I am looking to buy a reasonably priced (say £120 - £150) refractor telescope suitable for a beginner. Can anyone in the UK recommend one?
2007-10-08 01:50:24 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
My first scope was an Orion Observer 70mm EQ Refractor. It was pretty amazing what that little scope would pull in. Very reasonable priced too.
oriontelescopes.com
2007-10-08 01:58:30 · answer #1 · answered by B. 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it depends on how much money you want to spend. the bigger the telescope is the dimmer the objects you will be able to view. but since you are new to this i would suggest getting a cheap refractor. images come out clear and usually they are light and portable and easy to use. i find that most people will use their telescopes more if they are easy to set up and move around. and if for some strange reason you lose interest in astronomy then you wouldnt have invested a whole lot of money. and if you find that you love it, you can always save some money and buy a bigger more advanced telescope. hope this helps!!!!!!! any telescope by MEAD, CELESTRON or ORION are good scopes.
2016-05-18 22:55:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I refer you to the answer I have just submitted for a very similar question to this one.
The website www.warehouseexpress.com has some good offers although they fall slightly above the budget limit that you quote. However the Evostar range of refractors are fine - I've had one of the 120mm models for a few years now and they are good performers.
Unless you are specifically only interested in refractors, the TAL-1 is also highly recommended. I had one of these as well a few years back and they are undoubtedly the best optically in their class.
2007-10-10 01:20:03 · answer #3 · answered by Philip B 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Giving someone in the UK telescope sources in the USA is not helpful, since most if not all US dealers won't ship to the UK!
I agree with the suggestion of saving a bit more and buying a 6" Dobsonian reflector, as it will be a much more satisfactory beginner's scope than a small refractor. But, if your heart's set on a small refractor, consider the Evostar-90 (AZ3):
http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/refractors
But only £20 more will get you the Skyliner-150P Dob:
http://www.opticalvision.co.uk/astronomical_telescopes/sky-watcher/dobsonians
This has nearly twice the resolution and three times the light gathering power, and is on a much more solid mount.
2007-10-08 05:03:59 · answer #4 · answered by GeoffG 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
See telescopes.com
See Astromart.com
See Cloudynights.com
See Meade.com
begin all internet addresses with http://www.
to use those links...
I use a Meade 6 Inch Refractor Telescope which I purchased used for $500. Then I had to buy a mount, Eyepieces, diagonals and filters. You can spend a fortune on good
eyepieces, and several hundred dollars on a mount. It all depends upon what you want to see, and how much you are willing to pay for it. A "really good" refractor telescope will cost from $3000 to $5000 for the telescope. I didn't have that much to spend.
2007-10-08 02:04:33 · answer #5 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd suggest you keep on saving and buy a 6" Dob instead of a cheap refractor. Better image quality, far more light gathering capacity and far better suited to the murky skies ot the UK than a small refractor.
2007-10-08 02:02:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Celestron do a very good range of first scopes - 150 will get you a motorised goto drive built in!
2007-10-08 01:53:31 · answer #7 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea if it's any good or not, but Aldi have one for £70 in this weeks special offers:
http://uk.aldi.com/special_buys/productnl_412.html
2007-10-08 01:59:57 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋