Are computer controlled telescopes any good?

Question

I mean the type i have seen advertised for backgarden use .

Answer 1

A good answer to this will depend on your goals and budget. For starters "computer controlled" scopes are generally best for astrophotography and GPS GOTO functionality can save you alot of time finding celestial objects in general observing. Astroimaging can be an expensive hobby because of equipment cost. Cheaper equipment in this hobby, unfortunately, produces inferior results, as a rule. Assuming that you would like to accomplish some deep space photography and that you can spare several thousand pounds, here are some opinions I have that may guide your decisions.

1. The best equipment costs a LOT more but can usually be sold for about what you pay for it. In my experience, Meade, Celestron, etc. can be obtained much cheaper but do not hold their value for resale. So the pain of the price tag is mitigated by the knowledge that you can sell the better gear without much loss.
2. Put your money in the mount! Astronomical objects are not so much small as they are dim. The telescope is really a "light bucket", not a microscope. To image these things, you need long exposures (think hours) and that means GREAT tracking and autoguiding. Mount stability is vital.
3. It is much easier to start with fast apochromatic refractors and an SBIG CCD that with other optical setups. The fast focal ratio (f/6, or faster) keeps exposures shorter and minimizes autoguiding problems. The apochromatic optics eliminates stray color. The SBIG CCDs have built in tracking CCDs for autoguiding.
4. If you wish to do astrophotography, start with a black and white imaging -- add color later.
5. You can use webcameras to get great astroimages of the planets -- even with inexpensive telescopes and poor mounts.

I own a Canon 350D SLR and really like it, but it won't pick up the red and infrared colors that dominate many deep space objects. Also, you cannot autoguide with it. If I were to recommend a good set up that stretches your money and optimizes your chances of success right away, it would be something like this.

Try Astromart.com for some of these items. You may save some money.

1. Mounts: Astrophysics, Paramount, Mountain Instruments, Takahashi all do a great job. I prefer the GOTO mounts because I want to spend my time imaging rather than look for the object.
2. Apo refractors: TelVue, AstroPhysics, Takahashi, TMB all have great reputations.
3. CCDs: my opinion -- stick with SBIG.


Here are some references for you to review and some resources.
http://www.optique-unterlinden.com/ Takahashi dealer in Europe - Everything Takahashi makes is built like naval artillery. You can't go wrong with their gear.

Here's a great resource for the beginning astrophotographer:
http://www.ghg.net/akelly/procccd.htm

Wodowski's book is worth the money. I strongly recommend it.
http://www.newastro.com/newastro/default.asp

Astro-physics --- fantastic equipment, but you'll wait forever to get it.
http://www.astro-physics.com/

Here's SBIG's webpage:
http://www.sbig.com/ but I think you can get some deals on used ST-8s or ST2000s on Astromart. For example,
http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=460101
You'll get great software with all new SBIG CCD cameras. Their CCDSoft is quite capable.

Here's some good planetarium software.
http://www.bisque.com/Products/TheSky6/

Good luck,
M J

Answer 2

I'm not sure what you mean by a "stationary telescope": all telescopes have to be able to move in two axes in order to track objects in the sky. Computer control of telescope pointing has been well established for over a decade, and the technology is readily available in commercial scopes. Filtering out light pollution works for some objects, but light pollution is mostly a broad spectrum, and so is the light from most astronomical objects. What many people are doing nowadays is establishing computer controlled observatories in remote dark-sky locations, which they can access over the internet. Most of these are home-brewed at present, but very effective. Also very expensive!

Answer 3

Yes. They're good. They are very convenient when trying to find dim objects. If you want to do some serious astrophotography with 50 minute exposures, quite frankly they won't do that well but they're great for visual astronomy..

Answer 4

When you say computer controlled, there are go-to only scopes and, go-to and track which are the bee`s knees, you can attach a camera and use time exposure with this type.

Answer 5

The guide and track style scope is the most advanced you can get for backyard astronomy... with building yourself an observatory, of coarse.

If you go to www.meade.com and have a look at their LX series of scopes, i'm sure you'll find what you are looking for.

Answer 6

yes.you know you can use nasa telescope if you log on to their site?