Help buying my first telescope!

[Danboyo]

Hi

I'm looking for some advise on what telescope to get. I'm pretty new to stargazing and so need some advise! I've been looking at the CelestronNexStar SE Telescopes which so far have been the best ones I think but being new to it i want to get the best telescope and user friendly for my money, around the 400-500 pound mark, any help would be great! Thanks

[Charic]

Hi Danboyo............Ok so you have a balance upto £500. What are your intentions! What do you want to look at, also do you want to photograph images.?

I only observe with my eyes, my  telescope is the most basic to operate, easy to set up, and often quoted as the UK's best selling (this model at least!)

If you're into astrophotography, your £500 might just be enough to buy the  EQ5 ( this is a type of mounting system,  the like thats needed for astro tracking ) thats without a telescope? That side of telescope/photography can be quite demanding on the wallet.

£280 gets you the same telescope as me, and you`'ll have some change to buy some accessories too!

There are many other friendly SGL users that will better advise you on the photograpic side, if that's your direction.

[Blazar]

Hi and welcome.  It might be best for you to find a nearby astro club (there are quite a lot), and go along and have a look at what is used, and show you the sizes and types of scope available.

It would be good to understand what you would like to look at in particular, as this will have a bearing in what you eventually purchase. Some additional questions might be helpful but first it might be wise to set expectations on what views are possible.

Have a read of this excellent thread by Qualia entitled 'What can I expect to see"...this will give you a base to start from in terms of well.....what you can expect to see!

Now onto some more questions:

1) What do you want to look at? - Moon, Planets...or Deep sky Objects (DSO)...or a little of everything?

2) Will you need to move the scope around a lot (IE how fit are you, and do you have space to store a scope indoors, as they can be quite large!)?

3) Will you need goto capability? - More money spent on electronics is less money available for the telescope itself, but helpful in learning the night sky (but so are binoculars and a book 8-))

I would imagine at this point imaging requirements are off the agenda... This is not to say that you can't take great photos with just a phone or point and shoot camera through the eyepiece of the scope itself (called Afocal photography)...which is a lot of fun.

All these things point towards differing scope & mounting choices. Sorry to throw questions back, but might help us to help you so to speak!

Regards

[Owmuchonomy]

Hi

I'm looking for some advise on what telescope to get. I'm pretty new to stargazing and so need some advise! I've been looking at the CelestronNexStar SE Telescopes which so far have been the best ones I think but being new to it i want to get the best telescope and user friendly for my money, around the 400-500 pound mark, any help would be great! Thanks

Good advice from the guys above. Another thread you could check out is this one. It is still running.

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/225508-buying-a-telescope-for-my-other-half-please-help/

[ronin]

These are the clubs listed for Kent.

• Ashford Astronomical Society
• Cranbrook and District Science and Astronomical Society
• Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford
• Edenbridge And District Astronomers
• Mid Kent Astronomical Society
• Orpington Astronomical Society
• South East Kent Astronomical Society
• Thanet Astronomy Group

Get along to one of them and see what they use and see which type makes sense to you.

Ask why they chose whatever they did and ask for both good and bad points - immaterial of everything they all have bad points, the bad points are likely more important then the good ones.

Whatever your total budget is expect within 2 months, poiisbly 2 days, to want extra bits. Usually 2 or 3 eyepieces.

List above came from Fedastro: http://fedastro.org.uk/fas/members/

[Danboyo]

Hi thanks for the quick replies! I'm wanting to mainly look at planets and dso but a bit of everything really, I have plenty of room to store it in the house and pretty fit apart from recovering from a dislocated shoulder! Goto capability would be useful but not essential as I'm wanting to learn on the job! I had a cheapo argos type one when I was a kid and managed to get along ok but I'm wanted more detail of planets. Imaging would be good but one step at a time!

[dweller25]

Hi thanks for the quick replies! I'm wanting to mainly look at planets and dso but a bit of everything really, I have plenty of room to store it in the house and pretty fit apart from recovering from a dislocated shoulder! Goto capability would be useful but not essential as I'm wanting to learn on the job! I had a cheapo argos type one when I was a kid and managed to get along ok but I'm wanted more detail of planets. Imaging would be good but one step at a time!

Given your criteria I would consider this.......

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

It is a very capable scope and simple to setup and use.

If you want to upgrade at a later date you can attach the main tube to a GOTO tracking mount so you have the best of both worlds.

[ronin]

Gave the list as cannot get any closer, if you check out the ones closest see if they have any open, public, evenings soon.

That is a good way to look around and ask without having to "jump" in to a club night. Often an easier more relaxed option.

Not sure about distance and transport but Guildford hold some large public and assistance meetings and as the dark nights are startting now events like these will be occuring.

[faulksy]

all great advise above, dobsonian telescopes rule

[daiwelly]

Hi Danboyo

Have a read of my post: I had great help and advice.

http://stargazerslounge.com/topic/219006-torn-between/

[C7tsj]

Alternative to the Skywatcher is this:

http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Revelation-8---F-6-M-CRF-Premium-Dobsonian--White-.html#aBC194

This is the one I am about to buy, bonus is you get a few extra accessories to get you started.

Mark

[knobby]

Alternative to the Skywatcher is this:

http://www.telescopehouse.com/acatalog/Revelation-8---F-6-M-CRF-Premium-Dobsonian--White-.html#aBC194

This is the one I am about to buy, bonus is you get a few extra accessories to get you started.

Mark

The other advantage to this scope is that the store in question is in Kent so the OP can pop along to get a feel for it ...

[Danboyo]

Thanks for the advice, I'll get down to the shop when I get a chance. Is there any pros and cons between the skyliner and the revelation?

[C7tsj]

I am informed build quality is about the same. Only major difference I can see is the extras.

However, and this is where someone may need to help us both, I was reading last night that perhaps the mirrors are different. Am I correct in saying the SW has a parabolic mirror but the Rev doesn't?

Any dob experts out there, can you shed any light on this? Will it make a difference for purely visual viewing?

Mark

[Charic]

Skywatcher / Revelation 8" both have parabolic mirrors

[Danboyo]

Yes that's probably the same thread I read comparing them both. I'm going to have a butchers at the revalation in the shop you mentioned when I can its only half hour from me but not open at weekends which is a pain