Newbie looking for a little friendly advice please?

[ravenlilly]

Hi all

I have been pointed in your direction to ask advice regarding telescopes. (I bet I am about the 500th member to ask this question!)

I’ve faffed and flirted with the idea of getting my own telescope for years & never have.

But last nights Stargazing Live gave me the much needed prod to actually do it, after I found myself rushing outside after the show in little more than leggings and a t-shirt in –temperatures to see what I could spot with the naked eye! Brrr!

I am a complete novice, but I have looked at many reviews and I see the EXPLORER-130P 130mm (5.1") f/650 Parabolic Newtonian Reflector looks quite a good bit of kit.

Id love to be able to see galaxies and nebulae and from what I have read this will be adequate for that?

BBC Sky At Night Magazine say:

"An excellent choice for anyone wanting an upgrade from a beginner's scope, to something more advanced that will show celestial objects in greater detail."

Ive seen this one from Amazon but I'm not entirely sure if I should be going to a specialist place or if I should snap it up now?

[John]

That scope is a good and popular scope to get a good start in the hobby. It will show galaxies a nebulae although most are faint smudges of light - still fascinating though !.

Personally I'd like a bit of pre and post sales "care" so I'd not use Amazon - try First Light Optics, who are very friendly:

Reflectors - Skywatcher Explorer 130P

[oldfruit]

Hi and welcome to SGL. The scope you have mentioned is an ideal starter scope. It has some very good reviews.

To be honest you would possibly benefit from a slightly larger scope if your budget allowed, possibly a 150mm reflector as this would allow you to see nebula and galaxys better than a 130mm scope.

[brantuk]

Hi Raven and welcome to SGL

The 130P is a great little starter scope, very popular here and comes highly recommended for newbies. You won't go wrong with that one and it should last a good while.

It is upgradeable with a "right ascension" motor which will track objects and keep them in the eyepiece for you so long as the mount is polar aligned (EQ mounts).

Or it can come with an electronic ALT/AZ mount (with or without goto). If you go for an electric one bear in mind you'll need a powerpack to run it. You may also want a wider range of eye pieces once accustomed to it.

Hope that helps

[Astro_Baby]

The 130 is great scope to start with do bear in mind though that telescopes need a fair bit of user input, they aren't as immediately open to the user is the way an iPod is for instance.

I'd second getting it from FLO who will probably be not much more expensive, will definitely have latest stock and will be able to give you advice.

If you want to see my own review of the scope and get an idea of what you'd see take a look at my website at astro-baby. There's a review in the reviews section.

[Astro_Baby]

The 130 is great scope to start with do bear in mind though that telescopes need a fair bit of user input, they aren't as immediately open to the user is the way an iPod is for instance.

I'd second getting it from FLO who will probably be not much more expensive, will definitely have latest stock and will be able to give you advice.

If you want to see my own review of the scope and get an idea of what you'd see take a look at my website at astro-baby. There's a review in the reviews section.

[LukeSkywatcher]

My telescope (SW Heritage 130P) is essentially the same telescope as the Explorer. I have had it just over a year now and i love it.

[ravenlilly]

Well thank you all so much! What a friendly bunch you are

I shall go for that one then, after all im only starting out and i dont want to run before i can walk!

The dream is astrophotography but as im sure if i try that at this stage I’m likely to put the thing back in a box and never touch it again!

[valleyman]

Welcome to SGL and have to 2nd FLO..............I would expect that Amazon are acting as 3rd party agents for Astro suppliers.....so better to go direct to somebody who can be trusted and to who most people on here have had experiance of.

[ravenlilly]

I had a look see and amazons seller is The National Maritime Museum, so a trustworthy source, but I shall also have a look at the FLO site thank you

[brantuk]

Check the one you buy has got a T-thread on the focuser tube. That will enable you to directly attach a dslr when you do get round to taking some snaps