Telescope Buying Guide

Dave Herron asked:


I got a Meade ETX-60 refracting telescope for Christmas. The scope included 9, 12, and 25 mm lenses. Should I be able to see Saturn clearly with this scope? If so, what am I doing wrong? No matter which lens I use, when I get it focused in, it seems like I am looking at the same little pin point of light that I could see with my naked eye.

Simon Forsman asked:


i want to make one but i think that one i would buy would be more sturdy, i’ve searched for dobsonian telescope bases and nothing but thelescopes comes up, what should i look for? P.S. my telescope’s mirror is 130mm or 5″ but the tube is 6″, are the mounting rinds measured by the size of the mirror or the tube.

David C asked:


Other then the moon what should I look for to get my son interested in using a telescope during summer in Texas

James asked:


Where is a good place to find images from the Hubble Space Telescope in their full original resolution? I found a couple already at about 30000 x 15000 but I was looking for more.

JJ asked:


What was the hubble space telescope’s initial problems and how were they overcome? Most reasons get most points?

Dan asked:


I was just wondering if the all powerful Hubble space telescope had the capabilities to photograph all or any of the NASA Apollo program lunar lander leftovers on the moon. And if so why have they not done it. The only reason I can think of is the moon is too close for it to focus.

Kristin asked:


What is the distance between the moon and the Hubble Space Telescope?

Brack_871 asked:


I have a refractor telescope and I am trying to figure outs it focal length. It is an old Zeiss Telescope and I have no literature on it. Here is what I know:

The diameter of the front lens is approximately 100 mm.

The approximate llength of the telescope from lens to the back is about 4 and 1/2 feet.

Anyone out there able to help me with this?

donthitmeah asked:


Can you take pictures of a star by taking it through a telescope?
So you put your camera eye directly in front of the the telescope. Will it be a clear picture or super blurred?
I just thought this would be convenience if it worked.

Saturn asked:


I’ve read you need to store a telescope in a place that is near or within the outside temperature, especially for cold climates. How important is it to do this? Could it eventually damage the optics, or just hinder my view? I ask because I really don’t have a place to store it. My garage is heated, and needs to stay that way to accommodate a soon to be garden, and I don’t have a shed. Any and all helpful answers appreciated!
I plan to use it alot in the winter, actually.