyquest dobs as being the only good beginner scopes on the market.

As for the scope you linked, it's a decent scope. However, if you don't absolutely need GoTo, I noticed that there's a scope on sale at Orion that has pretty much the exact same optics but without a GoTo mount for quite a bit less. Manual altazimuth mounts at that price range tend to be stabler than GoTo ones.
http://www.telescope.com/control/pro...oduct_id=24739
But if you want a GoTo scope, the NexStar is an okay choice.

As for your vision, unless you have astigmatism, you can look through an eyepiece without glasses and just focus it for your eyes, or you can just wear glasses provided the eyepiece has enough eye relief.

Just to throw another suggestion in, there are, in fact, collapsible and truss tube 8'' Dobs that are a bit more portable than average 8'' dobs.
http://www.skywatcherusa.com/8-dobso...pe-s11700.html
http://www.adorama.com/MDDB8D.html
The collapsible tube on the Skywatcher doesn't save all much space, but at least it comes with a better finderscope than either the Meade or the Orion.