Fool proof scope

[Sparks]

Hi peoples, I'm after a fool proof telescope, something computerised I can set down, sets itself up and I can type in what I want to see and it finds it and tracks it, if I can attach my Nikon DSLR camera then that's a bonus, I want to be able to see saturn/Jupiter and I have about £400 to spend. What would you recommend?

Thanks for your time

Mike

[Caldwell14]

There is nothing fool proof about goto, quiet the contrary, there's plenty to go wrong. Fool proof means AZ3/4/Giro/dob base. You can then decide on reflector v refractor.

[Caldwell14]

There is nothing fool proof about goto, quiet the contrary, there's plenty to go wrong. Fool proof means AZ3/4/Giro/dob base. You can then decide on reflector v refractor.

Imaging other than using a web cam is not really possible on your budget I am afraid.., even adding an extra grand is pushing it.

[Sparks]

So something like this... http://bit.ly/1fipHQG is just pants then? See I brought a sky watcher 13 with an EQ2 mount and it's just wayyyy to complicated for me, I've got no idea how it works, saw the moon through it for 5 seconds once, but I just get really frustrated with it lol it's just I go outside to have a cigarette at night an look at the stars an thought 'hey I should get a telescope so I can look at planets while I have a fag' I don't want to get a degree in physics and spend a day setting up everytime I want to use it

[John]

Nothing wrong with the scope, though it's less expensive here:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/slt-series/celestron-nexstar-130-slt.html

In truth though there is some complexity with GOTO scopes in that they need to be setup and have initial alignment donw with some care to enable the computer in the mount to know where it's pointing and then to be able to point accurately at other objects, and ot track them. 

The simplest to use scopes, in my view, are those mounted on undriven alt-azimuth mounts where you basically plonk the scope down, point it and look through it. The catch is that you need to know where in the sky the object you want to look at is and you need to do the tracking yourself by gently nudging the scope.

Here are a couple of examples of the above scopes:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/evostar/skywatcher-evostar-90-az3.html

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html

If you want a scope that will find the object for you and track it, it will cost more and you need to invest some time in setting it up at the start of each session. It's just a routine but it can be more complicated than folks anticipate, hence the caution in some replies I think.

[ronin]

Only scope I have met that does that is the Meade LS6 and LS8.

If you add about £1200 then you will have about enough money.

Cannot sensibly attach a DSLR to one.

[carastro]

Only scope I have met that does that is the Meade LS6 and LS8.

If you add about £1200 then you will have about enough money.

Agree with that, as far as I know it's the only scope that will do what you want.

Otherwise all mounts need putting in the right position, levelling and an alignment procedure at the very least, and won't fit your budget.  

Carole 

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Whilst nothing is fool-proof for a sufficiently talented fool, aligning a goto mount is not rocket science. You do need to know one or two bright stars in the sky, and you do need to set date, time and location correctly, and you do need some patience while the mount sorts itself out.

I do agree that the simplest scopes have least things that can go wrong, so I would certainly explore that option. Jupiter and Saturn are so bright, they are quite easy to find (especially if you get Stellarium, which is free software). You do not need a goto mount for them. A half-decent finder scope will do.

A pair of binoculars is of course the very simplest way of observing, and a good way to learn your way around the sky.

[RichM63]

I consider my 150/750 NEQ-3 to be virtually fool proof for a quick have a fag + gawp at the sky.

To avoid long or complicated setup times.

Firstly,

1, I chose a certain location in the courtyard.

2, Found North with Compass and pointed N on the tripod at it (slightly offset to the right).

3, Spent time levelling and polar aligning. (and then leave the tripod set in this way when you take it back indoors).

4, Marked the positions of the tripod feet on the ground.

Now when I want to have a quick unplanned session, I can simply take the kit outside, plonk it down on the marks, allow some cooling time (required for any scope) and away I go.

Of course, in this manner I am not imaging nor am I really making planned observations but simply enjoying a stolen moment.

Yes I have to tweak both RA/DEC controls because the alignement is not spot on, but it is good enough for this type of viewing and very easy to hit on things like Jupiter, the moon, Orion nebula, Andromeda etc.

You might note that I have also motorized the NEQ-3 + added AstroEQ with EQMOD and am also motorizing the EQ5, but the motors etc will only be used when I have a planned long session, not a quick fix session.

We have very similar skies so you should be able to get some great quick sessions non GOTO.

Attaching a DSLR is going to require a much beefier mount that will more than eat your total budget.

Best of luck,

Rich

[ollypenrice]

Some manufacturers have all but bankrupted themselves trying to make an 'instant gratification' scope. Once you add all the electronics needed to make it do all the finding and tracking you have simply transferred the complication to the management of these gadgets. You've also diverted most of the budget away from the bit that matters, the optics. You don't need a degree in physics to enjoy a casual stargaze but it isn't like watching telly. It does require a bit of input.

Reflectors need adjusting so I'd go for a widefield refractor on a manual alt azimuth mount and a set of star charts (or the free software Stellarium which maps the sky.) These are absurdly cheap and while not the Rolls Royce of scopes and mounts you really can't make it more painless than this.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/startravel/skywatcher-startravel-120-az3.html

Astrophotography is absolutley not about attaching a camera and pressing the button. Something like this took 20 hours of exposure and almost two days processing. The equipment (not mine this time) cost about three times the price of my small car new. http://ollypenrice.smugmug.com/Other/Best-of-Les-Granges/i-Sc3kgzc/0/O/M51%20DEC%20VERSION%20clip.jpg

Olly

Edit, have you considered binoculars? Most of us have them and worship them for casual sky cruising. A nice pair of 8x42 are easy to hold and very bright. They can be had at almost no expense whatever (eg three packets of cigarettes) but something like this will give a lovely view. http://www.firstlightoptics.com/helios/helios-naturesport-plus-8x40-wa.html

[happy-kat]

Reading the above by the time you sort out the scope you will have finished your habit and will be back inside.

[Tinker1947]

Get some Binoculars, they hang round your neck and you point them at anything you like, nothing to big as there get heavy, try holding a bag of sugar up to eyes for a couple of minutes, something like these will be good....

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/barr-stroud-binoculars/barr-stroud-savannah-56mm.html

[Langy]

I think as said nothing is going to be full proof. By the sounds of things you want something that you can just walk outside with and point to certain objects straight away. The only way I would have thought that possible would be if you had an observatory where the scope is already setup.

As mentioned the binoculars are a great option. I've bought the set as below which several people on here have and they are at times better viewing than the telescope. Far quicker and easier to use and even under LP you would be amazed how much more you can see.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Olympus-Trooper-8x40-DPS-1-Prorro-Prism-Binoculars-NEW-/171197071671?pt=UK_Photography_Binoculars_Monoculars&hash=item27dc240137

[Toymaster]

Hi peoples, I'm after a fool proof telescope, something computerised I can set down, sets itself up and I can type in what I want to see and it finds it and tracks it, if I can attach my Nikon DSLR camera then that's a bonus, I want to be able to see saturn/Jupiter and I have about £400 to spend. What would you recommend?

Thanks for your time

Mike

I would like one of those but not sure they exist for that budget as my more expensive GoTo still needs some tweeking and if you get the initial settings slightly wrong then you have to start again.

Here' Hoping...

Ade

[MND]

Olly that image is stunning, you said it wasnt, yours and I wouldnt be surprised if it was the hubble.......

[Sparks]

Thanks for the in-depth replies guys, I'll have a proper read later on, but after a quick scan through and having a read of the manuals that came with the scope I'd think I'd be best to get a simpler mount that I can just point and off I go, is it possible to do that with this scope?

http://bit.ly/1gkB9fl

[John]

Thanks for the in-depth replies guys, I'll have a proper read later on, but after a quick scan through and having a read of the manuals that came with the scope I'd think I'd be best to get a simpler mount that I can just point and off I go, is it possible to do that with this scope?

http://bit.ly/1gkB9fl

Thats the scope you currently have isn't it ?

They are not too complicated to use. You have some initial 1-off setup to do such as setting the mount to match your latitude and aligning the finder scope with the main scope.Both are easy and take about 20 minutes and can be done in daylight.

To actually use it you stand it with the tripod leg that usually has a "N" on it pointing toward North or the Pole Star, unlock the two axis of the mount, move the scope around those two axis (that takes a little getting used to) until it points where you want, add an eyepiece and look through it.

It has some more features than that but basically thats all thats needed just to see something. You do need to know where the object is to point the scope at though as it's not a GOTO mount.

[nicks90]

what about the celestron sky prodigy series - first light optics have a sale on the 130mm version at the moment - http://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-skyprodigy/celestron-skyprodigy-130.html

dont know if they are as foolproof as the blurb says, but its an option and in budget (for now).

[Sparks]

Ah see now I've done none of that, other then line up the red dot sight, I've had trouble getting my head round all the latitude settings but the way you say it makes it sound much much simpler then the manual makes it sound lol I'll have a go again later.

[Sparks]

what about the celestron sky prodigy series - first light optics have a sale on the 130mm version at the moment - http://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-skyprodigy/celestron-skyprodigy-130.html

dont know if they are as foolproof as the blurb says, but its an option and in budget (for now).

See now that sounds badass, but does it actually do what it says on the tin I wonder?

[Langy]

Ah see now I've done none of that, other then line up the red dot sight, I've had trouble getting my head round all the latitude settings but the way you say it makes it sound much much simpler then the manual makes it sound lol I'll have a go again later.

OK here are a couple of videos that will help you enormously.

Polar Alignment - For general visual purposes you can do this roughly the first time and when you take the scope out next time make sure that it roughly points to Polaris and all will work well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdkB5NCnFps

Actually using the EQ mount, takes a little getting used to but after a couple of sessions it becomes second nature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7HVDKAZ6eM

[ollypenrice]

Olly that image is stunning, you said it wasnt, yours and I wouldnt be surprised if it was the hubble.......

No, it is Yve's (below) but it lived with me for two years.

However, I love a nice simple alt az refractor and have one always at the ready.

Olly

[GuillermoBarrancos]

Something like this is also easy to setup. Refractors like these are pretty much fool proof and don´t require colimating, like a reflector:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/evostar/skywatcher-evostar-102-eq3-2.html

EQ Mounts aren´t that difficult to setup. Set the correct latitude once for Your location, have a Compass and point it North in home position and you´re set to go!

The evostar is a bit better than the startravel, as the chromatic aberation is better controlled with the longer focal length of the Evostar.

You can get this With an Alt-Az Mount, but then it will be around 500 pounds:

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/evostar/skywatcher-evostar-120-ota.html

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/vixen-mounts/vixen-porta-ii-mount.html

Fantastic combination tho.  (and perhaps FLO can give you a package deal. Always worth to give a call)

[John]

You have a decent scope right now which, with a little learning and practice, will show you views that rival most of the other scopes that have been suggested here and for £0 additional cash investment !

[GuillermoBarrancos]

Hmm ok I didnt notice he already has a scope. Can't see sig's either as Im mobile currently.