Any advice on what telescope to buy for beginners?

Question

this is for a older child with an interest in astronomy and has to be reasonably priced (Christmas present)

Answer 1

Please ignore ants answer.

A "reflective" (reflector) telescope is the one which uses a mirror.

If he has this very basic point wrong, DO NOT follow his advice.
he omitted to mention most reflectors display an "upside down" image (you quickly get used to this). ALL astronomical telescopes do.
A tripod is essential (you wouldnt believe how much we move when "still"). Your local camera store should be able to advise. I think lots of encouragement is important, get some fun books as well ! and have lots of fun

Answer 2

If you can't afford at the very least $200 then you should just get 7x50 binoculars. Good ones will run about $125

7x50's are good because they have nice magnification while offering a wide field of view. All amateur astronomers should have a pair.

The telescope you buy should be some type of reflector or catadioptric. Avoid refractors because you won't be able to afford a large enough one to see a decent amount of things.

The aperture of the telescope, which is the diameter of the primary mirror in reflectors and catadioptrics, should be at least 4.5" (which is 114mm). The more aperture the telescope has, the more you will be able to see. 4.5" with a 25mm eyepiece and quality 2x barlow attachment will allow you to see a few galaxies, many star clusters, a few deep nebula, the rings around Saturn, some detail on Mars, and faint cloud bands on Jupiter. With a solar filter you will also be able to see solar storms on the sun.

If your budget is around $200 for just the telescope alone, you will not be able to get one on a very good mount so the goal here should be trying to get one with the most aperture. This would be a Dobsonian. You may be able to find a 6" Dobsonian for around $200 but for $300 you can get a far better 8" Dobsonian.

Be sure to save some for a decent 25mm eyepiece and a 2x barlow. This is where quality is most important.

You may also want to consider buying used. It's cheaper. For new telescopes check out www.oriontelescopes.com
For used try the classifieds on www.astromart.com

Also visit your local astronomical society and see if they can help.

Answer 3

Well my parents bought me one from Cosco (it was Price Club back then) but it was a 650 power telescope, made by Bushnell, it had alot of cool features and I still have it some 15 years later. It is a reflective, you look into one end and the light is piped in from the other, and honestly unless your just looking at the moon thats about as good as its good for, however to use it during the day it is like a huge binocular, i looked at a mountian several dozen miles away and i could see like i was right on the side of the mountian. a better telescope is a refractive telescope, or one you look at form the side, with this one you can actually see alot more things in the sky, it works by bringing in the light, it hits a mirror, then is bounced off another mirror to the eye piece. These are much much better for astromony. I may have mixed them up, but those are the two types reflective and refractive, but you want the one you look at from the side.... i looked on eBay and a pretty decent one was about $200, if you add a motor drive they can get up about $450, and depending on the size also, but a good 10 inch would be ideal. Good luck and hope my answer helps you....

Answer 4

That's difficult to answer without knowing what your budget is and how old the child is - it takes patience to learn to use a telescope! Most 'scopes you'll find in the high street shops are little more than toys, though Meade and Celestron are both reputable manufacturers. Even then I'm not convinced their smaller 'scopes are suitable for beginners - they're just too small to give pleasing images.

You can do a lot with binoculars - 7x50 or 10x50 are fine, and they don't need to be expensive - I've a Chinese pair that are only a little inferior to a big name brand costing ten times more! If you can mount them on a tripod that makes things much better.

Some astronomy societies make 'scopes specifically to sell to children - it's always worth contacting your local society for help and advise, even if it's just to find out which shops to go to.

Answer 5

If you've got been utilising binoculars, you've got made a first-rate begin. Unfortunately, you are going to virtually absolutely be dissappointed via a refractor scope of the dimensions you're describing. If you'll be able to stretch your finances reasonably, check out watching right into a 6 inch or eight inch dobsonian scope - reminiscent of are furnished via Meade, Orion and a pair others. You'll get plenty of aperture, even as nonetheless having 'lug-capacity' and it may not soak up big house on your dwelling. If you seem round just a little, you perhaps in a position to get a eight inch Orion XT-eight for just a little underneath $three hundred (possibly even lower than $250) if you're inclined to take delivery of used. For new... you might seem at a 6 inch just like the XT-6.

Answer 6

6 inch to 12 inch telescope is idle for beginners in astronomy. it can be easily get in any science shop..