I just want to look at the moon's surface for the most part. Maybe some stars (but I know that star will just look like a bigger shiny dot).
In my university, I used a Huge telescope to look at the Saturn when it came close to earth few years back and I was AMAZED. I initially thought they put a little picture of saturn inside the lens. I was able to see the ring so clearly and even Saturn's orbiting moons. =D Too bad I can't afford those!
2006-06-15
22:16:07
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7 answers
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asked by
†ђ!ηK †αηK²
6
in
Science & Mathematics
➔ Astronomy & Space
jDuck is this any good? It looks nice and compact.
http://cgi.ebay.com/MEADE-ETX-60AT-TELESCOPE-NEW_W0QQitemZ7630537765QQihZ017QQcategoryZ74930QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
2006-06-15
23:22:34 ·
update #1
Well, first off avoid the TASCO ones 'cos they have a reputation for using cheap optics with overly powered eyepieces (according to those in the know) - I bought one myself off Ebay a couple of years ago.
It ain't exactly bad (apart from the wobbly stand, cheap eyepieces, hopeless spotting scope)...... more stupid but savable than bad. Couple weeks ago I finally got round to buying a better quality "Orion Explorer II 7-21mm Zoom" eyepiece, which is a good investment, but the usual New Telescope/Accessory + sky gone cloudy once it's dark enough outside to use it jinx has been occuring ever since I got the blinkin' thing!
Looking @ Telescopes.com, within your budget I'd suggest...... *drum roll*.......
the
Celestron - FirstScope 114 EQ Short Newtonian Reflector @ $159 (knocked down from $377) http://www.telescopes.com/products/Celestron_FirstScope_114_EQ_Short_Newtonian_Reflector_5936.html
or the Meade - 114EQ-A Short Tube EQ Reflector @ $179.95 (knocked down from $249) http://www.telescopes.com/products/Meade_114EQ-A_Short_Tube_EQ_Reflector_-_Deluxe_Mount_42684.html
Another alternative is to scour the adverts in the back of Astronomy magazines for ones people are selling off..... or of course good old Ebay
http://photography.listings.ebay.com/Binoculars-Telescopes_Telescopes_W0QQfromZR4QQsacatZ74927QQsocmdZListingItemList
For more advice, check out:
http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/scopes/
2006-06-15 22:53:09
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Individual stars look pretty much like stars in a telescope. For $100 to $200 you can buy a used 4.5" Newtonian Reflector. Celestron makes excellent ones. This will allow you to see the moon and will also allow you to see Saturn and it's rings, and the bands of clouds on Jupiter.
These telescopes typically come on equatorial mounts which means they can easily be set up for astrophotography if you want to do that in the future. Some telescopes come with goto systems which means the only star you have to find is the North Star and the computer will find everything else.
You can sometimes find larger dobsonian style telescopes within your price range but they are typically suited for deep space objects, ,such as galaxies, which you really need dark skies for, and they can be a pain to transport.
Conversely many reputable companies now make rich field table top telescopes. Telescopes that fit on your table top and can view wide swaths of the sky at once. These are used for viewing vast fields of stars and many of them come with 4.5" primary mirrors which means they will be able to see the rings on Saturn and the clouds on Jupiter.
I would invest in a used Celestron, Meade, or Orion telescope. Don't buy anything from a department store and if you are going to buy a refractor type telescope make sure it's at least achromatic. This means that there is some degree of correction for something that lenses are prone to, ,called chromatic abberation. Chromatic abberation means all of the colors don't focus perfectly. Apochromatic refractors are almost completely free of this problem but they typically run at least $400. Even for an achromatic one, I don't think you'll find a large enough aperture one in your price range to get a decent view of the planets though, so I do recommend a reflector.
You can find good deals on used telescopes at www.astromart.com, or www.cloudynights.com or sometimes even eBay. cloydnights and astromart both have telescope reviews. You might also want to get a hold of a copy of the magazine Sky and Telescope.
2006-06-16 22:38:42
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answer #2
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answered by minuteblue 6
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Buy a telescope with a german ecuatorial mount, or if you can with motors. Otherwise it will be difficult to follow the stars while the earth is moving. Don't buy anything that "magnifies" more than 300x unless it costs really big. the real magnification for my telescope is 200-250x max, after that you only see white light, no stars. And watch to write "F=1/8 or F=1000mm " or higher!. I have at home a telescope of aperture 114mm and lens of 20, 10 and 4 mm. You know it's a really problem with the lens of 4mm, because I should buy some kind of extra field ones, more than 50degrees, the ones that I have are no more than 35 and it's getting annoying to see the stars disapear from your visual in 15sec. I had a smaller one before, with a lens of 50mm, hand-made. I did not see any planet yet, maybe I didn't know where to look. Anyway, under 200mm you won't see planets larger than a nail of your left smaller finger.
2006-06-16 06:00:54
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answer #3
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answered by niky666_2004 1
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Two types of telescopes first, refractors which use lenses and reflectors which use parobolic mirrors. General rule is a refractor is used for viewing objects close to us such as objects in our solar system, reflectors are used for viewing images farther out. If all you are going to do is view the moon pick yourself up the largest refractor you can find in your price range. When it comes to viewing anything else keep in mind its very frustrating trying to focus on a moving object such as another star or planet. You might want to save your pennies until you can afford a scope with automatic tracking hardware. These can be found for 500 dollars and up. Meade and Celestron are both quality scopes. If you want a real cheap thrill and arent going to become a junior astronomer find yourself a high powered pair of binoculars and gaze at the night sky through these! You will see depth in the local milkyway galaxy which you cant see looking through a telescope. When using your scope whatever you buy find the darkest area you can possibly find. I.E. no city lights, no farm lights, pitch blackness is good!
2006-06-16 06:25:54
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answer #4
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answered by Anonymous
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I worked at an observatory for a year, and got to know about variuos other large scopes in the state (we used to work together to track things).
To ansrew your question : any one will do. Small scopes are all the same, All that matters is the size, and portability of the one your interested in.
On a side note, your best bet to get an idea on the scope you want is to ask your university or any campus university with an observatory to host community night. If they don't have such a program, someone will think it's a good idea. My school did it. We had the big mama (Meade LX 200 40cm) and 4 medium sized ones, and about 20 various small sones people could use.
2006-06-16 05:25:09
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answer #5
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answered by Physics4Rich 3
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Check consumers reports.
2006-06-16 05:27:33
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answer #6
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answered by ? 3
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All of the above are very good answers.
2006-06-16 11:55:24
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answer #7
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answered by Lenny 1
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