Telescope?????

Question

Anyone know where to get a nice one for the right price. Some of them are expensive and yes I know you get what you pay for, but I'm just starting out, don't want to waste my bank account on a telescope

Answer 1

I'd recommend you stick with quality brand names such as Meade, Celestron and Orion products. The workmanship on their models is excellent. Try to get the telescope with the biggest aperture (the size of the front lens in a refractor and of the mirror in a reflector) not the highest magnification. They often exaggerate the power of the telescope. A useful rule of thumb is the highest power a telescope can use before distortion sets in is twice the size of the aperture in millimeters or five times the size in inches. For example, a 60mm aperture telescope can use up to 120x, a 4 inch aperture can use up to 200x, etc.

You can sometimes find these at a department store but a better bet is to go to a large camera store or purchase online directly from the company.

Answer 2

1) if you have a telescope store near you, go there. Sure they have very expensive ones. However, they also have less expensive ones AND they might even show you how to get the most from your less expensive 'scope. Depatment store cheap telescopes are, usually, cheap (not only in price but also in workmanship)

2) I got one for a little less than 100$. Its biggest problem was the tripod (it was a table model) and I got a very good tripod for around 60$. Sky Watcher SK-80/400 EQ/TA. It has an equatorial mount and worm gears with handles so I can follow an objects while observing.

Answer 3

Have a look at the site below. I think it might really help you in your search. I know it helped me and, like you, I started from scratch and on a tight budget.

http://space.about.com/cs/telescopes/tp/tpbegscop300.htm

Answer 4

I usually run into an advertisement asking for any unused telescopes, but not sure what that success rate is. You can try wal-mart

Answer 5

I did that for my grand daughter and was disappointed as they live in the edge of the city and the lights blind u so u will be unable to see most things.