what are some good and reputable brands of telescopes?

Answer 1

There are just too many to name. Stop at your local Barnes and Noble and pick up a copy of Sky & Telescope or Astronomy and look at the ads. Stay away from the Wal-Mart $49.95 junk; they are useless. Better yet, call your local college or science center and get the name of the local Astro club. They are usually very helpfull.

Answer 2

Meade and Celestron both make entry level to upper quality telescopes as long as they aren't the "department store" class ones. Any telescope which is currently on their website or their older ones is fine.

Orion also makes decent Dobsonians and smaller apochromatic refractors.

Takahashi, TeleVue, and Astro-Physics are known exclusively for producing upper end telescopes. JMI and Obsession make quality large Dobsonian type telescopes. Parks also makes high end telescope though they are less common.

Cave used to make exceptional telescopes that are still sought after but the company no longer exists and they must be bought used. A lot of people like the very very old Tascos but the newer ones, along with Bushnells are really just flimsy department store stuff...though if you really really really want a cheap first telescope brand new then Bushnell does offer some 4.5" reflectors which aren't as bad as department store telescopes used to be but are a far cry from a quality instrument.

Answer 3

Orion Telescopes and Binoculars (http://www.telescope.com/) is a good place to look. They have some decent beginner telescopes and a generous return policy. Don't depend on brand name alone, as many brands cover a broad range of types and quality. Meade in particular is notorious for putting their name on some gawdawful junk sold in Walmarts and such.

Answer 4

Meade and Celestron are two biggies - check out their websites for local dealer info. But if you want a good telescope, be prepared to pay for it!

Answer 5

Celestron, Meade and Orion. Orion is more beginner oriented than the other two.