New and after a little advice

[_simon_]

Hi guys,

So in the summer of last year I got myself some Skymaster Celestron 15x70 binoculars and a tripod to give me a taste of this astronomy m'larky. Now I'd like to upgrade and get my first telescope but without spending hundreds or thousands of pounds.

I've been having a browse today and ended up at a Celestron Astromaster 130EQ.

http://www.celestron.com/astronomy/telescopes/celestron-astromaster-130eq.html

So my first question is.... is this a decent telescope for around the £130+ mark?

My send question is that i've seen people saying not to buy from the likes of Amazon and to get from a specialist store but I don't know why this is? That telescope via Amazon is £129.52. From camera/telescope stores it's £20 - £30 more.

Any help greatly appreciated

Edit: Just noticed how well reviewed the Skywatcher Skyliner 200P Dobsonian is, perhaps I would be better saving up for this?

[Capricorn]

My main concern is that the scope does not state or imply Parabolic on it in any of the write ups I can locate.

Equally I think I read somewhere that all Celestrons were parabolic.

If it is not parabolic and it is stated as f/5 then the image will not be good.

Unless I see Parabolic then personally I would avoid it.

The reason to buy from an astro retailer is that most are very good and if you explain what you want and the budget will come up with something sensible that is decent.

I would suggest the extra on something like the Skywatcher 130P (Parabolic) in one of its forms. Although I do not see a Dobsonian form.

Skywatcher and Celestron are now both produced and owned by Synta so the 2 offerings are usually the same or very similar.

I have tended to know what I want so have not asked a retailer but many have spoken with FLO and received good advice.

The other aspect is if a part of the scope fails a retailer will be able to sort out that item, Amazon either will not, cannot not or will need to exchange the scope meaning you have to return it.

[Capricorn]

The 200P is good and will show a great deal, it is now almost the "standard" sized reflector.

If you are definitly going to do astronomy then get the 200P, if you are not sure and this a tester then try the Skyliner 150P. Good starter scope and reasonable size. The cost is about £80 less then the 200P.

Also check out the size of a 200P, some find them a little large for their situation. If you need to transport them to elswhere this needs considering.

[_simon_]

Does the 200P come with a tripod or is that an extra and if so is there a recommended tripod?

[Catweazel]

Does the 200P come with a tripod or is that an extra and if so is there a recommended tripod?

Hi Simon, Welcome to the forum.

I have been looking at these scopes myself, and they come either on a Dobsonian mount, which is a wooden cradle type mount and the cheapest way to buy the scope & mount, or you can go for a tripod and EQ mount, probably an EQ5 for the 200p, which is more expensive. many people seem to love the Dobsonians, but I don't have one so can't comment.

CW

[_simon_]

Cheers I'm still very much a casual novice so I'll go for the 200P as it is and see how I get on.