Which scopes did you buy the very first time?

[spaceboy]

TAL 200K on an EQ5

[faulksy]

my first scope was 15mm yes 15mm telescopic refractor that my dad bought me out of the mirror news paper you could fit it in your pocket i was about 7 at the time could just see the moon with it

[assasincz]

My very first scope was a second-hand Bresser toy refractor like this one, except with wooden tripod.

http://www.pulsar-optical.co.uk/images/products/large/acturus%2060%2012%20sq.jpg

In retrospect, it was utterly useless, wobbly and poor quality but it was "the first" and that is the point. Traded it later ofr a HDD for my computer and regreted it ever since.

[estwing]

my first scope is my only scope

[Russe]

When and where did you obtain a telementor or?

[chunky]

i got the 8inch 200p skywatcher/skyliner. my 1st and only scope. proberlly upgrade in a couple of years to the 12 inch

[AstroTux]

mine was a 72mm tasco refractor from dixons when i was 17 that was 35 years ago i still remember the first views of the moon, saturn, jupiter, and i saw mars aswell ah ther were the days...

You and me both....

I remember the days when I used to project an image of the sun through mine onto a piece of paper so that I could record sunspots. In those days I didn't know you could damage a 'scope by doing this. Mind you the 'scope never seemed to complain and it went on to serve my well for some time until I moved to college and lost sight of it. I think my dad gave it away to someone in our street.

[estwing]

telementor was bought about 89 from a closing down shop in stoke

[Catanonia]

Skywatcher ED80 Pro Gold.... i researched on SGL 1st

Then, Skywatcher ED120 Diamond Pro (sold), followed by a WO 66, then a MN190 ( now sold) and a Boren PowerNewt copy.

[glowjet]

First scope ever, cardboard carpet tubes, s/h 3" objective and a brass naval eyepiece, our small group had hours of enjoyment using that, happy days of a long long time ago

[gfletcher]

My very first scope for astro use was a Charles Frank 40mm refractor in what i can only describe as a cardboard tube .

Mind you, this was probably circa 1964

Did any of you ever own one ?

Graham

[jonathan]

I splurged on a Celestron 8SE on Goto mount. I don't regret it as it gave me some great views as a first scope, and with a few really good diagonal and eyepiece upgrades it just got better and better, but the mount arm vibrations, power plug temperamentality, and difficult to read Goto scrolling text (when it is -5 outside anyway) made me hanker for something better.... like an NEQ6! But then my battery died from over-discharging, dammit.

[AndyH]

The first scope that I bought, with my own dosh, was a Tal 2M.

Best decision I ever made. Whilst I haven't used the ota in a long time, the mount is still used to carry any of my other scopes. Does so with ease. Quite brilliant.

Would I do it differently, if I had to do it again? Nope. Not a chance. I can see me going to the grave with it.

[rory]

One Man & His Telescope

Please note, the above blog is TOTALLY tongue in cheek.

very funny, thanks for that,made me chuckle.

...my first is my current. astromaster 90 e/q. bought it on two points

1/ wanted a refracor as the thought of collimation filled me with dread.

2/ i read the glass/lens and views were very good for the money . less than £115. which i have to say ive been happy with.

lack of finder and proper eyepieces were only drawbacks.

[pritc]

My first scope was a Bresser Arcturus 60mm Refractor

[George Jones]

The first telescope I bought was a NexStar 8SE two years ago. My mother gave me a 50mm Tasco for Chrstmas when I was nine, which promptly broke. I used 10x50 and 15x70 bins for three decades before I bought my 8SE.

[George Jones]

But then my battery died from over-discharging, dammit.

My battery died as well. Then I got new job and made a 4000 km move. Finally replaced the powertank yesterday. After months and months of non-observing, forecast is for clouds for the next several days.

[bish]

A 60mm refractor. It had one eyepiece which had a like a click stop zoom (I think x25, 50 and x75 or something). No finderscope. I had no star maps either so only ever looked at the moon, Venus and Saturn.

[swamp thing]

The first scope I bought myself was a Tasco 4.5" reflector.

I had it for many years , before giving it away to a friend, who still uses it from great dark skies in northern Denmark.

[jonathan]

My battery died as well. Then I got new job and made a 4000 km move. Finally replaced the powertank yesterday. After months and months of non-observing, forecast is for clouds for the next several days.

Maplins are doing their 5-in-1 Starter battery for £39.99 at the moment, I might get one just until I can sort out an AGM battery (which is taking longer than expected - no stock at the suppliers).

[jasonbirder]

Second hand Skywatcher 200P on a home made Dob mount...

Looking forward to getting Christmas out the way so I can invest in some decent eyepieces and a more stable mount for it...

[RT65CB-SWL]

My first scope was a Tasco 40mm refractor (40x) over thirty years ago - the first time I saw Saturn and Mizar & Alcor with it, I caught the "wow!" bug and aperture fever.

[Stephen]

200P Dob, should be compulsory for all new astronomers I think

[Dave-Ryan]

My first was a 10" LX200gps which I still own.

[661-pete]

I don't know whether it counts, but my first-ever 'scope' was a 4" 'Newtonian' in kit form bought by my Dad for my birthday, back in the 1960s. Can't remember the make, but it consisted of cardboard tube, spherical primary , secondary which had to be glued onto a bit of wooden dowel (forget collimation!); mount made out of pieces of chipboard and more dowelling, which I had to assemble myself. I should explain that finances were tight...

Can anyone identify it from my description? All I will say is, it did work - more or less - to the extent that I could see more stars in it than I could in my Dad's binoculars. Also I could split Albireo and Mizar (just!). Which was quite a 'wow!' factor for me, in those days...