Comments on: What type of telescope should I get? http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/what-type-of-telescope-should-i-get/ Thu, 17 May 2012 21:43:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: digquickly http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/what-type-of-telescope-should-i-get/comment-page-1/#comment-1896 digquickly Sun, 06 Sep 2009 16:08:33 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/what-type-of-telescope-should-i-get/#comment-1896 Checkout your local astronomy club first. They're your best resource for understanding what telescopes can meet your needs. Next read the article I've attached about buying a telescope. Finally checkout. I recommend an 8" or 10" dobsonian as a good first telescope. Checkout your local astronomy club first. They’re your best resource for understanding what telescopes can meet your needs.

Next read the article I’ve attached about buying a telescope.

Finally checkout. I recommend an 8″ or 10″ dobsonian as a good first telescope.

]]> By: luvlaketahoe http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/what-type-of-telescope-should-i-get/comment-page-1/#comment-1895 luvlaketahoe Fri, 04 Sep 2009 23:08:26 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/what-type-of-telescope-should-i-get/#comment-1895 You've got some good answers and so I just want to recommend my favorite place for telescopes and accessories. It is Oceanside Photo and Telescope. OPT.com These guys really know their stuff and they are not locked into selling just one brand of scope. While you are on the phone, get on the website too so you can see what they are telling you about. I order all my telescopes, eyepieces and accessories from them and I've never been steered in the wrong direction! You’ve got some good answers and so I just want to recommend my favorite place for telescopes and accessories. It is Oceanside Photo and Telescope. OPT.com These guys really know their stuff and they are not locked into selling just one brand of scope. While you are on the phone, get on the website too so you can see what they are telling you about. I order all my telescopes, eyepieces and accessories from them and I’ve never been steered in the wrong direction!

]]> By: Geoff G http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/what-type-of-telescope-should-i-get/comment-page-1/#comment-1894 Geoff G Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:45:34 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/what-type-of-telescope-should-i-get/#comment-1894 Here are a few web pages with good information on beginner's telescopes: For more advanced information, read Phil Harrington's Star Ware, 4th edition (Wiley). You'll get the greatest value for your money with a Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount, such as these: Buy from a store which specializes in telescopes and astronomy, either locally or online; don't buy from department stores, discount stores or eBay as mostly what they sell is junk. Find your local astronomy club and try out different telescopes at one of their star parties: I strongly recommend that beginners steer clear of astrophotography until they have learned their way around the sky. Astrophotography is by far the most expensive and difficult area of amateur astronomy. Many people who buy telescopes have no idea how to find interesting things to observe. A good introduction to finding things is NightWatch by Terence Dickinson (Firefly). A more advanced book is Star Watch by Phil Harrington (Wiley). Here are a few web pages with good information on beginner’s telescopes:

For more advanced information, read Phil Harrington’s Star Ware, 4th edition (Wiley).

You’ll get the greatest value for your money with a Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount, such as these:

Buy from a store which specializes in telescopes and astronomy, either locally or online; don’t buy from department stores, discount stores or eBay as mostly what they sell is junk. Find your local astronomy club and try out different telescopes at one of their star parties:

I strongly recommend that beginners steer clear of astrophotography until they have learned their way around the sky. Astrophotography is by far the most expensive and difficult area of amateur astronomy.

Many people who buy telescopes have no idea how to find interesting things to observe. A good introduction to finding things is NightWatch by Terence Dickinson (Firefly). A more advanced book is Star Watch by Phil Harrington (Wiley).

]]> By: B. http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/what-type-of-telescope-should-i-get/comment-page-1/#comment-1893 B. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:35:49 +0000 http://www.telescopebuyingguide.com/blog/what-type-of-telescope-should-i-get/#comment-1893 I would like to suggest that you join a local astronomy club or astronomical society BEFORE you spend your money on a scope. There are many different kinds of scopes and what is perfect for one person is not perfect for another. Everyone has their own set of eyeballs and no two are the same. If you join a club, you can attend a few of their star parties and try out members scopes to see what works best for YOU, before you buy a scope. The members can also help you when you get your scope and show you how to get the most out of your new scope as well as to help teach you where the treasures in the sky are located. Most clubs have loaner scopes and extensive libraries that you can gather more information from too. Most clubs will have monthly membership meetings with informative presentations given by members and by guest speakers. You can really learn a lot from these clubs and an added plus is all the great new friends you make there too. Go to this site to find a club in your area.… This only has clubs that belong to the National Astronomy League, so there are many more which do not appear on this list. Continue searching google if you don't see one in your area here. There are several different kinds of telescopes and all of them have some excellent features. Refractors and Reflectors, plus Schmidt-Cassegrain, APO refractors, Mac-Cass, and many more. There are also several mounts to chose from and the mounts are just as important, if not even more important, than the scope is. All of the different scopes and mounts have some features that some people like and do not like. No two eyeballs are the same and the perfect scope for one person might be completely wrong for another person. There is no one scope that is "better" than another ---except for the junk scopes out there which are all just a waste of money. Never, ever buy from Walmart, Costco, Target, or any other discount store like that. Junk scopes are flooded into the market from those stores. You will be buying nothing but bad optics and plastic. If you are new at this, then stay away from anything used from any site. If you don't know what you are buying and who you are buying from you will most likely be getting someone else's headache---with no warranty either. Some great deals on used equipment are out there, by people who know how to use and take care of scopes, but if you don't know what you are doing, you might be spending a lot of money on worthless junk. One improper cleaning can destroy a scope. Buyer Beware. I recommend: Orion is the very best for value and for customer service too. I have 3 of their scopes and I will only buy from them from now on. My first scope was a manual controlled scope and I am very glad that it was because it forced me to learn where things are in the night skies. Go-To type scopes can be frustrating to use. If you do not have them aligned exactly perfect, they do not find the targets. If you are a beginner, you will be frustrated unless you spring for a GPS Go-To. An object locator is just that---it will locate objects for you (must be aligned first) but an object locator is not a tracking motor. It will not keep the scope on the target. The Orion site has some excellent diagrams and explanations of all types of scopes and mounts. Things to consider are size--can the user lift and transport the scope to the viewing site easily? Does it fit in your car? If not, then it will gather dust in a closet. I recommend a carrying case too so it is protected in storage and transport. Can the viewer reach all the knobs and buttons? I have a long tube large manual refractor and it is very difficult for me to reach the knobs when I am pointed to Zenith. I am not a tall person. Take your time in making your decision. Some people will suggest that you purchase binoculars. Not a bad idea but don't buy anything less than 10x50 and you must have a tripod too or you will not be happy with your astronomical views because they will be too shaky from your movements. Even your pulse will make them shake. Personally, I prefer a scope to binos because if binoculars are not aligned properly at the factory, then you get double images and distortions that can't be fixed. Most of the cheaper binoculars are not properly aligned. That is not as important for terrestial viewing, but it is a killer for astronomical viewing. Binos can also be bumped out of alignment and become useless for astronomy. When you buy, go Orion and you wont be disappointed. Don't try to learn everything all at once or you will be overwhelmed and discouraged. Patience is the key to Astronomy. You will need a good star chart program too. This is great freeware that you can download. Tell it where you are and it will tell you what you see. Ask it where something is and it will show you. I wish you all the best! Enjoy! Edit: Sorry but I am compelled to tell you that Astronomy and astrology are two completely different things. Astronomy is real science. Astrology is not even close to being real. You will learn the difference the first time or two that you go our and observe for yourself. Those of us who love astronomy are pretty touchy about this. I would like to suggest that you join a local astronomy club or astronomical society BEFORE you spend your money on a scope. There are many different kinds of scopes and what is perfect for one person is not perfect for another. Everyone has their own set of eyeballs and no two are the same. If you join a club, you can attend a few of their star parties and try out members scopes to see what works best for YOU, before you buy a scope. The members can also help you when you get your scope and show you how to get the most out of your new scope as well as to help teach you where the treasures in the sky are located. Most clubs have loaner scopes and extensive libraries that you can gather more information from too. Most clubs will have monthly membership meetings with informative presentations given by members and by guest speakers. You can really learn a lot from these clubs and an added plus is all the great new friends you make there too. Go to this site to find a club in your area.…
This only has clubs that belong to the National Astronomy League, so there are many more which do not appear on this list. Continue searching google if you don’t see one in your area here.

There are several different kinds of telescopes and all of them have some excellent features. Refractors and Reflectors, plus Schmidt-Cassegrain, APO refractors, Mac-Cass, and many more. There are also several mounts to chose from and the mounts are just as important, if not even more important, than the scope is. All of the different scopes and mounts have some features that some people like and do not like. No two eyeballs are the same and the perfect scope for one person might be completely wrong for another person.

There is no one scope that is “better” than another —except for the junk scopes out there which are all just a waste of money. Never, ever buy from Walmart, Costco, Target, or any other discount store like that. Junk scopes are flooded into the market from those stores. You will be buying nothing but bad optics and plastic.

If you are new at this, then stay away from anything used from any site. If you don’t know what you are buying and who you are buying from you will most likely be getting someone else’s headache—with no warranty either. Some great deals on used equipment are out there, by people who know how to use and take care of scopes, but if you don’t know what you are doing, you might be spending a lot of money on worthless junk. One improper cleaning can destroy a scope. Buyer Beware.

I recommend:

Orion is the very best for value and for customer service too. I have 3 of their scopes and I will only buy from them from now on. My first scope was a manual controlled scope and I am very glad that it was because it forced me to learn where things are in the night skies. Go-To type scopes can be frustrating to use. If you do not have them aligned exactly perfect, they do not find the targets. If you are a beginner, you will be frustrated unless you spring for a GPS Go-To. An object locator is just that—it will locate objects for you (must be aligned first) but an object locator is not a tracking motor. It will not keep the scope on the target.

The Orion site has some excellent diagrams and explanations of all types of scopes and mounts.

Things to consider are size–can the user lift and transport the scope to the viewing site easily? Does it fit in your car? If not, then it will gather dust in a closet. I recommend a carrying case too so it is protected in storage and transport. Can the viewer reach all the knobs and buttons? I have a long tube large manual refractor and it is very difficult for me to reach the knobs when I am pointed to Zenith. I am not a tall person.

Take your time in making your decision.

Some people will suggest that you purchase binoculars. Not a bad idea but don’t buy anything less than 10×50 and you must have a tripod too or you will not be happy with your astronomical views because they will be too shaky from your movements. Even your pulse will make them shake. Personally, I prefer a scope to binos because if binoculars are not aligned properly at the factory, then you get double images and distortions that can’t be fixed. Most of the cheaper binoculars are not properly aligned. That is not as important for terrestial viewing, but it is a killer for astronomical viewing. Binos can also be bumped out of alignment and become useless for astronomy.

When you buy, go Orion and you wont be disappointed. Don’t try to learn everything all at once or you will be overwhelmed and discouraged. Patience is the key to Astronomy.

You will need a good star chart program too.
This is great freeware that you can download. Tell it where you are and it will tell you what you see. Ask it where something is and it will show you.

I wish you all the best! Enjoy!

Edit: Sorry but I am compelled to tell you that Astronomy and astrology are two completely different things. Astronomy is real science. Astrology is not even close to being real. You will learn the difference the first time or two that you go our and observe for yourself. Those of us who love astronomy are pretty touchy about this.

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