New to telescopes - help please

[Maxinerc]

I am sure there are a few of these posts up here but I hope you can help

My name is Maxine and I am looking to buy a beginner telescope for my husband's birthday. He has used a very basic reflector telescope which his dad made but you can only really see the moon. I would like to get him a more powerful model which would let us see planets and star constellations. There is light pollution near us so something reasonably portal would be good too. I am happy to spend up to £200 or 250 but don't really know where to start. Therefore please can you help?

I have been recommended the Bresser Galaxia II 114mm Telescope - has anybody used this before? please let me know what you think?

Is there a particular brand of telescope that is regarded more highly than others?

Thank you for any advice you can give in advance

[happy-kat]

Hi

Do you know the size of the mirror in the existing telescope, diameter?

[jabeoo1]

If you could stretch the funds to one of these

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

then the views of the planets, moon and some messier objects will be great.  For wide field (constellations) I would go for a set of 10x50 binoculars as a separate present in the future, on a mount they are great for skimming the heavens. 

[Cpaulo]

Hi there

Personally I am looking for a second telescope, I have a refractor and mount that I use for imaging and I'm very very pleased with it. However I have 3 children who all show an interest in stargazing and to be honest the tiny specs of light that can be viewed in my 80mm refractor are not that captivating to the young mind.

To that end I have been looking at the scope below. It is a donsonian model which means the scope comes already mounted. No buying a scope and then having to pay out for a mount or tripod. The view or aperture to price ratio makes it great value for money.

I know it's slightly over the budget you stated but this is what I intend to get for my children and my personal visual observing.

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

Hope this helps.

[Maxinerc]

Hi

Do you know the size of the mirror in the existing telescope, diameter?

Hi there, unfortunately not! The dad made it while back so I think it's very basic!

[Maxinerc]

Thank you both, this does looks great!

This may be a stupid question but do you need a table to put the Skywatcher Skyliner 200P Dobsonian on?

[happy-kat]

It was a thought so that you would know what sort of size would improve upon it.

[Maxinerc]

If you could stretch the funds to one of these

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

then the views of the planets, moon and some messier objects will be great.  For wide field (constellations) I would go for a set of 10x50 binoculars as a separate present in the future, on a mount they are great for skimming the heavens.

  

Hi there

Personally I am looking for a second telescope, I have a refractor and mount that I use for imaging and I'm very very pleased with it. However I have 3 children who all show an interest in stargazing and to be honest the tiny specs of light that can be viewed in my 80mm refractor are not that captivating to the young mind.

To that end I have been looking at the scope below. It is a donsonian model which means the scope comes already mounted. No buying a scope and then having to pay out for a mount or tripod. The view or aperture to price ratio makes it great value for money.

I know it's slightly over the budget you stated but this is what I intend to get for my children and my personal visual observing.

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

Hope this helps.

Thank you both, this does looks great!

This may be a stupid question but do you need a table to put the Skywatcher Skyliner 200P Dobsonian on?

[happy-kat]

It sits on the floor, it is pretty big.

[ronin]

There is the Skywatcher 150P on an EQ3-2 mount for £285, little over budget and the £285 variant will be a manual mount, but motors can be added later if required.

The dobsonians are the biggest option of mirror for price, you could get the 150P dobsonian for £198, then you could get an eyepiece as well.

That covers reflectors I suppose, in the refractors there are the Skywatcher Evostars. You could get the Evostar 90 on an EQ3-2 for £229. Easy scope to get along with and use.

I wouldn't go with the 114 myself, bit small and I think the mirror is spherical.

If the first of the above were within budget then I would suggest that, after that I suppose the dobsonian 150P if he has no objections to a fully manual set up that he has to "nudge" around the sky. The Evostar has less diameter but is a good all round easy scope to use.

[Cornelius Varley]

For £200 the best telescope you can get is probably this one http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html

A review of the Skywatcher Skyliner range can be seen here, the 150P is the first telescope to be reviewed

[Maxinerc]

There is the Skywatcher 150P on an EQ3-2 mount for £285, little over budget and the £285 variant will be a manual mount, but motors can be added later if required.

The dobsonians are the biggest option of mirror for price, you could get the 150P dobsonian for £198, then you could get an eyepiece as well.

That covers reflectors I suppose, in the refractors there are the Skywatcher Evostars. You could get the Evostar 90 on an EQ3-2 for £229. Easy scope to get along with and use.

I wouldn't go with the 114 myself, bit small and I think the mirror is spherical.

If the first of the above were within budget then I would suggest that, after that I suppose the dobsonian 150P if he has no objections to a fully manual set up that he has to "nudge" around the sky. The Evostar has less diameter but is a good all round easy scope to use.

Thank you Ronin, this is very helpful Can I ask what an EQ3-2 mount is? I think he would like it to be manual so he could work it out. It also sounds like you can buy extras to add as you get used it which is good. Is it reasonably easy to pack up and take somewhere? I don't know how it will fair given the light pollution near us. can I also just confirm the main difference between the two 150P you mention please? One is £285 and other £198 - is that because of the mount?

This is all very new to me so really appreciate your help

[Maxinerc]

For £200 the best telescope you can get is probably this one http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html

A review of the Skywatcher Skyliner range can be seen here, the 150P is the first telescope to be reviewed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDY8extsWH8

Thank you Cornelius I just Googled images and it looks very large. We have some light pollution here so not sure how it will fair in our back garden, therefore we may have to take it somewhere darker? It looks great though! Do Skywatcher do anything more portable?

[Cornelius Varley]

The £285 version has a more complex mount http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-150p-eq3-2.html. The Skywatcher Skyliner 150 has a simpler mount but also has a slightly longer focal length (1200mm vs 750mm) which will give a bit more magnification for a given eyepiece. Both telescopes will have the same maximum magnification. The 1200mm focal length version is also available with the same EQ3-2 equatorial mount  http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-150pl-eq3-2.html

[Cornelius Varley]

Thank you Cornelius I just Googled images and it looks very large. We have some light pollution here so not sure how it will fair in our back garden, therefore we may have to take it somewhere darker? It looks great though! Do Skywatcher do anything more portable?

This one is about as portable as you can get http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html. The tube collapses down to about half the length and is about 650mm long when extended.

[Dom1961]

Thank you Cornelius I just Googled images and it looks very large. We have some light pollution here so not sure how it will fair in our back garden, therefore we may have to take it somewhere darker? It looks great though! Do Skywatcher do anything more portable?

Depends how bad your light pollution is. At first I thought mine was really bad but when you get a telescope, there are still loads of things that you can see! Also +1 for a Dob as they are very easy to set up and use!

[Maxinerc]

Thank you everyone for your help the guys at first light were great too!

After much deliberation and many questions later I decided on the Skywatcher Explorer 130P (EQ-2), and purchased it this morning. I chose this one mainly because it is a bit more portable than a Dob and also because I think my husband John, would like to try and set it up himself. Let me know what you think if you have used one before? I think this is a good place to start and a Dob is definitely still high on the list, but maybe our next house!

I have learnt so much about telescopes over the past few days and think I might be more excited for John to open his gift then he might be! I will let you know how we get on

Thanks again and happy star gazing

[spaceman_spiff]

Hi, I am sure you and John will enjoy the scope! 

Also, look out for some beginners astro books such as Turn left at Orion and download some planetarium software. I use Stallarium, it's free, simple to use and comprehensive. This will help you and John get familiar with the night sky.

Clear skies! 

[brantuk]

The 130P EQ3-2 is a good choice for a first scope. The mirror is parabolic, it has a good finder scope, and the mount will support it very nicely. Do expect a little vibration for a second or two - but it will settle down reasonably quick enough for observing.

The diameter is enough to view many of the brighter objects - but obviously don't expect Hubble deep field views. You'll have fun with planets, nebulae, and  star clusters (open or closed), and there are many asterisms and doubles you can explore too.

EQ mounts seem weird at first when you haven't used one before - but it won't take long to master it to the point where setting up is only a 5 min job. Ensure it's roughly polar aligned before starting a session - makes tracking a lot easier.

Congratulations! and any more questions - you know where to come and ask.

[alexbb]

Hello,

I didn't read on this topic anything about collimation. You will also need a collimator for the newtonian telescope. You could get either a laser collimator which is easier to use (but it also might get decollimated too), either a cheshire collimator.

Best regards, clear skies and happy birthday to your husband,

Alex

[xtreemchaos]

+1 for a dob i think it would suit your needs and the 150p is easy to move about.clear skys..charl..