Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss
Hi all! Looking for recommendations...
5 views
Skip to first unread message
ILoveKnowledge
May 16, 2012, 5:01:29 AM5/16/12
to
Hi all! I hope I made this post in the right section! I am sorry to be
an inconvenience but I was wondering if some of you could provide me
with advice/recommendations as I was looking in purchasing a telescope
in the $1200-$1800 range. There are so many to choose from from the
companies that sell it but wanted to see if any of you had any specific
recommendations for me to get the most bang out of my buck for my
skyviewing. I am what you can call an "amateur" as I have a great love
for the cosmos but did not start getting into using actual telescopes
until I took an astronomy lab course this past semester and now I am
hooked and want to get my own. I am looking forward to some of your
recommendations. Thanks again!
-Sassan K. Darian
--
ILoveKnowledge
Jason Dva
May 16, 2012, 11:24:51 AM5/16/12
to
Hi Sassan,
I've been in the same position myself at times. I guess the first question
would be, what do you want to observe? The solar system, deep space objects
such as galaxies, or both? Another question would be whether or not you
would want the scope to automatically track the stars or not? Believe it or
not, there can be an enormous price difference between auto tracking versus
manual and a planetary only scope versus one for both or deep sky.
I myself started off with a 4.25" reflector telescope that was handed down
from a family member. It was able to show me both the planets and deep
space. Of course, the cost was not a factor, but new the scope would have
been probably been within the $300-400 range.
Later, I graduated to a 10" Dobsonian, again around $400 at the time. This
scope lacked the clock drive that the 4.25" had, but it showed a lot of the
deep space objects in far more detail than the smaller scope would have.
In the price range you indicate, my next and final telescope also ran within
that range and it was a Celestron 9.25 on the GC-5 mount. The mount was
clock driven and the scope type pretty easily allows it to be used for both
deep space and planets. Best of all, it was compact due to the type of
design.
Of course, you do realize that objects you see in the eyepiece will
generally not look like photographs? Even with a large aperture telescope,
much of deep space will appear as a faint smudge. Planets like Jupiter and
Saturn are often exceptions, however, and will rival most photographs on a
night of good seeing.
I have only touched the basics of the basics here. My advice would be to do
your research first, perhaps visit a local astronomy club in your area to
get a feel for different types of telescopes, and then make your decision.
Good luck,
Jason
"ILoveKnowledge" <ILoveKnowle...@spacebanter.com> wrote in message
news:ILoveKnowle...@spacebanter.com...
I've been in the same position myself at times. I guess the first question
would be, what do you want to observe? The solar system, deep space objects
such as galaxies, or both? Another question would be whether or not you
would want the scope to automatically track the stars or not? Believe it or
not, there can be an enormous price difference between auto tracking versus
manual and a planetary only scope versus one for both or deep sky.
I myself started off with a 4.25" reflector telescope that was handed down
from a family member. It was able to show me both the planets and deep
space. Of course, the cost was not a factor, but new the scope would have
been probably been within the $300-400 range.
Later, I graduated to a 10" Dobsonian, again around $400 at the time. This
scope lacked the clock drive that the 4.25" had, but it showed a lot of the
deep space objects in far more detail than the smaller scope would have.
In the price range you indicate, my next and final telescope also ran within
that range and it was a Celestron 9.25 on the GC-5 mount. The mount was
clock driven and the scope type pretty easily allows it to be used for both
deep space and planets. Best of all, it was compact due to the type of
design.
Of course, you do realize that objects you see in the eyepiece will
generally not look like photographs? Even with a large aperture telescope,
much of deep space will appear as a faint smudge. Planets like Jupiter and
Saturn are often exceptions, however, and will rival most photographs on a
night of good seeing.
I have only touched the basics of the basics here. My advice would be to do
your research first, perhaps visit a local astronomy club in your area to
get a feel for different types of telescopes, and then make your decision.
Good luck,
Jason
"ILoveKnowledge" <ILoveKnowle...@spacebanter.com> wrote in message
news:ILoveKnowle...@spacebanter.com...
palsing
May 16, 2012, 4:39:30 PM5/16/12
to
On May 16, 2:01 am, ILoveKnowledge <ILoveKnowledge.
Lots of good info out there...
http://www.my-spot.com/whatkind.htm
http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html
http://www.astroleague.org/files/astronotes/19anote%20BuyScope.pdf
http://findascope.com/
http://www.aoas.org/article.php?story=20061201001258320
My own advice would be to attend a local star party and interact with
the owners of as many telescopes as possible. Until you do, you won't
really know just what scope is best for you.
\Paul A
Good hunting.
http://www.my-spot.com/whatkind.htm
http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html
http://www.astroleague.org/files/astronotes/19anote%20BuyScope.pdf
http://findascope.com/
http://www.aoas.org/article.php?story=20061201001258320
My own advice would be to attend a local star party and interact with
the owners of as many telescopes as possible. Until you do, you won't
really know just what scope is best for you.
\Paul A
Good hunting.
0 new messages