First Telescope

[Brock]

Hi, I intend to start star gazing shortly when I retire, I have a limited budget of around £200 what would you advise me to buy. I have no experience. Sorry if you have this question before.

Regards

Brock

[Astro Imp]

Welcome to SGL.

For your budget you will be hard pressed to better the Skywatcher 150P:- http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html

This is an excellent scope to introduce you to the delights of observing and will be excellent for planetary and luna viewing and will also be able to show you plenty of deep sky objects (DSOs) depending on your skies.

HTH and good luck.

[Mikea]

I think I would agree with Astro Imp. You want to maximise spend on the optics, not fancy mounts or electronics. Good luck, let us know what you go for.

[Dave Lloyd]

Hi and welcome Brock. As imp and Mike say, if you're purely observing you won't go far wrong with that set up.

[Alan64]

Hello Brock, and welcome,

If you plan on imaging in future with a camera, but hopefully never to the exclusion of live observations with eyepieces, then this kit would serve as a basic introduction, and tutor even, into the workings of an equatorial mount, and a mount necessary for astrophotography...

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-130p.html

At f/5, the 130mm Newtonian would be quite versatile; for low-powered and wider fields-of-view when observing deep space vistas, and for lunar and planetary observations and the higher magnifications associated therewith, with aid of a simple barlow.