I bought one of those "small MEADE jobs" but I think they forgot to sell me some of teh components and well it is not very good, unless I don't know how to operate it... but I mean i want to see things.
www.link.20fr.com
2006-08-16 04:17:47 · 3 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The number one problem beginners have is pointing the telescope at an object. It really helps to know the constellations and have lots of practice knowing where things are. It is much harder than you think.
The number two problem is unrealistic expectations. Planets and galaxies will not look nearly as good as those NASA photographs. Planets are much smaller than you think and galaxies are MUCH MUCH dimmer than you think. Neither will look like the Hubble photos. The planets will look really small in any telescope small enough to be portable. Galaxies never look like the photographs; they just look like dim smudges. To get those awesome photographs takes long time exposures, holding the shutter open for many minutes or even hours to allow capturing light too dim for the eye to see, even with the help of a telescope.
2006-08-16 04:47:19 · answer #1 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A good 'scope for beginners is the Astroscan, made by Edmund Scientific:
http://scientificsonline.com/product.asp...
Another good place to look is the Orion Telescope catelog, which has a lot of good information about how to buy a telescope, what to look for, etc.
http://www.telescope.com
Or pick up a copy of Sky & Telescope or Astronomy Magazine and look at the ads. Anything you find there will be of good quality.
Whatever you do, do NOT buy a 'scope from Walmart or any other department store. They sell crap. Cheap crap, but it's still crap.
If you find you can't afford a good telescope, buy a pair of binoculars. Under no circumstances should you buy a cheap telescope, or it will turn into an expensive coat rack in under 3 months.
And buy a book on what to see through your new 'scope or binoculars, if you haven't already.
2006-08-16 11:28:24 · answer #2 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went to Orion Telescopes (telescope.com) and got an 8" Dobsonian. It's great for 'point and look' but don't expect it to take time lapse photos. With it I can see Jupiter, Saturn, Moon (as well as a good terrestial scope). You can get a bunch of filters for nebula, etc. Definitely a good buy on my part and less than $500
2006-08-16 11:43:12 · answer #3 · answered by words_smith_4u 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋