I want to buy a telescope, need some advice.

[Hulk]

I'd like to get a decent telescope. I don't know very much about them and was hoping that someone here could point me in the right direction. I'm a high school physics/chemistry teacher and would probably eventually use it with my students to look at planets in our solar system.

I would like to get a refractor, something portable, and around $400 or maybe $500.

Any suggestions? Where's a good place to buy online?

Thanks

 

[IBhacknU]

Here are a couple of links:

Fun site for Meade ETX scopes

Sky and Telescope Magazine

another site I linked

 

[stosil]

Tasco

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

If you don't mind some work you can just as well build one yourself. Can make one a lot stronger than the average telescope that way too, for a fraction of the price. Polishing the lenses/mirrors will take some time though.

Linky

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Btw, you can make nice pictures of the solar surface with a telescope, but DO NOT LOOK INTO THE SUN DIRECTLY
Instead aim it at the sun and project it through the eyepiece onto a wall or piece of paper.