Telescope Buying Guide

Gregory Franklin asked:


How large a telescope and how much might it cost?

ahriik asked:


Whet are some good telescopes for beginners? I want to get into astronomy, so I believe a telescope is essential. What are some cheaper ones?

Jack asked:


I want to conect my cannon camera to my telescope. It is a 58 mm camera and I was wondering where I could get an adapter to put on my telescope for a reasonable price. how do I hook the camera up to the telescope. Do I conect it to the eyepeice somehow?

Freezing Temperature asked:


Could an amateur portable telescope do it? Do you need a camera run overnight to see a nebula?
Seen with color.

Ian S asked:


How do you calculate FWHM of the primary beam of the telescope from wavelength and dish size?

I assume there is some simple formula, and it goes something like Field of View ~= Lamda/Dish Diameter.

blackberrydude117 asked:


A telescope with an objective lens that is converging and the eye piece is diverging. Would the diverging lens be inside the focal point etc?

Philip M asked:


I purchased my Telescope March 31st, and how only been able to use it 4 times out of this month due to cloudy weather. Hopefully I’ll get to use it for a 5th time tonight. How many nights, on average, do you get to use your telescope in 30 days time?

Roxy Steifvater asked:


I’m 17 and am just getting into astronomy, this will be my first telescope. I have roughly £250 to spend, what sort of telescope can you buy for that money? I would really appreciate some guidance with this =D
Also I am from the UK.

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.

guitarboy asked:


iv always thought the idea of being able to see a planet through a telescope for myself would be awesome but i don’t want to spend a tonne of money in order to do it. what are the cheapest telescopes i could get that would provide i good picture of these.