i want to upgrade my telescope so which one should i buy?

Answer 1

Meade Instruments and Celestron, Inc make the best telescopes.

Answer 2

It will depend strongly on your budget among other things.
Someone suggested a dobsonian. A dobsonian is a reflector telescope (Newtonian) with a very simple mount structure. So you will be putting your money in a large mirror, which is good, but you will not be able to follow smoothly the stars because the mount is not designed for that purpose.

A reflector with an equatorial mount would be a better choice. Its not too expensive as a refractor or cassegrain and the mount structure is much better than the dobsonian. The problem with reflectors, dobsonians included, is that they might need a mirror maintenance (silver coating), not always, after some years if you live in a humid area.

Refractors are more expensive for the same magnification, don't need maintenance, and is the choice for planet viewing because for its longer focus ratio. The edge aberration is completely surpassed a long time ago by brands such as Celestron, Meade and others with better lens design and coatings.
If the budget is not the limit, better than a refractor II would suggest a Schmidt-Cassegrain, 8 inches or more. They have large mirrors in a sturdy design, so they are easier to transport. The optics and mounts usually are excellent.
Eyepieces type are very important also. Choose Plossl or Orthoscopic . Try not to buy Huygens or Ramsden.

Try visiting the manufacturers websites also, they have lots of information for choosing the right telescope. Good luck.

http://www.celestron.com/c2/index.php
http://www.meade.com/
http://www.telescope.com/jump.jsp?itemID=0&itemType=HOME_PAGE

Answer 3

Three choices, depending on what's important to you. Dim deep space objects? Portability? Cost?

Big reflector. Sees the dimmest objects best. Very big to deal with. The inexpensive ones are on a simple mount and called Dobsonians. People make wheeled carts to move big Dobsonians around, and have clever designs so you can break them down to fit in a car. If you have dark skies, nothing is better for things like galaxies.

Small refractor. Good on bright things like moon and planets. Just fair on deep space objects. Very sturdy and portable in smaller sizes. Large refractors are nice, but _very_ expensive.

Mixed lens/mirror telescopes (catadioptric). The popular compromise. Sees dim objects pretty good, but a lot smaller than a simple reflector. Middling in price. Celestron was the big innovator here, but others have caught up.

I had a 5 inch catadioptric Celestron for years. I live in cities and it was small enough to easily take to the country.

Then I needed a very portable telecope to take to the Southern Hemisphere. Bought a small refractor (Williams, good brand). I'll be using it mostly now.

Meade is one company that makes all three kinds. So here are some pictures:

http://www.meade.com/productguide/index.html

But there are lots of good brands. Depends on your budget. Orion has a reputation for cheap stuff that's decent. Tele-Vue (refractor) and Questar (catadioptric) are really good, really expensive stuff. You can get an Orion telescope for the price of a Tele-Vue eyepiece. You can buy a decent used car for the price of a Questar. Never buy a telescope that bases its' advertising on power. Sure sign of cheap stuff.

Answer 4

You do have a crap telescope nevertheless often with the crap ones it fairly is the eyepieces and the mounts that are the vast difficulty and the optical tube is a minimum of wonderful. New 20 mm and 12.5 mm eyepieces of a extra suited layout than the Huygens and Ramsden junk you have have been given could help (do not worry with a 4 mm, it fairly is ineffective in this form of 'scope, additionally do not worry with a Barlow lens). yet even nevertheless that'll strengthen it plenty it fairly is nonetheless basically a 60 mm aperture so which you will not see any extra (through fact it should not be accumulating from now on mild), in simple terms see what it could be certain extra needless to say. you may probably be extra suited off procuring 32 mm diameter eyepieces and a clean action picture star diagonal that converts the 32 mm to 20-5 mm (assuming your modern-day eyepieces are 25 mm diameter which on affordable junk they often are) through fact the 32 mm eyepieces tend to be extra suited and you may even have the potential to take them with you once you get a extra suited 'scope. putting in simple terms a splash extra weight on the mount could help in making it somewhat steadier, do exactly not placed plenty as to break down the mount (a pair of bricks might desire to do).

Answer 5

As an Astronomer I review lots n lots of telescope brands , sizes and equpment to help people .
If you want to get the best we here at my observatory recomend is a 6 to 8 inch Dobsonian. They are the best!
8 inch would be the best choice for seeing Jupiter and everything ultra close up. It costs a bit more than the 6 inch size .

Any more questions just email me ..

[e-mail] .

I'm always happy to help people make the right choice & enjoy the adventures you & your telescope will start !

And if anyone tells you to just use binoculars, Just disregard it . Telescopes get closer and don't wobble when trying to see things in space .

When it comes to space, bigger is better .
I have an 8 inch dobsonian myself , Best telescope I ever purchased . No kidding either.

Answer 6

First what are you using it for? If it is just to take your kid out and see the moon, than I suggest you just get a pair of good binoculars. They will do a great job and cost a lot less if you kid loses interest in a week like most kids do. If he sticks with it and shows more interest in learning the sky, they go to wal-mart and get him a $400 reflector. If he keeps up, encourage him to grind his own. Then he can make it as big as he wants.

Answer 7

Get a reflector definitely. Refractors have a lot of edge distortion. Meade telescopes come with some great software called Starry Night that will show the night sky on any given date with positions of planets and constellations.

Answer 8

Largest in diameter has the most light gathering power.
The longest focal length will give u the better resolution.
Good luck

Answer 9

Anttlers optics HPN is a great scope

Answer 10

Meade, Celestron and Orion are the top models.