Telescope recommendations

CFC1 · 14-08-2007, 7:22 PM

The ISS/Shuttle and meteor shower spectacles in our skies this week have prompted me to maybe invest in a small telescope to enjoy any future occurances. I don't want to throw too much dough at it, as I am pretty fickle sometimes and have a garageful of fad and whim buys!

However, I was wondering if I could get something half decent for about £150, and if so, would appreciate any recommendations. I start from a completely ignorant standpoint, not knowing whether a reflector or refractor is best(!!!) or indeed what magnification I would need.

As well as using it to view the heavens, particularly the moon, I live in an area surrounded by mountains and would like to explore these (from my living room!)

Any help is much appreciated!

Cheers!

brendan_dj · 14-08-2007, 7:42 PM

Have a look at the "Which Scope?" link from my website: http://www.cpac.org.uk

Here are some key points from that page:

Find a local astronomy club and pop along and try other people's scopes to see which one is right for you.
Avoid "Tasco" and other scopes commonly found in high-street stores and catalogue shops.
Go to a specialist retailer such as http://www.telescopehouse.co.uk
Consider a good quality pair of binoculars (10x50 is the best specification for beginner astronomers. You can clearly see the moons of Jupiter and the rings of saturn)
Avoid scopes which emphasises their magnification power. Spend the money on good quality optics rather than magnification.
Russian made "TAL-1" scopes is a good entry level scope. These are around £200

If you live in Essex, drop me a private IM and I let you try my Tal-1

CFC1 · 14-08-2007, 8:08 PM

Brendan: Cheers for taking the time to post, and particularly your kind offer... however, I live in Northen Ireland, so can't take you up on it, much as I'd like to.
I'll have a good look at the links you've suggested!
I didn't think about the binocular route, so I'll have a look at that also!

Cheers!

Looking at some of those binoculars in your link, they seem pretty inexpensive... will they be decent enough quality? I am particularly thinking about the 10x50 for £25! Wouldn't the 15x70 be better still or is it not all about magnification? !!!

Woodywizz · 14-08-2007, 8:13 PM

Admirable that you should come on a public forum CFC and admit to wanting to buy a magnifying implement which will make things look bigger...I believe there are some vacuum implements which may assist as well.

Best of luck in your search

Mylo · 14-08-2007, 8:14 PM

Matt, behave

bjd · 14-08-2007, 8:33 PM

Something like this wold make a good starter 'scope:

http://www.scopesnskies.com/prod/Bre...essier130.html

There are a few good binoculars on that site too.

brendan_dj · 14-08-2007, 8:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFC1

Looking at some of those binoculars in your link, they seem pretty inexpensive... will they be decent enough quality? I am particularly thinking about the 10x50 for £25! Wouldn't the 15x70 be better still or is it not all about magnification? !!!

I wouldn't recommend 10x70. The magnification is too large.
A tiny movement and the object that you're looking at will move dramatically.

Try holding a 10x70 pair and focus on a distant object. You will see what I mean. Even with the steadiest of hands, you will never be able to keep the image still to study it. It will be moving all over the place.

Many beginners are under the false impression that high magnification is best. This is simply not the case. A sharp crisp image focused perfectly in the field-of-view is far far better than a huge blurry fuzzy blob.

Pilotbloke · 14-08-2007, 8:41 PM

I bought a Meade as my first scope a couple of years ago, haven't had a great deal of use out of it

. I went to a small local shop, loads of good advice and he had just taken the scope I bought as PX from someone upgrading, cost about £200 -something. You should be able to find something like this: Skywatcher Explorer 130 locally for about the budget you're thinking of. The advice contacting about a local astronomy group is probably the way to get the ball rolling.

brendan_dj · 14-08-2007, 8:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjd

Something like this wold make a good starter 'scope:

http://www.scopesnskies.com/prod/Bre...essier130.html

There are a few good binoculars on that site too.

This *IS* a TAL-1 ! It has had a name-change. Still made in and imported from Russia.
http://www.scopesnskies.com/prod/Nov...ope/LS150.html

moby125 · 14-08-2007, 8:46 PM

This was on here a while ago;
Calling all telescope owners.

CFC1 · 14-08-2007, 8:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodywizz

Admirable that you should come on a public forum CFC and admit to wanting to buy a magnifying implement which will make things look bigger...I believe there are some vacuum implements which may assist as well.

Grrrrrrrrrrr!!!!

Clearly they are very new to the market... and unfortunately, your efforts were in vain last December when you took part in the pilot experiments!...
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**IronGiant** · 14-08-2007, 11:00 PM

Please stay on topic

Dave

gadget boy · 15-08-2007, 8:09 AM

CFC,

Not sure where you are in NI but I would recommend you drop into Black and Lizars in Wellington Place, Belfast. http://www.blackandlizars.com They have a good selection of scopes upstairs and are very friendly folk.

GB

CFC1 · 15-08-2007, 9:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gadget boy

CFC,

Not sure where you are in NI but I would recommend you drop into Black and Lizars in Wellington Place, Belfast. http://www.blackandlizars.com They have a good selection of scopes upstairs and are very friendly folk.

GB

Cheers GB... I live about 40 miles from Belfast, but I am dragged up there "to shop"

by Mrs CFC nearly every weekend, so I'll give it a go. I remember calling in there 5 or 6 years ago, looking at cameras, I think, and the staff did indeed seem helpful and more importantly, knowledgeable.. I'll pop in on Friday!

DJT75 · 15-08-2007, 9:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFC1

Cheers GB... I live about 40 miles from Belfast, but I am dragged up there "to shop"

by Mrs CFC nearly every weekend, so I'll give it a go. I remember calling in there 5 or 6 years ago, looking at cameras, I think, and the staff did indeed seem helpful and more importantly, knowledgeable.. I'll pop in on Friday!

Get a decent one & you won't have to go shopping with her again, you can just watch her spend from the comfort of your own home

CFC1 · 15-08-2007, 9:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJT75

.... you can just watch her spend from the comfort of your own home

....

brendan_dj · 15-08-2007, 10:50 AM

Good luck with your trip to Belfast!

One point I forgot to mention...
It will be virtually impossible to track the ISS and shooting-stars with a telescope as per your first post. These are sights that are best viewed with the naked eye.

moby125 · 16-08-2007, 8:17 PM

Has anyone bought the bins for £25 yet, if so are they any good?

CFC1 · 17-08-2007, 5:41 PM

I was talking to a salesman in a shop today and was enquiring about telescopes. He asked me how I would use it, and we ascertained that actually, I would use it primarily during the day for looking at the scenery on the mountains etc surrounding my house, but also to a lesser extent, to look at the moon and I also mentioned opportunities like the ISS, space shuttle and meteor showers of the last week... He said that my needs would be better served with a spotting telescope (!)

He showed me one of these (see under telescopes on site -IS60 - F) which had a 15 to 45 magnification lens attached, and in my ignorance, it looked pretty good!

I know I seem have changed the goalpost slightly from my OP,

but can anyone confirm if these implements are any good and will do the job of general purpose day and night observing? Again, any help will be much appreciated!

luke_1983uk · 17-08-2007, 8:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CFC1

I was talking to a salesman in a shop today and was enquiring about telescopes. He asked me how I would use it, and we ascertained that actually, I would use it primarily during the day for looking at the scenery on the mountains etc surrounding my house, but also to a lesser extent, to look at the moon and I also mentioned opportunities like the ISS, space shuttle and meteor showers of the last week... He said that my needs would be better served with a spotting telescope (!)

He showed me one of these (see under telescopes on site -IS60 - F) which had a 15 to 45 magnification lens attached, and in my ignorance, it looked pretty good!

I know I seem have changed the goalpost slightly from my OP,

but can anyone confirm if these implements are any good and will do the job of general purpose day and night observing? Again, any help will be much appreciated!

like you i got really interested in astronamy and yesterday took the plunge and bought a nextstar 130slt, my advise is to get a decent telescope that you will last you years, put your question on the stargazers lounge forum state your budget and ask them for there advise, and what extras you will need?

hope this helps luke

CFC1 · 17-08-2007, 8:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luke_1983uk

like you i got really interested in astronamy and yesterday took the plunge and bought a nextstar 130slt, my advise is to get a decent telescope that you will last you years, put your question on the stargazers lounge forum state your budget and ask them for there advise, and what extras you will need?

hope this helps luke

Excellent! ... Cheers matey ... hope you have many a happy hour with your new purchase!