what is a good telescope for astrophotography?

Question

I'm an amateur at astronomy and am looking for something capable of seeing the planets in detail - like jupiters moons, saturns ring, as well other galaxies, nebulae and the moon.

I'm looking to spend around $300.00

I don't want anything from a department store, preferably online because I've heard that everything in stores in junk. I don't want to see things blurry. I have a pair of binoculars and I can make out saturn, but it's really small and blurry, so something better than that.

What do you recommend I get? Links to telescopes would be greatly appreciated.

Oh yeah, I forget to mention. It must be capable of astrophotography, and if someone could, could you please explain how astrophotography works? Thank you.

Answer 1

A veeery big telescope!

Answer 2

The bad news is that it can't be done for $300. This is enough money to buy a good visual telescope, like a 6" Dobsonian reflector, but equatorial mounts suitable for telescopic astrophotography start at around a thousand dollars, and that doesn't include the telescope! If you're seriously interested in astrophotography, there are many ways it can be done _without_ a telescope, using something called a "barn-door" mount. A good first step would be to read Michael Covington's excellent book on astrophotography, and learn what is possible.

Answer 3

For $300 you can get a telescope capable of seeing some detail on planets as well as some galaxies, nebula, and of course, the moon.

Basically, you'll want the telescope with the most aperture you can find which has tracking ability. Many of them now come with goto systems. I like to avoid these on smaller telescopes because they detract from the amount you can spend on aperture and they will show you 30,000 things you don't care to see, like stars that all look the same, or things you can't see in a telescope that size.

There is one justification for having goto in smaller telescopes though, and that IS astrophotography.

Astrophotography works by collecting light from an object over a period of time. Through this method, it can make visible on film (or digitally) that which wasn't otherwise visible. Even if the goto points your telescope to a galaxy which you can't see in the telescope, the camera attached to your telescope might be able to pick it up.

So this is what you should look for in your price range...
A Celestron, Meade, or maybe even Zhummell or Orion newtonian reflector or schmidt newtonian. It must be on a STURDY german equatorial mount or less preferably, one of those "single arm" mounts and must have tracking ability (motor drive/clock drive).

Newer small telescopes tend to be off poorer quality than older ones so you may want to look for used ones at http://www.astromart.com or http://www.cloudynights.com
The older Celestrons on the wooden tripods and Vixen Polaris german equatorial mounts are good, sturdy telescopes.

Buy the largest you can afford.

To learn more about telescopes, go to http://members.aol.com/siriusbc/telescopes.htm

Answer 4

Hi. For any successful astrophotography you need the ability to track. This means a scope mount that is driven in such a way as to counter the Earth's rotation. There are no good mounts with drives and a scope that are new for that price. I would look for a high quality used telescope after studying up on them. (Try to save a bit more. The difference between a $300 unit and a $600 unit is significant.)

Answer 5

No telescope by itself is capable of astrophotography. You're going to need to get a telescope and an appropriate camera, which is going to be hard on a $300 budget. You'll need at least a 4.5 inch telescope (that's the size of the primary mirror) and a light camera that won't overweigh the telescope (it has to be able to support the camera without throwing off the drive) - you'll need a telescope that can track objects, so one with a drive on it.

Answer 6

A used reflector with equatorial mount and motor drive with a cheap 35 mm body (you will not need a lens) and an adapter for the camera is what you should be looking for in that price range. Astrophotography is as much an art as a technique, you will need a lot of patience.

Answer 7

You probably can't get a decent telescope for that kind of money. A good alternative would be to buy, Red Shift, a CD that will amaze you, you can visit any planet in the solar system and even place yourself on one Jupiter's moons to view the giant planet from that angle.

Answer 8

Let me tell you that one of the most important things is the seeing conditions were you live.If there is too much light from your city , seeing conditions will not help you.
About the telescope,try to make it by your own, a Newtonian is easy to make,at lest 20 cm of mirror diameter of course you will need a good guiding system and an ecuatorial mount.
A ccd camera can be made with a web camera.

Answer 9

Look on Meade's website. I think they might have 10 inch telescopes that might be around $300. Depending on where you live will determine how powerful you will have to get the telescope for what you want it for. Do you live next to a city in the city, etc?

Answer 10

You can email me directly.
I can let you know what I have. There may be something that is good for you.
Steve