Buying a telescope for my other half PLEASE HELP!!!

[starryeyed2014]

Ok so i know absolutely nothing about telescopes, my partner loves the stars and the moon expecially and is always talking about them. SO i thought that i should look into getting him a telescope for christmas, i have been searching and so confused as to what to get he is going to be a beginner at this as i think this will become his new hobby as he loves this stuff so i dont want to buy a really cheap crappy one, i basically need someone to tell me exactly what one to buy i want it to include the tripod also and I am willing to pay up to £300 for one.

What i have been reading through just does not make sense to me as i am not that way minded refectors and newtonian etc etc is right over my head completely so please try to be specific as to what i should get

I have two telescopes here that i thought was quite good but again i dont know

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/Binoculars%20and%20Scopes/Telescopes/products/Skywatcher/Explorer%20150P%20Telescope%20(EQ3-2)-89843/Show.html

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/Binoculars%20and%20Scopes/Telescopes/products/Skywatcher/Explorer%20130P%20AZ%20GoTo%20Telescope-89901/Show.html

PLEASE SOME ONE HELP I WOULD MUCHLY APPRECIATE IT

[Cornelius Varley]

Hello and welcome to SGL. Both telescopes are good choices for a beginner, although the equatorial mount in the first choice can be a bi confusing to use at first.  Couple of other options could be

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html

or

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html

both of which have a minimal set up time and are easier to use and are probably the best value for money.

[Ant]

The 150p is a good scope.

If it were me and I was only interested in looking.

I would buy this - http://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html - well within your budget.

A cracking scope for the moon and planets (and clusters etc) - easier to use than either of the scopes you linked too. I have one of these and the views are very good indeed.

You could then spend some of the other budget on other things (a book called "turn left at Orion" is very good). Or a little stool to sit on.

This is a very good starter scope and one that will hold it's value pretty well should you wish to upgrade in the future.

Cheers

Ant

[JamesF]

As the previous two posters have just said what I was about to say, I'll add:

As much as anything you have to think about convenience of use.  Will it get in the way if it's being stored in the house?  Will it need to be carried any distance?  Is he going to want it to find targets for him, or is he patient enough to learn to find his own way around the sky?

James

[starryeyed2014]

Hi thanks for your response i had looked at the dobsonian ones as well but because they dont come on a tripod and are just based on a swivel stand i feel this wont be good enough for him to use.

Any other ideas?

[rwilkey]

Hi Starry, and welcome to the lounge, first of all I would say buy your telescope from a dedicated astronomy supplier, not a high street shop, such as FLO, the forum sponsors, linked to in the above posts.  Next I would recommend a refractor (one with lenses rather than mirrors), and in particular this one: http://www.firstlightoptics.com/evostar/skywatcher-evostar-90-eq3-2.html

[starryeyed2014]

I think he will most probably be happy enough to be patient and figure it out himself i will be buying him books also to read it wont be a problem storing it in the house either

[JamesF]

Why would they not be good enough?  Unless the scope is particularly small or a refractor or you're into astrophotography (which is probably not a place to start, really), there's no desperate need for a tripod mount -- it's just money spent on the mount that could instead be spent on the optics, and better optics means better views.  Given your budget the only other time you'd probably consider a tripod-based mount is if you wanted a GOTO system, which you think you don't.

Tripod-based mounts might look the part, but in the dark no-one can tell and I'd suggest that the larger dobsonian will be more rewarding to use.

James

[starryeyed2014]

I dont mean not good enough in that sense but at least with a tripod one we can move it around wherever we like and with the dobsonian we would need to have it on a flat surface etc I just feel that a tripod one would be more what we are looking for but because i dont understand the tech specifications on them i really need to know what one would be best

[ronin]

Search through: http://fedastro.org.uk/fas/members/

For your area and drag him along to a club, find out what he prefers.

You are not going to get a scope that does planetary and DSO visual and also allows planetary and DSO imaging, well not with much less less then £5000. That is the situation and I say this before you take him anywhere, as the general urge is for a scope that does everything, and there is really not one.

Guessing what someone would like is almost impossible, too many scope options and then come the mount options.

[starryeyed2014]

I cant take him along as it is his christmas present lol and if i suddenly decided to ask him to go look at telescopes i feel that would give it away immediately (n)

[Hootsitabernacle]

for the money you are suggesting then I would get the 8" dob..the views on that will blow the both of you away...to get the same aperature on an eq mount then you are talking way more money. I had the 8" for a year before I went down the GOTO route..i cant recommend the dob enough

[Hootsitabernacle]

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-dobsonian.html

[starryeyed2014]

As i said above i would really like to get one on a tripod and the dobsonian doesnt fit the bill for that unfortunately.

thank you though

[happy-kat]

The evostar link given above. A telescope that looks like what a new user might expect one to look like.

A tripod that can also be used with motors added so it can track what he pointed out for a later date upgrade I think.

A refractor which is not too small in aperature.

Room in the budget to buy the book suggested.

Room in the budget to buy one extra eye piece to improve the views.

How much effort do you think he would like to put in to both take a scope out side and then use it?

How far is it to the garden are there any stairs etc. downatairs storage options.

[happy-kat]

A visit to a shop or club is a great idea and one I would have loved to have done when I was trying to choose.

Or what about get the book and a pair of binocular and start there and see where the hobby takes you both.

Binoculars are never a waste of money and there are some nice looking ones in the clearance section on FLO

[bingevader]

Is it that time of year already!? 

Dare I say it, but another option would be vouchers.

If you've really no idea what he is after then rather than buying something that might be a disappointment, vouchers from FLO would be a sure thing.

I know I'd be delighted, but then my Mrs always asks to avoid any confusion.

It's a fair wad of money to gamble.

[starryeyed2014]

Yep nearly that time of year haha

Well to be honest he woudnt know either so i know he will appreciate what i get him i just know that he loves the moon so definetely need one that he can see the moon clearly etc

I would rather buy it for him as i hope it will be something he will get into more which is why i do want to get something pretty decent to begin with and on a tripod as i said above so it can be easily moved around where he wants to use it

[Owmuchonomy]

Hi thanks for your response i had looked at the dobsonian ones as well but because they dont come on a tripod and are just based on a swivel stand i feel this wont be good enough for him to use.

Any other ideas?

Hi thanks for your response i had looked at the dobsonian ones as well but because they dont come on a tripod and are just based on a swivel stand i feel this wont be good enough for him to use.

Any other ideas?

Hi, what a nice idea for your other half. Lots of good ideas from folks but you probably are still a bit confused. Quoting my own personal experience of owning four different types of telescope over the years I would not hesitate to recommend to someone in your position with your budget the same as post #3. It doesn't 'look' like a typical telescope but that doesn't matter. For your money you will get the best view through that. So choose a 6" or even 8" Dobsonian made by someone like Skywatcher and get it from a specialist dealer as mentioned. The other thing you must buy is the book 'Turn a Left at Orion'. Armed with that he will have many a happy hour at the eyepiece.

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi 'starryeyed2014'

Buying a telescope on a 'tripod' is going to cost more than the budget you have set, especially if you want the "Wow!" with observing. Another thing to bear in mind too is that a scope on a 'tripod' will need to be polar aligned when using an equatorial mount, (tripod has to be level). Ok there are refractors on tripods that are within your budget, but to be honest the mount is/or may not be accurate or stable and this can be frustrating if it has setting circles, (RA & Dec), for a 'newbie'. Another frustration to is that the eyepiece is not at a 'comfortable' height or position and you may stand, contort, squat the human body into various shapes and designs more than a sheet of origami paper.

Therefore, I am with the "dob-mob" with this one. Go for the SkyWatcher 200P dob. A work colleague of mine purchased his two years ago and never looked back when I told him the pitfalls I mention above.

[bingevader]

If you are dead set on a classical looking telescope on a tripod, then you're probably back to post 6 and Robin's suggestion of the Evostar 90 or maybe the 102 if you can stretch to that.

I'm not sure what your hang up is about mounts though.

I have the 8" dobsonian, it's in the shed, it's out and set up in 5 mins and I have to move it around the garden whilst observing because of trees and my house, no problem.

Have fun deciding!

[fondofchips]

Hi Starry, and welcome to the lounge, first of all I would say buy your telescope from a dedicated astronomy supplier, not a high street shop, such as FLO, the forum sponsors, linked to in the above posts.  Next I would recommend a refractor (one with lenses rather than mirrors), and in particular this one: http://www.firstlightoptics.com/evostar/skywatcher-evostar-90-eq3-2.html

If you are dead set on a classical looking telescope on a tripod, then you're probably back to post 6 and Robin's suggestion of the Evostar 90 or maybe the 102 if you can stretch to that.

I'm not sure what your hang up is about mounts though.

I have the 8" dobsonian, it's in the shed, it's out and set up in 5 mins and I have to move it around the garden whilst observing because of trees and my house, no problem.

Have fun deciding!

There is some fantastic advice here, as a fellow newbie would agree with the 2 above.

I would also stretch to the 102 if you can at £16 above your budget.  The books mentioned here as presents from family/friends perhaps?

I have both the types of telescope described in your topic & found the refractor easy to use & I've kept it for mobile viewing at dark sites.

If you have a lot of light pollution where you live you may want to go somewhere darker to do your viewing.  The best place is at a meeting of your local Astronomy Club where you will get plenty of friendly advice & ideas of objects to look at, I cannot recommend going to a meeting highly enough, it's like this friendly forum with loads to look at & the best advice & help.

Best of luck with your purchase & clear skies.

Fondofchips.

[happy-kat]

Though if it is a refractor on an equatorial mount don't you just turn the diaganol to suit depending on where the scope ended up? So you get the bob up and down but not the side to side body position twists?

[cutepetgroomer]

I have simple refractors. All on alt az mounts and I myself am starting to look at eq mounts at least.

[CSM]

I think you have some misconceptions about tripods and Dobsonian mounts but rather than try to confuse you further I would strongly endorse the suggestion of buying FLO vouchers.  Indeed, for anyone buying for another adult this is the best way.  The vouchers are valid for a year(?) and the recipient will have the undoubted pleasure of taking his time, browsing forums like this and eventually choosing it himself. 

Another important point to remember is that until you actually do astronomy, you probably won't really know what takes your fancy.  The reality of astronomy can be very different from what you think it might be.

As an addition to the vouchers there are a number of books 'like Stargazing with a Telescope' by Robin Scagell , which don't cost much and will provide reading material over Christmas.