$100-300 telescope

[BoisBlancBoy]

Now since I'm so new to this I hope this is the correct question to ask. Is there a telescope in the above price range that would give me the ability to look, for example, at Saturns rings or moons of Jupiter? I know there is always better scopes for clearer images and so in and so forth. Just lookin for some good recommendations on what to look for. Thank you!

[Schorhr]

Hi there!

Sure thing, a 25$ telescope can Do that ;-) The Jupiter moons are even visible in small binoculars.

It depends on what you are expecting; A 76mm telescope will Show the rings of Saturn, but magnification is limited to around 140x, even on larger telescopes 200-250x is often the limit due to air turbulances / seeing.

Also the planets stand rather low or aren't visible at all most of the night right now.

IF you want a simple, portable entry level telescope, my personal favorite is the Heritage 130p plus two better eyepieces, as then it is also suitable for planetary observations as well as the smallest entry level telescope you should consider if you are interested in deep sky observations (galaxies, nebulae, star clusters...).

If you are on a tight budget, check for a 114-150mm newton, used.

If Planets are all you want to observe, a small Maksutov telescope could be great, as a 90 or 102mm fits well into a backpack.

If you can stretch your budget though and if youi can transport it to a dark location, check out a 6, better 8" dobsonian.

The dobsonians have a simple turn-table mount that's stable and leaves you more money for a larger telescope. Aperture is key for details and faint deepsky objects ;-)

A lot of times beginners are afraid they won't find objects without a computerized GoTo mount, but it's easy. Great books, free star charts, and freeware pc software and phone apps make objects easy to find, and leave you the benefit of success ;-)

The main problem with equatorial mounts (eq) is that the entry level telescope mounts are usualy the cheapest they can bundle wioth a telescope without having beginners complaining. Usualy the entry level sets are very shaky, some stores even sell large-ish 130mm telescopes with a relativley long focal length of 900mm on a simple eq2 mount, while this telescope barely holds a telescope half that long steadily.

Good luck choosing a telescope! Have fun with this exciting hobby.

[rowan46]

how portable do you need to be? If its to your back yard or to the car this is about the best you can get for the price

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT6-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/13/p/102004.uts

[BoisBlancBoy]

I can say for sure that I doubt I'll be transporting it anywhere. Where I live there is no light pollution. If I did transport it, it would only be a mile down the road. While you guys wrote these reponses I was looking at these:

Celestron AstroMaster 130 and 114, any thoughts on them?

[Schorhr]

I Don't Know what the 130 costs there, but if it's similar and if you can, go for a 8" dobsonian instead.

The focal Ratio will give you better views with cheap eyepieces, too.

[Watchman]

I have similar liquid asset problems lol, I am looking at getting a second hand Skywatcher Skyliner 200p dobsonion, pretty much totally on the advice of the people of this community, so far I see several around for about £150 to £200 mark which to you would be $230 to $300 so within your budget.

Youll get plenty of good advice here friend.

[Schorhr]

Drawings represent best on what to expect with a telescope.

Here some tips on drawing but they contain Images of typical telescope views, also the planets, and it's a good read too.

http://freescruz.com/~4cygni/8-h-haggis/observing/astro-drawings.htm

A lot of people are dissapointed on how small the planets, and faint most deepsky objects are. But a real dark location, practice, and mostly patience will reveal stunning detail. The first time I saw Jupiter through a telescope, I saw nothing but a sphere and it's moons. After 5 minutes my eyes adapted and I saw two. Bands, later even more.

Deepsky with 6, 8 and 12"

http://clarkvision.com/visastro/m51-apert/

Also note the different observation times and magnifications used. With 5" under good conditions and more time I've managed to see at least as much as the 6" view there.

Three deepsky objects with different aperture, best viewed with some distance to the Monitor for realistic "Simulation"

Translated http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&nv=1&rurl=translate.google.de&sl=de&tl=en&u=http://binoviewer.at/beobachtungspraxis/teleskopvergleich_deepsky.htm&usg=ALkJrhi10I9FA_U2y7yOXkDBy_rbldQgCg

[BoisBlancBoy]

Schorhr, those were some good articles. Thanks so far to all the reponses!

I'm just trying to learn all I can before I make a decision on if I should upgrade.

[Schorhr]

I hope you find a good telescope, perhaps a used one for a good price, as nothing beats aperture, especially for visual observation :-)

[rowan46]

Unfortunately skywatcher don't appear to sell their dobs in the usa except the flexitubes which are over your budget orion or zhumell would be your best bet I have already showed you the orion link heres the one to zhumell its a fair bit bigger than the 6" hence the increased cost http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/dobsonian-telescopes/zhumellz8deluxedobsonianreflectortelescope.cfm

[BoisBlancBoy]

Thanks for the recommendations! At least know I'm getting a handle on which one might suit my needs.

[Matt Scunthorpe]

I'm just trying to learn all I can before I make a decision on if I should upgrade.

To upgrade implies you already have a telescope?

[Schorhr]

( a 76/700 newton, )

[Torin]

Another vote for the Heritage 130p dob. Quick to setup, easy to steer and nice optics. You wouldn't be disappointed if you got it I'm sure, just search for threads on this forum about it and you'll find lots of others praising it too.

[LukeSkywatcher]

Another vote for the Heritage 130p dob. Quick to setup, easy to steer and nice optics. You wouldn't be disappointed if you got it I'm sure, just search for threads on this forum about it and you'll find lots of others praising it too.

I have to add my vote for the Heritage 130P.

Its a great all rounder starter scope for just over 100 squid.

[BoisBlancBoy]

Hey guys I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong but I can't seem to find the scope your taking about. The heritage 130p. Could you post a link so I can get a visual and description on what it's about?

[Schorhr]

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/heritage/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html

http://www.teleskop-express.de/shop/product_info.php/language/en/info/p2705_Skywatcher-Heritage-130P-FlexTube-Dobson---Parabol-Optik---ab-6J.html

Though if you can afford it, and Transport it, aim for a (used) 8", as that will Show much more (as shown in my Link earlier). But due to the compact dimensions, I use my h130p regulary.

As said in the other thread, the included eyepieces work, but 20-80€ will give you better Performance eyepiece (sharper then the included super eyepieces, higher magnification for planets and wide angle views)

[BoisBlancBoy]

I really like that 8" skywatcher. I just looked at Jupiter this morning with my scope and all I could see faintly was Ganymede and no details of the planet itself.

[rowan46]

The 130p isn't available in the usa as I said. Here seems to be their full us line up http://www.skywatcherusa.com/#

they may be available from canada and imported http://ca.skywatcher.com/index.php

[Schorhr]

I remember someone telling me in another thread that the h130p is sold by another company there without the heritage text design on the tube, but I forgot who it was.

[rowan46]

http://www.cloudynights.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Number/3940156

[BoisBlancBoy]

I was looking at this:

http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/dobsonian-telescopes/skywatcher8inchdobsoniantelescope1.cfm

[VigdisVZ]

I was looking at this:

http://www.telescope...ntelescope1.cfm

That is a very good scope.

[rowan46]

Seems a nice scope I haven.t seen an 8" flexitube over here but the design is well regarded on the larger scopes and the optics for the skywatcher are excellent if you can afford it it seems an excellent choice

[BoisBlancBoy]

Well originally my budget was $300, but for an extra $100 would really leap me up in quality from what I have been looking at. So why not!