What's the best telescope I can get for $500?

Answer 1

I'd go for an 8" dobsonian such as this one - http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=dobsonians/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_id=20004

Use the money left over for accessories or a copy of Nightwatch.

Answer 2

There is no such thing. You can get an 8" light bucket for visual observations just for the fun of it. But then you have to live with a crappy mount and need to know how to find things in the sky be dead reckoning. You also need steady hands to move the instrument to follow your objects of interest.

Not an endorsement... just an idea what this thing looks like:

http://www.meade.com/lightbridge/index.html

Or you buy a fully computerized 130mm scope which will do all the work for you and even let you take decent pictures with your camera but won't make as bright and sharp and enjoyable images as the cheapo mirror tube.

Looks like you have to trade between 50-75% of the light right now for the convenience.

I keep dreaming to buy a telescope myself. But I don't. Not because I don't have the money... I do. I could buy a $5K instrument and would hardly feel the pinch. But what I lack is a dark sky.

:-(

And without a dark sky the best scope is just a Rube Goldberg street light amplifier.

Answer 3

Higginsdj says: "Refractors are good for Planets" but that really isn't true. Most achromatic refractors sold today either have tiny apertures which won't resolve planetary detail or short focal ratios which are loaded with chromatic aberration. The only refractors which are good for planetary observation have large apertures and either long focal ratios or very expensive ED or fluorite lenses. Either way they are VERY expensive.

So, realistically, if your budget is $500, the best telescopes are Newtonian reflectors on Dobsonian mounts. Not equatorial mounts: these are heavy, hard to use and shaky in his price range. I'd get the biggest scope I could afford on this page:
http://www.telescope.com/control/category/~category_id=dobsonians/~pcategory=telescopes/~VIEW_INDEX=0/~VIEW_SIZE=1000000

Answer 4

It all depends on what your interests are. If you are a planet/moon 'freak' then any sized good quality telescope with a solid mount will do. (and Dark skies do not matter)

If you want to see galaxies etc then you need a big light bucket (large mirror diameter) and very dark skies.

Refractors are good for Planets - BUT - only if you get quality optics. The best 'all round' type telescope is the Newtonian reflector (ie a Dobsonian) and an 8" mirror is a good start.