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Need telescope purchasing advice

D

Doggiedog

Lifer
My 5 YO son is really interested in astronomy now and I want to get him an all-purpose telescope for Christmas. I used to be into astronomy long ago so I may just share the gift with him.

I tried telescope.com but was a bit overwhelmed.

Does anyone have any specific suggestions?

Thanks.
 
Don't know where you live but a 6" dobsonian would be a sweet entry level 'scope. I would avoid anything smaller as you wont get enough light gathering and/or traditional tripod mounts are POS's for this price range.
 
Originally posted by: vegetation
Don't know where you live but a 6" dobsonian would be a sweet entry level 'scope. I would avoid anything smaller as you wont get enough light gathering and/or traditional tripod mounts are POS's for this price range.
Click to expand...

Aren't those quite pricey though?
 
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Originally posted by: vegetation
Don't know where you live but a 6" dobsonian would be a sweet entry level 'scope. I would avoid anything smaller as you wont get enough light gathering and/or traditional tripod mounts are POS's for this price range.
Click to expand...

Aren't those quite pricey though?
Click to expand...

Nope, that's the beauty of the dobsonian design. Powerful but affordable because of its simplified design. A 6" model on telescope.com goes for $259 although it's backordered until after the new year.
 
Originally posted by: vegetation
Originally posted by: Doggiedog
Originally posted by: vegetation
Don't know where you live but a 6" dobsonian would be a sweet entry level 'scope. I would avoid anything smaller as you wont get enough light gathering and/or traditional tripod mounts are POS's for this price range.
Click to expand...

Aren't those quite pricey though?
Click to expand...

Nope, that's the beauty of the dobsonian design. Powerful but affordable because of its simplified design. A 6" model on telescope.com goes for $259 although it's backordered until after the new year.
Click to expand...

Dang. Thanks.

Maybe I can find a B&M around here that sells one.
 
Go to Orion's website (www.telescope.com). They have the best customer support. I have a 90mm Mak-Cassegrain, and it's awesome. I would get a zoom lense (expensive!), or get a 25mm lense. It's great on mine. If ya wanna go a little bit cooler, get a solar filter. I would get a equitorial mount, just because they are stable and nice. Go to www.cloudynights.com and look at some reviews and such for advice on entry level scopes. Also, try www.astromart.com
 
Originally posted by: thehstrybean
Go to Orion's website (www.telescope.com). They have the best customer support. I have a 90mm Mak-Cassegrain, and it's awesome. I would get a zoom lense (expensive!), or get a 25mm lense. It's great on mine. If ya wanna go a little bit cooler, get a solar filter. I would get a equitorial mount, just because they are stable and nice. Go to www.cloudynights.com and look at some reviews and such for advice on entry level scopes. Also, try www.astromart.com
Click to expand...

Only $235. I wonder how good it is?
 
I'll probably be getting a 10" Orion dob mount this summer! Just make sure you get some good eye pieces (1.25") with it though. Also keep in mind that magnification doesn't mean squat through a small primary. Just assume about 50x per 1" of primary lense.
 
Doggie,

I have the site for you:

Astromart

You can learn a lot there.

If you are overwhelmed may I recommend perhaps that you try a good set of binoculars. You can see a major subset (of what a telescope can help you see) with a good set of binoculars. Register at this site and go to the classifieds or you can browse through the forums. I just a mint copy of this scope:

Celestron C-8

I am currently looking for a good set of astron binoculars.

PM me if you need any help.
 
I had a neighbor growing up that had a few scopes and most of them were pointed far too low to be viewing at anything in space!

The term "erect image" has other meanings btw. 😉
 
Originally posted by: dud
Doggie,

I have the site for you:

Astromart

You can learn a lot there.

If you are overwhelmed may I recommend perhaps that you try a good set of binoculars. You can see a major subset (of what a telescope can help you see) with a good set of binoculars. Register at this site and go to the classifieds or you can browse through the forums. I just a mint copy of this scope:

Celestron C-8

I am currently looking for a good set of astron binoculars.

PM me if you need any help.
Click to expand...

Astromart FTW!!

And Minerva, my scope has a 45 degree prism that makes it a spotting scope. LoL @ erect image....😛
 
Originally posted by: Condor
Yep, and this http://www.my-first-telescope.com/meade-telescopes.php

Meade makes good scopes that aren't very costly for what they deliver. If you want portability go with the Astroscan, if you don't need that, Meade!
Click to expand...

I would stay away from Meade like a plauge. I bought a Meade, and compared to my Orion, which was $20 more, it was a piece. The Meade had the Autostar, but I ended up getting a Celestron mount and putting my scope on it. Get a good, solid scope, and if it has a 5 1/4" mounting hole, you can use it on a camera tripod. I do that some, since I sold my mount. The only problem is, if you're using a barlow and a good lense, the object drifts out of view fast. It's cool at first, then it's just a pain. I would get a EQ mount with a tracking drive, which moves the scope at the same speed as the earth, so the object is in your FOV at all times. If you want the capability of Autostar (GOTO mounts), Get a Celestron Cassegrain, or get a Celestron mount (EQ, GOTO, even though EQ GOTO is much more expensive than Alt-Az GOTO) and get a Baader Bracket. Alpine Astro has them and they are very high quality. It mounts on the Celestron Nexstar GT mounts (which are fairly easy to find @ Astromart) and lets you put any scope on it. The Meade EQ GOTO mounts are supposed to be soso quality, but you can get it "hypertuned" (regreased, better gears, ect), which improves performence. If you have any questions, you can PM me and I would be glad to help.
 
Originally posted by: thehstrybean
Go to Orion's website (www.telescope.com). They have the best customer support. I have a 90mm Mak-Cassegrain, and it's awesome. I would get a zoom lense (expensive!), or get a 25mm lense. It's great on mine. If ya wanna go a little bit cooler, get a solar filter. I would get a equitorial mount, just because they are stable and nice. Go to www.cloudynights.com and look at some reviews and such for advice on entry level scopes. Also, try www.astromart.com
Click to expand...

i would say go with a dob for beginner. you get nice aperture for less money. plus they are easy to use.

definitely check out those sites in bold. especially cloudy nights. the people there are very friendly and helpful.
 
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