Beginner equipment.

[SteveJR73]

Apart from looking through my brothers telescope 35-40 years ago, I have no experience with telescopes. I spend quite a bit of time observing the night sky but now, I want to see with more detail. At the moment, I get a good view of Jupiter, Saturn, the Moon, Orion, weather permitting of course,  but I want to see closer and deeper. 
 

I have a budget of £500gbp to £750gbp, I want something that I can attach my mobile phone to, to get photographs. I don’t need anything that tracks objects as I’m sure that adds to the cost, I can find things with an app I use. 
 

there are so many choices out there it’s confusing. I’d love advice on a good set up based on my needs set out earlier. Any help is greatly appreciated.

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi @SteveJR73 and welcome to SGL. 

Question: What do you mainly like to observe/view? - The reason I ask is, that no ‘scope does everything. One of the most popular ‘scopes is an 8inch/200mm Dobsonian. Apart from collimating the mirrors from time to time, there is very little maintenance. Just place it on a level surface and you are practically good to go. If you have not seen or read this already, then I would have a look here... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html

If like me and you enjoy the Moon or planets, then a catadioptric [i.e. Maksutov or SCT]. They have a few downsides and can be more expensive. 

With regard to smartphone imaging, then I would recommend this... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter.html or this one... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-dx-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter-kit-81057.html

 

[SteveJR73]

6 minutes ago, RT65CB-SWL said:

Hi @SteveJR73 and welcome to SGL. 

Question: What do you mainly like to observe/view? - The reason I ask is, that no ‘scope does everything. One of the most popular ‘scopes is an 8inch/200mm Dobsonian. Apart from collimating the mirrors from time to time, there is very little maintenance. Just place it on a level surface and you are practically good to go. If you have not seen or read this already, then I would have a look here... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html

If like me and you enjoy the Moon or planets, then a catadioptric [i.e. Maksutov or SCT]. They have a few downsides and can be more expensive. 

With regard to smartphone imaging, then I would recommend this... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter.html or this one... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-dx-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter-kit-81057.html

 

 

7 minutes ago, RT65CB-SWL said:

Hi @SteveJR73 and welcome to SGL. 

Question: What do you mainly like to observe/view? - The reason I ask is, that no ‘scope does everything. One of the most popular ‘scopes is an 8inch/200mm Dobsonian. Apart from collimating the mirrors from time to time, there is very little maintenance. Just place it on a level surface and you are practically good to go. If you have not seen or read this already, then I would have a look here... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html

If like me and you enjoy the Moon or planets, then a catadioptric [i.e. Maksutov or SCT]. They have a few downsides and can be more expensive. 

With regard to smartphone imaging, then I would recommend this... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter.html or this one... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-dx-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter-kit-81057.html

 

 

7 minutes ago, RT65CB-SWL said:

Hi @SteveJR73 and welcome to SGL. 

Question: What do you mainly like to observe/view? - The reason I ask is, that no ‘scope does everything. One of the most popular ‘scopes is an 8inch/200mm Dobsonian. Apart from collimating the mirrors from time to time, there is very little maintenance. Just place it on a level surface and you are practically good to go. If you have not seen or read this already, then I would have a look here... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html

If like me and you enjoy the Moon or planets, then a catadioptric [i.e. Maksutov or SCT]. They have a few downsides and can be more expensive. 

With regard to smartphone imaging, then I would recommend this... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter.html or this one... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/adapters/celestron-nexyz-dx-3-axis-universal-smartphone-adapter-kit-81057.html

 

Thank you for your reply @RT65CB-SWL, I love to observe, the moon, planets….anything I can see basically. The amount of equipment out there is staggering, and I need to be certain that what I get is going to be right for me and also within my budget. 

[Cosmic Geoff]

47 minutes ago, SteveJR73 said:

I need to be certain that what I get is going to be right for me

You can't be certain of that until you have bought it and tried using it for a while.  What you can do is to have some defined goals and ensure that what you buy will fulfil them e.g.

Can you carry/transport the thing from the storage place to the observing place?

Will you practically be able to snap anything other than the moon with an unpowered scope/mount?

Will the light pollution at your site prevent you seeing anything faint and fuzzy?

[SteveJR73]

6 minutes ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

You can't be certain of that until you have bought it and tried using it for a while.  What you can do is to have some defined goals and ensure that what you buy will fulfil them e.g.

Can you carry/transport the thing from the storage place to the observing place?

Will you practically be able to snap anything other than the moon with an unpowered scope/mount?

Will the light pollution at your site prevent you seeing anything faint and fuzzy?

@Cosmic Geoff Thank you for the reply, I’ll be using it in my garden, there is a little light pollution but I live right on the edge of town and my garden faces quite an amount of open countryside, about. 2-3 miles from the next town. At the moment, I want something to view what is currently in the night sky facing SE, Jupiter, Saturn, the moon, Orion etc…I also need it to be able to hold an adaptor for my phone so I can try and capture images. I’ve seen an adaptor that somebody in the previous reply sent a link to. I just need recommendations of a scope that may be suitable for a beginner with those requirements. 

[Cosmic Geoff]

Look at the collection of 'beginners telescopes' sold by forum sponsor FLO.  You may be able to find something there that appeals to you.

With a budget of up to £750 you will be able to buy quite a large (and heavy) Dobsonian-style scope.  Fitting a phone adapter to most scopes will be a trivial exercise, but without powered tracking you will find it difficult to take satisfactory shots of any objects other than the very bright (e.g. the Moon).

Buying a 'scope for life' as your first purchase is likely to prove a vain endeavor (there is a reason why I have several scopes and mounts plus a Seestar S50) so I suggest you  buy something well within budget like a table-top Dobsonian or a small refractor and tripod, and see how you get on with it - unless you think buying the biggest Dobsonian you can afford (and carry) is the way to go.

[Spile]

I’d recommend getting engrossed in visual astronomy. Seeing things live rather than looking at photos is something I find absorbing and well worth doing. If that floats your boat then I can recommend a Dobsonian telescope and pair it with a copy of Turn Left at Orion. More information on my blog below.

[cajen2]

As mentioned above, an 8" dobsonian gives by far the best value for money results and is good for all the brighter targets. Two words of warning, though:

- it's a big, awkward thing to carry around and you'll need to make two trips (the scope and the base). Don't underestimate how cumbersome such a scope is if you have to get it up and down stairs or far from the storage area to your chosen observing place.

- sooner or later, you'll need to learn how to collimate it (i.e. to align the mirrors). This is not usually a difficult job and gets easier with practice - view a few YouTube videos for tips.

I started with a tabletop 6" dobsonian and can highly recommend one if you think an 8" might be too awkward.

Again, as above, a decent refractor, Mak or SCT would also give good results but you need to factor in a good mount and tripod. The dob is a very good all-rounder and is the easiest to set up.

[MartianHill]

Hello @SteveJR73 and welcome to SGL.

Given the wishes/requirements you have talked about there is a good option - a Dobsonian telescope.

An 8” Dobsonian is very capable and will show you details on the Moon and planets that will surprise you. The scope has enough aperture to see all the brighter deep sky objects too.

They are also very affordable.

First Light Optics is a good supplier and they stock 3 different ones, but they are all much the same so it’s a personal choice.

This is an example and falls nicely in your budget…..

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-8-dobsonian-telescope.html

Hope that helps

 

[Naughty Neal]

Photos & imaging give the wrong view and preception of what one can achieve via visual and general astronomy.  They are enough to put off anyone once they realise that they are far from the truth that the naked eye can see through a lense. 

[Carbon Brush]

My first 'proper' scope 20 years ago was an 8" reflector, as it happens, on EQ mount.
Since then many scopes have come and gone (well more come than gone😄).
However, there has always been an 8" or similar size reflector in there somewhere.
Provided you don't have a bad back and have to carry the scope down flights of stairs, an 8" dob is a good choice.
Forget about photos until you have got a better feel for what you enjoy seeing. You can easily spend a night chasing an image and actually see nothing.

HTH, David.

[Clarkey]

Just for info there is a 200P dobsonian on Astro Buy and Sell for £200 in Wigton at the moment.  It's a couple of hours away, but good value and it looks like the vendor will post if needed.

[SteveJR73]

7 hours ago, Carbon Brush said:

My first 'proper' scope 20 years ago was an 8" reflector, as it happens, on EQ mount.
Since then many scopes have come and gone (well more come than gone😄).
However, there has always been an 8" or similar size reflector in there somewhere.
Provided you don't have a bad back and have to carry the scope down flights of stairs, an 8" dob is a good choice.
Forget about photos until you have got a better feel for what you enjoy seeing. You can easily spend a night chasing an image and actually see nothing.

HTH, David.

I must admit, I’m quickly realising that astrophotography will have to wait. I need to get used to the basics before chasing those “perfect” images. 

[nickp87]

2 hours ago, SteveJR73 said:

I must admit, I’m quickly realising that astrophotography will have to wait. I need to get used to the basics before chasing those “perfect” images. 

Definitely a good idea, visual and astrophotography really are 2 very different things.

Can only echo the above really, I started out with an 8" dobsonian ( an Ursa major that costs £399 I think), this will leave you enough budget for a couple of decent eyepieces, and a collimator as well :). 

[John]

Another advocate of the 8" dobsonian for visual observing here. I recently acquired a very lightly used Skywatcher 200P Classic and, with a couple of minor tweaks, it is turning out to be an excellent performer. I have not owned one for a decade or more and had forgotten what good optics these things have in them. I'm sure the other dobsonians now available are also great 🙂

[SteveJR73]

I decided that instead of a big chunk of money on something that may not suit me, I am getting something a bit cheaper, but after speaking to a couple of people, I’m fairly sure it is the right choice. I will buy extras for it, such as eyepieces and filters. When I have got to grips with the scope and am fairly confident with it, I may consider upgrading. Below is the link to the scope I chose. 
 

thank you to everyone that commented, your input was valuable and much appreciated. 
 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/sky-watcher-skymax-102s-az-pronto.html