Help and advice for a reflector beginner

[xarcane]

Hi Guys

Ok So I have done some research into which telescope I should invest in and it seems that a reflector is the way to go. I am interested in viewing deep space objects, galaxies (totally blow my mind!) and would also like to see some our own beautiful panets.

(Please correct me if i am wrong on buying reflector scope)

Sorry for asking the same old questions, but thanks in advance....Obviously I am a beginner at this and would like to know the following.

I have a budget of around £250 and would like to buy (if possible) a 'go to' reflector

1. Which one would you recommend?

2. Is ebay a good option or are there reasonably priced ones from retailers instead

3. Any other advice for a man with a budget of £250 (maybe i am going about this all wrong with my idea of a 'go to' reflector)

thanks guys

xarcane

[JamesF]

I think you'll have to look at second hand kit for a GOTO scope of any sort in that budget and even then you might struggle. Ebay probably isn't the place to buy unless you know exactly what you're after. There's an awful lot of tat and decent kit often goes for far more than a sensible person would pay.

If you can live without the GOTO I think you'd have a few more options.

James

[Matt Scunthorpe]

1. Which one would you recommend?

a goto on a £250 budget may be tricky, but this is close if you can save a little bit more, others may know of other brands that will fit the goto budget.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/az-goto/skywatcher-explorer-130p-synscan-az-goto.html

2. Is ebay a good option or are there reasonably priced ones from retailers instead

Personally i would stay with a retailer such as FLO or Harrisons, you know what your getting is new and not a dodgy seller. With a reflector, you will need a Cheshire collimator for collimation too. They are around £25

[Matt Scunthorpe]

Going on my last post also, (cant edit it anymore) if you can live without the goto, which i and alot of others do, (the thrill is in the chase ) and can save another £50 you can afford this

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

[xarcane]

Ok Thats what i am thinking more and more, No 'Go to' for my price seems more sensible. Also you are right thrill is in the chase, and I will learn a lot more too finding my own way around!

thanks for the great advice guys.

[umadog]

Get a Dobsonian! Ideal for DSOs and the largest aperture for your money. Finding your way around the sky isn't very hard and is rewarding. If you look second hand your money will stretch further. Probably best to avoid eBay: there's a stream of dodgy stuff on there. Look on astro buy sell, accumulate 50 posts and (IIRC) 2 months on SGL and you have access to the classifieds on here. Join a local club: they will have scopes you can look through, maybe scopes you can rent, and certainly lots of good advice. Good luck!

[Qualia]

Evidently, you'll be able to hunt down cheaper telescopes and good bargains on the second hand market, but, as you'll appreciate, that could come with some risk. Potentially, places like ebay will have many poor quality scopes for sale, so you will need to know what you are looking for and you will need to ask the right questions. Expressions like 'top quality' or 'excellent condition' or 'unmarked' can be interpreted in different ways, so unless you can see the equipment in person and check it over youself, ultimately you're relying on only the seller's word which isn't such a favourable position to be in.

It is for this reason, I'd suggest that you buy your first set up from a specialist telescope shop that can provide advice and ongoing maintenance – not from ebay or some supermarket or photographic store where the staff have no knowledge of what they are selling. Of course, SGL can help a lot, you can keep asking questions, enquirying as new thoughts crop up and after a while - as Umadog has suggested - you'll have access to the classified section.

When looking around at your new potential purchase, the general precept is that aperture rules and so you'll find that if a beginner asks 'what should I buy?' 95% of those answers are always going to suggest the biggest Newtonian (reflector) you can afford and carry about, and more than likely a Newt which is Dob mounted rather than Gem mounted, simply because the former mounts are probably easy to use and set up and are cheaper. Have a look at First Light Optics and check out the telescopes offered by Skywatcher. They get cracking reviews and many fit within your price range.

[DarkerSky]

As others have said, a dobsonian without goto is likely to be your best option. A 150mm or 200mm dob might come in under budget. Go for a respected brand - Skywatcher, Orion Optics.

[Capricorn]

Reality is a terriable thing.

Reflector: Probably the smallest for what you want is the 150P in one form or another.

The goto is the problem, even a 150P on the EQ3 mount is £560 from FLO.

The same scope on a basic EQ3 is £290.

You could add either a goto or just dual motors to the mount at a later time, although that can be somewhat more costly by the end.

Why a goto reflector out of interest?

Only ask as it seems fairly specific.

Possibly purchase a used item could be considered although you would have to wait for one to appear, possibly a wanted ad ?

Astro but and sell do not seem to have anything even close at this time.

You will have to rethink either budget or equipment level

A 130P goto is £290 however for DSO's aperture is one of the leading requirtements, if you staart with 130 you will want 150 or 200 within a couple of months.

All newtonian reflectors will require collimation, whether they are on an equitorial mount or a dobsonian mount, so budget for a tool, around £30, then you will want more eyepieces so budget 2 more at say £40 each. Buying a scope is just the start.

[swamp thing]

Hi

You say your interested in deep sky and Galaxies. Well for galaxy observing you need two things:

1/ A good dark sky site, without this it's pretty much a non starter. Whilst nebulae can be helped by various filters galaxies can't. You must have a good dark sky site, be prepared to travel to one, or you will be disappointed.

2/ Aperture. Put simply the bigger your scope the more you will see. For galaxy observing you must put your money into optics. You do not need Goto for galaxy observing as (a) You're already at a dark sky site with plenty of stars to navigate your star hops from ( or you should be as described in point 1 ). (Ь) It would mean that you are putting money into something that's compromising aperture and that means your actually going to see less.

Have a look through the observing section at what most Galaxy observers are using, mainly big manual scopes, as these give the best results for your investment.

Most galaxy observing is done at low to medium power where having even a tracking mount is not needed.

One last point, NEVER substitute aperture for a dark sky site when hunting for Galaxies. Dark skies are far more important. Better to take an 8" scope to an ink black sky than use a 16" from the centre of a LP city. Skies come first, then aperture.

[xarcane]

Reality is a terriable thing.

Reflector: Probably the smallest for what you want is the 150P in one form or another.

The goto is the problem, even a 150P on the EQ3 mount is £560 from FLO.

The same scope on a basic EQ3 is £290.

You could add either a goto or just dual motors to the mount at a later time, although that can be somewhat more costly by the end.

Why a goto reflector out of interest?

Only ask as it seems fairly specific.

Possibly purchase a used item could be considered although you would have to wait for one to appear, possibly a wanted ad ?

Astro but and sell do not seem to have anything even close at this time.

You will have to rethink either budget or equipment level

A 130P goto is £290 however for DSO's aperture is one of the leading requirtements, if you staart with 130 you will want 150 or 200 within a couple of months.

All newtonian reflectors will require collimation, whether they are on an equitorial mount or a dobsonian mount, so budget for a tool, around £30, then you will want more eyepieces so budget 2 more at say £40 each. Buying a scope is just the start.

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the advice, and it seems that I won’t get a 'Go to' just yet as i want more for my money. I have also come to realise that finding my way round the night sky will be more fun if I do it myself!

The main reason for a 'Go to' was my school of thinking that if I had a 'Go to' then i could do one of two things.

1. nip out for the a quick few hours and hone in on certain objects immediately

2. When i do try to find my away round myself I can just use the 'Go to' if I get lost or frustrated!

on reflection (lol a little joke!) I will do without the 'Go to' element and be more adventurous and confident in my abilities

[xarcane]

(reposted due to tiny font !)

Hi Guys

Thanks for all the advice, and it seems that I won’t get a 'Go to' just yet as i want more for my money. I have also come to realise that finding my way round the night sky will be more fun if I do it myself!

The main reason for a 'Go to' was my school of thinking that if I had a 'Go to' then i could do one of two things.

1. nip out for the a quick few hours and hone in on certain objects immediately

2. When i do try to find my away round myself I can just use the 'Go to' if I get lost or frustrated!

on reflection (lol a little joke!) I will do without the 'Go to' element and be more adventurous and confident in my abilities