Buying a telescope, need help... 10 points best answer?

Question

I used to do some astronomy with a 4.5" newtonian refracting telescope but the size of the aperture was not great enough to see some objects with the clarity that I would have liked...

That said, I would like to spend between $1000-2000 on a good telescope for astronomy purposes. I REALLY want to do some photography and have a telescope with the motors that lock-on to the celestial coordinates of the object and "goto" functions.

My question is:

What telescope manufacturer do you recommend, what specific telescopes, and what type of imagers?

Thanks!!

Answer 1

Most bang for the buck for astrophotography is Meade's LXD75 8 inch Schmidt Newtonian. Fully goto and ready for photography. About $1200.

Photography is best done with a modified web-cam. These will add about $250. A Cheapie laptop will be required for steering the scope to targets and image processing. About $450 for a good enough laptop.

I will warn you that what you are attempting has a steep learning curve. You can sink a LOT of money and time into learning this art and science.

I should also point out Meade is not known for their friendly customer service. They will fix anything that goes wrong, but it will cost you a lot of frustration and down time. It is a delicate instrument that weighs about 100 lbs and needs to transported to be under a dark sky.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I've only ever owned Meade Telescopes (on my 4th now) and run my own research facility using them. They aren't spectacular telescopes but are the best value for money you can buy (in my opinion).

For astrophotography your better off starting with a Digital Camera piggybacked onto a tracking telescope - end of story. It doesn't have to be a DSLR but it does need to have the ability of taking exposures longer than a couple of seconds and preferably with a release cable so you can trigger it without touching it (lest you cause the scope to vibrate and end up with a blury image.

As others have pointed out, Astrophotography is a steep learning curve, very expensive and can be terribly frustrating. Wait until you've chosen a field (ie Planetary or Deep Sky) then you can worry about what is the best gear for the job.

An 8" GOTO is a good start. SCT or SNT are the cheaper options but a GEM style mount can be time consuming to set up so the basic Alt/Az style may be easier.

The Meade LPI and DSI cameras are cheap and easy to use but only work on the brighter objects at relatively low resolution.

Answer 3

i have in basic terms ever owned Meade Telescopes (on my 4th now) and run my personal study facility utilizing them. they are not magnificent telescopes yet are the finished fee for money you may purchase (in my opinion). For astrophotography your better efficient off putting out with a digital digital camera piggybacked onto a monitoring telescope - end of tale. It would not could be a DSLR even though it does want to have the means of taking exposures longer than a pair of seconds and ideally with a launch cable so that you'll set off it without touching it (lest you reason the scope to vibrate and finally end up with a blury image. As others have suggested, Astrophotography is a steep gaining knowledge of curve, very expensive and may be extraordinarily difficult. Wait till you've chosen a container (ie Planetary or Deep Sky) then you honestly can problem about what's the finished equipment for the pastime. An 8" GOTO is a strong commence. SCT or SNT are the more low priced concepts yet a GEM style mount might want to be time eating to envision so the standard Alt/Az style can be a lot less stressful. The Meade LPI and DSI cameras are inexpensive and easy to apply yet in basic terms paintings on the brighter products at particularly low determination.

Answer 4

For advice on this, you need to speak in person with people who know. Find a local amateur astronomy club and ask.

I strongly recommend you get back into plain observing first. Photography is difficult and expensive. Buy the scope by all means, but wait for a while before trying the photos.

There is a huge array of equipment for astrophotography, for differing purposes. Brilliant shots are taken through 66 mm refractors (which still cost the Earth), and also through 16-inch reflectors on equatorial mounts. Start looking through the scope. THen read about astrophotography. Then look more. Then read more. And more. Then try. And be patient.

Answer 5

HA! ask a telescope question and get 10 different opinions!

Do you belong or have access to a local Astronomy club? If you do, go to one of their star parties and ask questions and look through their telescopes--------- astro-imaging is a whole different ballgame------- and the best astro-photographers spend thousands of dollars on equipment. (typical SBIG camera is $5000+); and a mount capable of long term photography is $1500-$2000 minimum. The alt az goto mounts (I own an LX90) are somewhat photo capable- under about 25 seconds; add a wedge and polar align really well and you might get to a 2-3 minute exposure; but the fork mounts do not really work well for long exposure times.

Now mount that LX90 tube or Celestron tube, or LX200 tube, on something like a Paramount ME ------ mount----- and it's a totally different story. Just research all the requirements for astro-photography before you jump in with both feet.

Now I also own a DSI Pro camera which I "play" with on my alt az mounted LX90-------- about 15 seconds is the best I can get before field rotation and or tracking errors set in------- this is just fine for me since I just play around with imaging-------- and use software to stack a bunch of short images--------and I am not very serious about it------ but my pictures are NOT what you would calI WONDERFUL! Ha!------ I prefer visual astronomy where the LX90 works just fine. Here are a few astro-photos taken with either my LX90 or ETX90 ---------
http://www.flickr.com/photos/boatman1/

Answer 6

Celestron makes very good telescopes, be sure and check them out before you buy. Meade is very good too. Used Telescopes on eBay can be a good possibility. The 8" is an excellent combination of portable and reasonable expense. Those CCD detectors are still expensive but getting cheaper all the time, and can really help to image astronomical objects. I recommend you consider one with a GPS locater included, they can find and track objects very easily.

Answer 7

Hi. The motors and positioning will be the trick here. Some scope bases have GPS and quick alignment built in, but you want a scope with minimal variation moment to moment. Meade, Celestron, Questar (if you can still find one) are a good starting place.

Answer 8

Get the scope and figure it out first, *then* worry about photography.

In this price range you start to see good stuff. You might want to check all the usual references, like Cloudy Nights, Sky & Telescope, Astromart, and so on.

Answer 9

guessing you mean 'newtonian reflector'?

a 4.5" refractor would be a cool tube, I'd keep it.