Telescopes

Where are you in terms of light pollution and what do you want to look at? Sometimes you don't actually need a telescope but a good pair of binoculars instead.

Personally I'm more of a microscope person, I've been wanting to buy one for awhile but since I regularly use research grade microscopes that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, even upward of $500k, nothing really compares anymore.

a_pla5tic_bagWhere are you in terms of light pollution and what do you want to look at? Sometimes you don't actually need a telescope but a good pair of binoculars instead.

Personally I'm more of a microscope person, I've been wanting to buy one for awhile but since I regularly use research grade microscopes that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, even upward of $500k, nothing really compares anymore.

Im living in a downtown area where I will use it mostly on my roof. I world like to look at planets and deep sky stuff. I'm a true beginner so my preferences might change as I get more experienced, but right now that's what I'm hoping to look at.

I've read that binoculars are good but I'd like to get a telescope.

I was looking at this one. Seems decent for what I am looking for. They also sell it for $200 but no package with the light and books.

The first thing to know about telescopes is that diameter is everything. No matter what time you are looking at, wider lens means further magnification. But, focus is a huge problem. Depending on what you want to look at, there are different types for how far and how focused you want.

The refractory telescope
Galileo invented this device to peer at Jupiter and Saturn. They look like your standard toy telescope with adjustable focus. You can hope to see the craters of the moon in detail and dots for Jupiter's moons. They are the cost efficient models that good ones runs for 300-500$. Make sure not to store this telescope in kitchen or room windows. Its creepy.

Lateral focal reflective telescopes (not real name, but its a reflective tele)
These babies are the monsters of telescopes. Their lens width can go as far as you want. There is no limit except for how tall the ladder you have to climb to peer into the eyepiece. Their eyepiece is placed on the side of the tube. Reflective telescopes have one major drawback...human precision sucks at those magnifications. Its really hard to find the target unless you have a robotic GPS locator. You can hope for an 800$ one for a decent useful one.

Compact reflective telescopes (not real name, but its a reflective tele)
These are the super wide, very short reflective telescope with an eyepiece in line with the lens. These too can be monsters in size. Modern observatories use this model in fact. Their magnification is extreme, but cant be sold for under 2000$ and location devices that are insanely expensive. Most amateur astronomers love this one. You can attach adapters to accept high end cameras to take pictures of the sky.

Multiple wavelength telescopes.
Wanna see the universe at 180,000years old? You need a powerful, variable focal lens with microwave detectors. There are 2 in the world and soon 3. ACT in Chile and one in the states and the one in Hawaii will be complete soon. At a cost of 500 billion US, its a little out of reach

well I had a huge reply written out for you, but accidentally shut down my computer.

Here's a quick recap of what I was going to say:

-for $200 don't buy new. It will be shit optics.
-might get a half decent refractor for that money.
-up your budget a bit ($400 range) and you can get a decent 4" or maybe 6" reflector.
-it's all about the eyepieces. you can spend a shit ton on eyepieces.
-a 4" reflector with maybe a 12-16mm eyepiece can see the rings on Saturn no problem
-I have an 8" Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain (Schmidt-Cassegrains are definitely worth looking into, but are a bit pricey usually). I can see rings on Saturn, red spot and bands and 4 largest moons of Jupiter, deep sky objects like Andromeda galaxy and Orion nebula look really cool. This is with 12.5 and 25mm eyepieces. I have a shitty 6.5mm eyepiece I don't use cause it's trash but with a better one objects like the Ring nebula or Dumbbell nebula are visible.

my advice: find an older maybe 4" reflector the from the pre computerized faze that's just a basic telescope and motor drive. If you spend some time and look around you can probably find one with a couple decent eyepieces in your price range

For $600-800 you could get an older 8" Schmidt Cassegrain. Then you're in business.

Bottom line though, any of the cheap refractor scopes are shit and don't waste your money. For your budget go used.

theBearJewIm living in a downtown area where I will use it mostly on my roof. I world like to look at planets and deep sky stuff. I'm a true beginner so my preferences might change as I get more experienced, but right now that's what I'm hoping to look at.

I've read that binoculars are good but I'd like to get a telescope.

I was looking at this one. Seems decent for what I am looking for. They also sell it for $200 but no package with the light and books.

Just realizing I forgot to paste the link in.

http://www.telescope.com/Gift-Center/Beginner-Telescopes/Orion-StarBlast-90mm-AZ-Telescope-amp-Beginner-Barlow-Kit/pc/-1/c/7/sc/21/p/106874.uts?sortByColumnName=SortByRating

After reading your posts Im thinking this will be shit. Lemme know.

theBearJewJust realizing I forgot to paste the link in.

http://www.telescope.com/Gift-Center/Beginner-Telescopes/Orion-StarBlast-90mm-AZ-Telescope-amp-Beginner-Barlow-Kit/pc/-1/c/7/sc/21/p/106874.uts?sortByColumnName=SortByRating

After reading your posts Im thinking this will be shit. Lemme know.

You would want something more in a week. Do you work anywhere to qualify for a promotive account? IIRC they had a pretty good deal on celestron stuff. Otherwise, search the used market for something with like a 6 inch mirror.

theBearJewJust realizing I forgot to paste the link in.

http://www.telescope.com/Gift-Center/Beginner-Telescopes/Orion-StarBlast-90mm-AZ-Telescope-amp-Beginner-Barlow-Kit/pc/-1/c/7/sc/21/p/106874.uts?sortByColumnName=SortByRating

After reading your posts Im thinking this will be shit. Lemme know.

first impression makes it look like a decent deal. But regardless, anything in that price range that's new is going to have shitty optics. Although this one may be acceptable for someone who just wants to watch his neighbour changing.

Find an astronomy forum, I'm sure this exact telescope has been discussed by people who have both used it and know what they're talking about.

I'd still pitch for used so long as everything is still aligned and in good condition, but that's just me.

VinnieFfirst impression makes it look like a decent deal. But regardless, anything in that price range that's new is going to have shitty optics. Although this one may be acceptable for someone who just wants to watch his neighbour changing.

Find an astronomy forum, I'm sure this exact telescope has been discussed by people who have both used it and know what they're talking about.

I'd still pitch for used so long as everything is still aligned and in good condition, but that's just me.

+1 on finding an actual astronomy forum. Also, look into finding a local club. They usually meet once a month or so, and you can get good advice from them, possibly try out some nice stuff, and find a good deal on something used.

I've at least read that cheaper scopes actually have decent optics but the rest of the scope is what suffers in quality. And I can assure you it's annoying when you're trying to take a picture or look at something at 600x mag and the elevator arrives and generates earthquakes in your sample. i.e make sure the tripod is good.

From my perspective, another thing you'll want to do is buy into a scope that has a system associated with it so there's additional components in case you want to upgrade down the line or require different functionality. And form my experience dedicated components to a system are usually better than aftermarket parts that fit other stuff too.

It also looks like you don't need to high of a magnification and that light gathering ability is more important.