newbie here! looking for some advice. :D

[brad1987]

Hey guys, first of all i just want to say hi to everyone! My name is Brad, i am 21 years old and i am currently at university in Wales. Recently i have started to become extremely interested in astronomy and our universe

I really am a begginer in terms of my knowledge, apart from documentaries and online articles, i don't know an awful lot, but i am beggining to learn.

So basically i have a few questions for you guys, i hope you can help!

Firstly i am considering purchasing my very own telescope and would like some advice on what to buy. I have read a few times, a good pair of binoculars is a good place to start, but i'm a student, and soon enough i wont have any money at all, so i figured buying a good scope whilst i can is the best bet.

My budget is around £250-300, i have read up on some basic scope specifications and to be honest i do get a little confused, i understand a refractor will provide more detailed image than a reflector but for a larger price? so i was wondering if you guys could explain or show me some good information about telescope specifications, and following that possibly some good telescope reccomendations for my price range!

I am interested in many aspects of space, but i am afraid i would need a much more expensive scope to view things on a larger range. For example looking at distant galaxies and nebular, would i need an extremely powerful scope to be able to do this?

I will definatly take a better look around this forum and see if i can pick up any extra information but any advice in general would be great guys.

Cheers, thanks.

[John]

Hi Brad - welcome to SGL

Binoculars are a great place to start, especially if you are unsure about the depth of your interest in the hobby as the investment is low and they can be used for other things of course.

If you are sure that you want to take the plunge and get a telescope there are a few basic things you need to consider:

- Your budget (which you have indicated)

- Portability - how important is this to you now and in the future (eg: at Uni ?) ?

- With the exception of the moon, the views through a scope are not like the lovely pictures you see - you can see nebulae and galaxies through quite small scopes but they will mostly look like very pale grey smudges of light - it's important that you have realistic expectations in this respect to avoid dissapointment.

- Are you prepared to put some time into finding objects to look at yourself (with the help of a guide of course) or do you want a computerised mount (known as a GOTO) to find objects for you ?.

That said there are a number of good scope choices available within your budget. My usual advice is to avoid the GOTO mount because, at that price, most of the money will go into the mount rather than the optics.

There is a difference in the views provided by refractors and reflectors but both are excellent in their own ways. Your money will buy more aperture (the size of the main lens or mirror) in a reflector and the saying goes "aperture is king" - you want as much of that as possible withing the constraints of your budget / portability / other requirements.

I'm sure more advice will follow soon

John

[Doc]

Hi Brad.

John has covered most of the important points.

As you are living at Uni, I persume you will have to carry the scope a fair distance from your dorm to a site for you to set up so portability will be a big issue.

If you are physicallly fit I personally would go for a Skywatcher Skyliner 200P Dobsonian you should be able to carry it in two parts and at 8" aperture you will see a heck of alot.

Have a look at First Light Optics see logo above they sponser this forum and have a great range of scopes in your price range.

If you buy from FLO's you know you are buying a good scope n ot one of the Argos/Supermarket ones, these are best avoided.

[John]

If you buy from FLO's you know you are buying a good scope n ot one of the Argos/Supermarket ones, these are best avoided.

Good advice Doc !

I'd add e.bay to the list where not to buy - there are some good scopes on there but also lots of not so good ones - and unless you know what you are looking for it's a real minefield !.

I second the advice re: First Light Optics (I've no personal interest other than being an happy customer).

John

[brad1987]

Hey guys! thanks for the quick replies.

In reference to some of the advice, i definatly do not want a GOTO, as a friend wisely advised, putting the effort in is half the fun, and i asume much more rewarding.

As for portability, hmm i never thought about it too much, i mean i could always get driven to a location but i guess i am in good enough condition to carry a big scope, arnt all we students? Is it important to find a really good location? I mean is light pollution a problem at all. Out of curiosity where do you guys set up? Do you have hot spots etc.

Are telescopes easy to move in terms of detaching things? I'd be more worried about getting mugged or something whilst walking down the street wuith a telescope lol.

[philf]

In terms of light polution - thonk of it this way - how easy is it to see things if someone is shining a light in your eye ?

Stars and objects are measured in terms of their magnitude - Your eyes, in on a totally dak site, can see doewn to magnitude 6 - a telescope gathers more light and so you can see dimmer objects, down to magnitude 12, say.

In a light polluted area, like a typical city centre, you can expect to see only down to around magnitude 3. The difference between 3 and 6 is a multiplication factor of around 10 - so in a light polluted sky expect tp see around a 10th of the objects you can see from a dark site ! You'll see more with a telescope but there will be the same effect - you will see les sin a light polluted area than in a dark area.

Phil

[almach]

When I was in the same boat as you i went for a 6" dobsonian i.e the option without the GOTO. I am happy with that decision but it is worth noting that it isn't trivial to find things in the sky, but gets easier with practice. Secondly, with respect to portability - they are not light! I wouldn't want to carry mine more than a few hundred yards and the the Skywatcher Skyliner 200P that you have been recommended is bigger than mine. You're going to want to find somewhere pretty close to use it or get a car.

Whatever you choose to get, enjoy!!

[Doc]

You really have to see one of these in the flesh so to speak as they are a lot bigger than people think they are.

[roscoe]

ive recently gone through exactly the same stage as you.i soon realized to obtain the real beginners stage of astronomy you are looking at spending a grand on second hand quailty equipement,to bypass the high street rubbish,and not waste your money.i would suggest getting a really good set of astro binoculars that you can carry round,as the other thing you need is a good place in the country where you can set up a couple of steps from your house or you ll need to keep driving out to locations,once or twice youll do it,but then it can be a performance if your doing it 2-3 times a week,and all the setting up and travel,packing and unpacking,will really ruin it.binoculars are portable,you can learn and see alot more than youde think,then join a club,go to some outdoor meetings and there ll be alot of people too happy to let you look through there equipement,which you can compare to your needs,transportation abilities and cost.you ll learn exactly what you need without wasting money or being mugged.

[TheThing]

I realise the advice offered here is to help, but please read brad1987's original post. He has specifically said why he doesn't want binoculars.

If you're starting out and on a budget, you really cannot do much better than the Skywatcher 130pm. A decent size (5.1") Netonian reflector on a pretty good mount. The addition of a motor drive means that you can track objects for longer.

People slate the EPs that come with the 130, but they really aren't that bad. In addition, you'll have some left over from your budget to buy some extra EPs, a copy of Turn Left at Orion (ESSENTIAL!), a planisphere or good sky chart (Sky and Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas is well recommended), a moon filter, red light and a decent wooly hat.

Many people here started out with the 130 (me included), so it is well endorsed. It gets Sir Patrick's seal too, so it can't be wrong. It's not too large to be unweildy and will give you cracking views of the moon, planets and DSOs as well.

[kniclander]

ive recently gone through exactly the same stage as you.i soon realized to obtain the real beginners stage of astronomy you are looking at spending a grand on second hand quailty equipement,to bypass the high street rubbish,and not waste your money.i would suggest getting a really good set of astro binoculars that you can carry round,as the other thing you need is a good place in the country where you can set up a couple of steps from your house or you ll need to keep driving out to locations,once or twice youll do it,but then it can be a performance if your doing it 2-3 times a week,and all the setting up and travel,packing and unpacking,will really ruin it.binoculars are portable,you can learn and see alot more than youde think,then join a club,go to some outdoor meetings and there ll be alot of people too happy to let you look through there equipement,which you can compare to your needs,transportation abilities and cost.you ll learn exactly what you need without wasting money or being mugged.

I'm sorry but that is misleading. As the Thing says you can get a small newt on a driven eq mount for a couple of hundred quid or an 8 inch dob. Both are fantastic scopes for beginners (and non-beginners) although my vote would go to the dob because.....APERTURE IS KING.

don't be put off by snobish comments about cheap scopes being c**P - I 've seen galaxies 50 million plus light years away in my 6inch dob - how c**p is that??

ps a "really good set of astro binoculars" will cost a LOT more than a scope cos it's two scopes with lots of fiddly extra bits of glass.

All IMHO of course

[Tiny]

I'd go for the 130pm. A heck of a lot of people have had this as their first scope. It is a complete kit with everything you need. The whole thing is portable weighing 30lbs and it gives you an amazing amount for your money. Some never buy another scope , others take other roads. But as a starter this scope has all the nobs and whistles. l

[brad1987]

wow, hey thanks for the replies guys, all of which are welcome.

I wonder how could i attend or find out about meetings? I have taken a look at the star parties board, is this where you guys organise meets or is it something bit more oraganised/specialist.

I took a look at the skywatcher 130pm, and the information looks real good for the price, a lot cheaper than i expected for everyone to give it such a good review. But i wonder would say for instance the skywatcher 200p dobsonian or even the 150 be a large difference in terms of quality/distance? I mean the 200p is another £100 than the 130pm but are we talking a major significance? I would to test these out lol!

i wonder are there any telescopes open to the public, free or for fees, i'm talking about the large professional scopes.

anyway thanks so far guys, real help

[Meerkat]

What do people think about the Skywatcher Mak 127 ?

Steve

[glowjet]

Hi Brad,

A wealth of advise already, apart from star parties, your best bet is to contact your nearest Astronomy Society who may have an observatory and a selection of members scopes to use. Does not your uni have an astronomy club? a bit of research in your area may pay dividends.

Regds,

John.

[TheThing]

The Sky at Night magazine has a list of astronomical societies on its cover disc.

[Whippy]

I wonder how could i attend or find out about meetings? I have taken a look at the star parties board, is this where you guys organise meets or is it something bit more oraganised/specialist.

Also take a look at the local meetings board. I know it's a little way off, but you could always come to the SGL spring party. There will be scopes of all shapes and sizes and I'm sure (skies permitting) that you'll be able to look through a few. Alternatively, I'd second glowjet's suggestion of trying to get a meeting of your local AS. Looking at pretty pics of kit on the net is great but there's nothing like looking at one in the flesh. Hell, you might even be able to look through one rather than at one!

Tony..

[Tiny]

What do people think about the Skywatcher Mak 127 ?

Steve

Good second scope. FL a bit long for a general purpose scope.