what is the best telescope to buy?

Question

I want to buy a really good telescope.I need a lot of help with this, as i know absolutely nothing about buying telescopes, the jargon etc. etc. so the more detail and help the better please. thanks

Answer 1

Go to the library and read magazines about astronomy. There are plenty of ads about telescope. Some issues even rate some models.

Answer 2

It depends a lot on what you want to do with it, and how much you want to spend.
If you're most interested in, say, looking at the moon then maybe you only need binoculars, not a telescope at all.
If you want to look at the planets too, then a small refractor will probably be best.
If you want to look at faint things like nebulae, then you need a larger telescope, which will gather more light. This might be a refractor but more likely a reflector.
[a refractor is a "traditional" telescope with a big lens at the front to gather the light; a reflector is a telescope with an open front end and a big mirror which focuses the light)
If you want to take photographs then you'll need an equatorial mount and a motor drive.

The most imortant things when buying a telescope are (in decreasing order of importance):
1) The size of the mirror or main lens;
2) The stability of the mount (without this you won't ever see anything clearly)
3) Portability (unless you have somewhere permanent to set it up). You'll never see anything through a telescope so bulky you never bother to get it out of its box.
...
99) The magnification. Anyone who sells a telescope to you on this basis for astronomy is conning you.

If you can afford it and are a keen amateur who just wants to see interesting things quite quickly, I'd recommend a smallish reflector, preferably with a computer control. This will get rid of a lot of the tedium of not being able to find things which causes a lot of people to give up. There are a number of different designs but something like a 6-inch (150mm) reflector is a good starting point.

However, if when you say "really good" you actually mean a telescope for a complete beginner which is good enough for astronomy, unlike what Argos will sell you (which I'd guess is the case from the rest of your question), then a 60-80mm refractor is a great way in and would cost as little as around £100, and maybe £250 for one with computer control.

If I were you, I'd check out some reputable suppliers such as David Hinds or SCS Astro, who will give you fair and impartial advice, at least as much so as you can expect from anyone trying to sell you something.

Answer 3

I took the image of Saturn interior the 1st source with a 6 inch telescope and a webcam. there are various good telescopes that length to your funds. See the final 2 components. via ways, utilising a telescope isn't as elementary as many human beings think of. only getting the object interior the sphere of view and preserving it there's a significant concern for many beginners. They spend a team on a telescope and don't comprehend the constellations and so won't be ready to component it and get annoyed and sell it on eBay for a million/2 what they paid for it. so it relatively is recommended to start small and straightforward. Even the smallest telescope will teach Saturn's rings, so which you do no longer ought to spend $a million,500 to start. There are good newbie telescopes for $3 hundred or maybe much less. of direction they gained't be pc controlled, meaning it's going to be much greater substantial which you would be able to get a celeb atlas and study the constellations. No all of them, however the stunning ones which you would be able to discover in that ridiculously stunning city sky you have there.

Answer 4

Avoid at all costs those cheap ones from Costco and the big chain stores (Tasco, Celestron etc). They won't give you the same satisfaction as you progress and they're made of cheap plastic components. Also, any telescope advertised as "x300" zoom capability should similarly be avoided - it's all down to the aperture and quality of the optics when choosing the right scope. Depending on the money you want to spend, I'd suggest the Skywatcher series for the budget end and Meade or Orion at the other. Maybe a 4 to 6 inch scope if you want to see more than just the moon and the closest stars. There's plenty more decent makes out there to choose from however!

Answer 5

telescopes are expensive you need to read up before buying, no point buying a 16 inch meade without knowing how to look after it. if you want a light bucket for a good price a dobsonian would be your best bet. baby steps first. learn first and then progress from there.

Answer 6

Jodrell Bank

Answer 7

the best telescope to buy is the one you can see through

Answer 8

Same advice. Go to Orion at http://www.telescope.com.

Answer 9

Argos Catalogue babe.