What's a good first telescope?

Question

I am thinking about buying a telescope. I don't really know much about them other than you look through them and they make things look bigger. So anyone know a good beginner scope that is reasonably priced?

Wow thanks for the answers.

I am looking at different websites. I want something that will enable me to look at a little bit of everything (the Moon, planets, and stars).

Answer 1

Don't be in a rush to buy a scope. Instead, buy one of the books on binocular astronomy from Amazon and an inexpensive pair of 10 x 50 or 7 x 50 binoculars - a set of Jason binox from Target will do just fine. All amateur astronomers want binox in addition to their scopes, anyhow, so it makes sense to start with them. They are easier to use than most scopes.

Before too long you'll be able to find your way around the sky with the binox, know most of the Constellations and some of the asterisms, the bright double stars, the brighter Messier objects, the names of Moon features, etc. Then you'll be ready to put a scope to good use, and it is likely you'll stay with the hobby and enjoy it for a good long time.

Answer 2

The most important aspect of a telescope is it's aperture, and the quality of it's mount. Aperture is the diameter of the telescope's lens or primary mirror, depending on what kind of telescope it is.

Reflectors use mirrors and refractors use lenses. Both the lens of a refractor and the primary mirror of a reflector due the same thing, collect and direct light. The more light your telescope can collect, the more you will be able to see because things in space aren't neccisarily small, but they are usually dim.

Like a magnifying glass killing an ant, the lens or primary mirror will focus the light it collects to a little bright point and then the eyepiece, in part, magnifies. For most purposes you don't want to use a high powered eyepiece.

Generally you should expect to spend $300 at least. This will get you a decent brand new telescope, or a much better used one. Avoid goto because there is little point in having a goto telescope that can goto 30,000 objects when 29,950 of them are star or simply too dim for you to see in the telescope you have. The goto will also take away from the money you could be spending on aperture.

Get nothing smaller than 4.5" and that being said, try to get at least something with 6" of aperture. That being said, you will not be buying a refractor. Good refractors are very expensive and aren't very good general usage telescopes because they are often of small aperture.

Try to get a Celestron, Meade, Orion, or even a Zhummell.
Avoid anything from a department store, even a Celestron, or Meade.

I recommend a Dobsonian from http://www.oriontelescopes.com

They are simple, sturdy, and cheap.

Answer 3

You'll find a lot of cheap refractors out there that advertise their magnifying power. Don't buy them. They'll give you a great view of the Moon, and a passable view of Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, and little else. They're for use on Earth mainly.

You need a Newtonian reflector. These can be either pricey or cheap. A six-inch aperture will give you a view of enough things to hold your interest for a while.

a google search of celestron, reflector, buy came up with this option:

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-Firstscope-114EQ-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B000051TN3

though it's only 4.5 inches they market it as better than a beginner scope.

You could also build your own. All you need is a few materials, some PVC pipe, and to order a mirror. You can build one for cheaper probably.
There are sites that tell you how to do this.

here's one:

http://www.angelfire.com/80s/sixmhz/telescope.html

>edit< yes iridflare I know celestron's claim is just a marketing trick. Maybe the asker will want it, maybe not. I personally would just get a mirror and build the thing myself.

Answer 4

You should first make sure you are buying a quality telescope. The main name brands for telescopes are Meade, Celestron and Orion. Next decide what you want to use the telescope to observe. If it is bright objects like the moon and planets, a good 60mm-90mm refractor makes a great beginner telescope. If you want to look at dimmer objects like nebulae and galaxies than a Dobsonian telescope gives you the most aperture (the size of the front lens or the mirror) for the money. Orion catalogs are a good source because they supply information on what each telescope type is best for. You can request a free catalog at http://www.telescope.com/

Answer 5

For a $300 budget:

http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=447&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=3&iSubCat=343&iProductID=447

I don't recommend anything cheaper. Avoid telescopes that advertise 300 Power! or some such. Buy from a telescope shop, not a department store.

For a $100 budget:

http://www.amazon.com/Nikon-Action-VII-7x-50/dp/B0001HKILS/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-3998480-0313528?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1173851336&sr=1-2

For a beginner, a short focal length refractor is smaller physically and easier to use than a reflector. At first, you'll be more interested in brighter objects that a refractor can do well. And it's easier to take out into the country for clearer sky.

Answer 6

seem, human beings will inform you that that's a newborn's toy, and in assessment to telescopes some persons have used or equipped, that's. although that's plenty extra useful than the bare eye. i might say in case you're thinking a pair of telescope that length, you may evaluate a pair of binoculars. i don't be attentive to what budget you're speaking approximately, yet you ought to have the skill to discover some respectable 2d-hand ones with a minimum of 50 mm lenses for a similar fee. verify it out on e-bay it sluggish. I certainly have seen a good number of them there.

Answer 7

For astronomy, it's not so much that you want things to look bigger than it is that you need to collect more light.

For this reason, never get a telescope that brags about its magnification. You should care most about aperture (how much light can get in).

For a reasonable priced but useful hobby scope, consider a 60mm refractor telescope with an equatorial mount.

Answer 8

>though it's only 4.5 inches they market it as better than a beginner scope.

Well, they would, wouldn't they! It isn't though! Rather than spend your money on the wrong 'scope, try getting in touch with a local astronomy society and see if they'll let you have a look through one of theirs. They'll be able to give you personal advice on what's best for you and where to get one.