Looking for a Telescope

Parent Cafe
1

<p>Are there any amateur astronomers on CC? DH and I are looking for a telescope and aren’t sure what we’re doing. We own a cabin on top of a big hill in northern Maine, and the night sky is amazing, since there is no light pollution. We know NOTHING about telescopes, so any suggestions people have would be much appreciated. Would it make sense to look for a used telescope, or should we buy a new one? What type would be good for beginners? etc.!</p>

2

<p>I was obsessed with the night sky at one point, but that was like 6th grade. Can you see the Andromada with the naked eye where you live?</p>

<p>I don’t know anything about telescopes btw. Once, I tried to look at the sky with a pair of cheap binoculars with 5x zoom… It didn’t help me very much</p>

3

<p>If you have no experience, Dobsonian reflector is the only way to go. My wife and d. when she was 9 built an 8" one. They are stable, easy to use, don’t rely on any kind of mechanized equipment (unless you choose), and gathers far more light than the table-top toystore variety. </p>

<p><a href=“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobsonian_telescope[/url]”>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dobsonian_telescope&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Of the storebought Dobsonians, the Zhumells generally have the best optical quality.</p>

<p>Having said that, you really should start with really good binoculars. You will learn the sky better that way, and will make your future enjoyment of the telescope that much greater.</p>

4

<p>MaineLonghorn, how much are you and your DH willing to spend?</p>

<p>You can get a decent telescope for a few hundred dollars and good ones and better cost typically $1000+.</p>

<p>If you’re not willing to spend too much, look instead in buying Astronomy Binoculars, which you can get a quality one for between ~$60 and ~$120</p>

<p>In fact I recommend starting with good astronomy binoculars. They last longer than telescopes and can help you learn the sky better before moving on to telescopes. They are also, as you could tell, easier to use, set up, and allow for quick peeks whenever. Buying a telescope can be a considerable financial investment, so starting with binoculars can see if this is something you and your DH will really pursue and use enough. </p>

<p>In general though, you should NOT buy a telescope under $200 and do NOT buy telescopes from department stores, tv commercials, nature/science stores in the mall, etc. I would recommend buying from serious telescope retailers, there are plenty of sites online and perhaps retailers you can go to and check out. Good brands I know of are Celestron, Orion and Meade. You can check out their site for dealership locations.</p>

5

<p>I would go to a good camera shop before you buy anything ( someplace that develops film) as they should be able to explain lenses to you.
My dad was a serious hobbyist who took amazing photos of the night sky.</p>

<p>Oh! Theres an app for that.:wink:
[Star</a> Walk - Interactive Astronomy Guide](<a href=“http://vitotechnology.com/star-walk.html]Star”>Star Walk | Vito Technology)</p>

6

<p>Not a telescope expert by any means, but we’ve had fun with one of these:</p>

<p>[Astroscan</a> Plus Telescope - best selling beginner telescope | Edmund Scientific](<a href=“http://www.scientificsonline.com/astroscan-plus-telescope.html]Astroscan”>Not Found | - ScientificsOnline.com)</p>

7

<p>I’ll second mini’s and cortana’s recommentations. Start with binoculars. Are there any amateur astronomy groups in your general area?</p>