Telescope help needed! ASAP! Have to order for holidays?

Question

My husband wants a telescope. He has never had one before, but he figures things out quickly. Does anyone know of good package deals, maybe with a dvd to help him find things in the sky? I would like to spend around $250 give/take. I have read many pages and many say start out with bionoculars, but everyone tells me he will be disapointed if he wants a telescope. I also know enough to go somewhere other than Walmart/kmart etc. My head is spinning, so I need an easy way out. Will someone tell me a good tele. to start with. I would love for him to see something interesting like planets or other moons. Forgive me, this is not my strong point. Please give me some different models to look up. Thanks in advance!

You guys are a great help! Thank you so much! I'm sure I will be using the telescope as well. I was looking at a 20x bionoculars, but the websites say you will need a tripod to keep them steady. I just don't want him to be disappointed even though his is very easy to please. He's happy just looking at the stars!

Answer 1

It's generally a good idea to involve the recipient in the decision about the gift of a telescope, because there's a lot of personal taste involved in telescope choice. I know it spoils the surprise, but it also adds to the fun.

That said, the best buy for a serious adult in this price range would probably be an Orion 6" reflector on a Dobsonian mount:
http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=dobsonians/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_id=09185

This package includes a copy of Starry Night software. Orion is a good reliable company; I've bought from them for years and never had a problem.

Answer 2

Hi Here..-

I have a lot of respect for both Geoff and Bob - thay are both correct, and telescopes tend to be kind of a personal choice thing. In this case, I think I favor Geoff's position - sorry Bob! It is true that the Dobsonian will be able to pick out the dim stuff a little better. But I think, for someone who has never really used a scope - everything looks dim. So the brighter you can get it, the better it will look. In fact, I would spend a little more and buy the 8 inch version. It will make a BIG difference in terms of what you guys can see. It's also simple to transport and set up. I bought the 8 inch a while ago for my son - a good investment.

Answer 3

Most important is this. Will you enjoy using it? The mount counts a lot for that, as well as the optics.

A cheap telescope is a very frustrating thing to use. The flimsy mount won't let you point it properly, and the optics may be fuzzy or have color rings around bright objects.

That's why people recommend binoculars instead of a cheap telescope.

This is the cheapest I can recommend.

http://www.telescope.com/control/product/~category_id=refractors/~pcategory=telescopes/~product_id=24688

Decent mount and optics, $300. Orion is perhaps the best inexpensive telescope.

I have enormous respect for Geoff, above. He is a more experienced astronomer than I. But I honestly disagree with him on the choice for a first telescope. I believe a refractor is a better choice for a first telecope than a reflector. More sturdy, easier to use, more portable, more intuitive.

"Explore the planets and scan the heavens for bright deep-sky gems with this low-cost astro package.
Fully multi-coated 80mm f/5.0 optics deliver sharp and bright wide-field views."

A larger reflector, like the Dobsonian recommended above, is better for faint objects like galaxies. So someone with experience, who has looked at all the bright stuff, will prefer that.

"With its big 150mm diameter parabolic primary mirror the XT6 collects nearly 80% more light than a 4.5" reflector, rendering brighter images and greater detail in deep-sky nebulas and star clusters."

But a beginner usually prefers looking at bright things like the moon, planets, and bright star clusters. The refractor is actually better for those.

I own both. Geoff probably does too.

Whatever you do, DO NOT get a telescope advertised by power, like 300 Power! A sure sign of junk.

Don't cheap out. Poor optical instruments are no fun at all.

Answer 4

orion telescopes will ship overnight ,

if you spend 250 for a telescope it's too not a good one.