Great Telescope for $200... Any suggestions?This is a discussion on Great Telescope for $200... Any suggestions? within the Open Talk forums, part of the General Information category; Funny you should mention that, as my Wife keeps mentioning about building her own telescope, but she never does it. ...  6Likes
(#16)
  | | took an arrow to the knee
Posts: 2,149 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Shady Vale, Southland Real First Name: Garret Camera: Canikon D7600 Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 3  LIKES Received: 85 LIKES Given: 37 |
02-27-2011, 06:28 PM
Funny you should mention that, as my Wife keeps mentioning about building her own telescope, but she never does it. I have no idea how to go about it, so I figure before jumping in that end, I'd just get a telescope for her birthday... if she uses it (and if she doesn't, I will) then I'll push her to build her own.
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(#17)
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Posts: 2,976 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Real First Name: Henry Camera: Nikon D300 Can Others Edit My Photos: Yes iTrader Rating: 2 LIKES Received: 20 LIKES Given: 20 |
02-27-2011, 06:35 PM
If you can find this magazine on the shelfs they may have build your own plans. SkyandTelescope.com | | | | |
(#18)
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02-27-2011, 06:43 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFantasticG  Funny you should mention that, as my Wife keeps mentioning about building her own telescope, but she never does it. I have no idea how to go about it, so I figure before jumping in that end, I'd just get a telescope for her birthday... if she uses it (and if she doesn't, I will) then I'll push her to build her own. | I've seen people that spend all their time building and refining telescopes, and never actually using them! | | | | |
(#19)
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02-27-2011, 07:55 PM
If you have a department store refractor, try building a better mount for it. Often the scope itself is usable, but the mount and tripod are junk. "Homemade telescope tripod" in Google will get you some ideas. If I can find the top part of the one I built for a Tasco 60mm I'll post some pics; it cost less than $20 for materials, and took about two hours with a scrollsaw, drill and rasp. Now the $10 flea market scope that wobbled too much to get a good view of the moon actually gives a good image of Saturn. | | | | |
(#20)
| | took an arrow to the knee
Posts: 2,149 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Shady Vale, Southland Real First Name: Garret Camera: Canikon D7600 Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 3 LIKES Received: 85 LIKES Given: 37 |
12-04-2011, 11:57 AM
And she still hasn't done anything... I'm going to buy her this scope for christmas: Celestron Advanced C8 SGT 8" 203mm Catadioptric
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(#21)
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Posts: 1,064 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Real First Name: Mark Camera: Canon 1DsMkII, 7D Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 6 LIKES Received: 11 LIKES Given: 0 |
12-04-2011, 12:21 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFantasticG | Now you're talking. You will have lots of fun with that and you'll be able to see much more than just the moon and planets.
Celestron has pretty good glass. You can upgrade the eyepieces later if y'all really get interested in astronomy. Eyepieces are like lenses on cameras with the better ones making a real difference like L lenses make a difference on Canons.
Now all you need to do is learn how to align it properly for it to track and "goto" what you want to see.
I suggest you join an astronomy club if you can. I'm not sure if there's one out in the Tomball area but I'll check with our club members (Houston Astronomical Society) and let you know.
Congrats... as the saying goes Size DOES matter
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"To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant." Amos Bronson Alcott
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(#22)
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12-04-2011, 01:49 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFantasticG | Can I come over and play?*
*w/the scope that is :) | | | | |
(#23)
| | took an arrow to the knee
Posts: 2,149 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Shady Vale, Southland Real First Name: Garret Camera: Canikon D7600 Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 3 LIKES Received: 85 LIKES Given: 37 |
12-04-2011, 03:03 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by markfh Now you're talking. You will have lots of fun with that and you'll be able to see much more than just the moon and planets.
Celestron has pretty good glass. You can upgrade the eyepieces later if y'all really get interested in astronomy. Eyepieces are like lenses on cameras with the better ones making a real difference like L lenses make a difference on Canons.
Now all you need to do is learn how to align it properly for it to track and "goto" what you want to see.
I suggest you join an astronomy club if you can. I'm not sure if there's one out in the Tomball area but I'll check with our club members (Houston Astronomical Society) and let you know.
Congrats... as the saying goes Size DOES matter | It'll be hers. So it'll be up to her to learn how to use it. I'll set it up and all that funky jazz for her. I'm sure she'll be joining a club as soon as she has the thing figured out. It's cool though, because I know we will be spending a lot of time at BBSP and at Lake Conroe after the sun goes down.
Going to order it next Thursday.... along with my christmas present: Nikon 24-120mm F4 N. So while she's playing with her new glass, I can be playing with mine :D
--------------------------- My Flickr Canon 60D - 65mm MP-E + MR-14EX Nikon D7000 - 1.4x TC APO EX + 150 2.8 HSM EX + Nikon R1
Last edited by TheFantasticG; 12-04-2011 at 03:07 PM..
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(#24)
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Posts: 1,064 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Houston, Texas Real First Name: Mark Camera: Canon 1DsMkII, 7D Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 6 LIKES Received: 11 LIKES Given: 0 |
12-04-2011, 05:41 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFantasticG It'll be hers. So it'll be up to her to learn how to use it. I'll set it up and all that funky jazz for her. I'm sure she'll be joining a club as soon as she has the thing figured out. It's cool though, because I know we will be spending a lot of time at BBSP and at Lake Conroe after the sun goes down.
Going to order it next Thursday.... along with my christmas present: Nikon 24-120mm F4 N. So while she's playing with her new glass, I can be playing with mine :D | There's something on this site you might find interesting for your Nikon and you ..Wife's.. new telescope.  TELESCOPE CAMERA ADAPTERS |TelescopeAdapters.com
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"To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant." Amos Bronson Alcott
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(#25)
| | took an arrow to the knee
Posts: 2,149 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Shady Vale, Southland Real First Name: Garret Camera: Canikon D7600 Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 3 LIKES Received: 85 LIKES Given: 37 |
12-05-2011, 04:52 AM
Much appreciated, Mark. I'll definitely be ordering one of those kits.
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(#26)
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Posts: 1,820 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ft. Stewart, Georgia Real First Name: James Camera: Nikon D700 Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 6 LIKES Received: 37 LIKES Given: 84 |
12-05-2011, 06:42 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFantasticG Much appreciated, Mark. I'll definitely be ordering one of those kits. | Wow, wish I was your wife.LOL I used to shoot through an 8inch Meade LX200 back in the days of film doing 45 minute to one hour exposures until the film reached reciprocity failure. I was shooting Nebulae and other Galaxies. One easy target that is up in the night sky is M42/Orion Nebulae. With digital we are limited to six minute exposures in good dark skies because of image noise. You just take multiple exposures and stack them. Also, you can get a piggyback adapter and mount your camera on top for wide field shots. If the scope is f/10 you can get a focal reducer/flat field corrector and take it down to f/6.3 for imaging. : )
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James : )
Warrior Transition Unit
Ft. Stewart, GA - Nikon D700 & D7000 w/grips , Nikon 24-70 2.8G ED, 105 2.8 VR, 80-200 2.8, 50 & 85 1.8, Sigma 12-24 & 105-500, SB 900 Flash, Nikon R1C1 Macro Flash Kit.
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(#27)
| | took an arrow to the knee
Posts: 2,149 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Shady Vale, Southland Real First Name: Garret Camera: Canikon D7600 Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 3 LIKES Received: 85 LIKES Given: 37 |
12-05-2011, 11:13 AM
Well, it'll be up to her to learn to use it or not. I'm sure when I'm home I'll be the one setting it up for her. Trying to keep it all under $2,000.
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(#28)
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Posts: 1,820 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ft. Stewart, Georgia Real First Name: James Camera: Nikon D700 Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 6 LIKES Received: 37 LIKES Given: 84 |
12-05-2011, 05:36 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheFantasticG Well, it'll be up to her to learn to use it or not. I'm sure when I'm home I'll be the one setting it up for her. Trying to keep it all under $2,000. | The only thing that is a lil bit of a pain is getting polar alignment with an equatorial mount. But, with the go to system it makes it easier. Wishing you guys cloud free nights and dark skies. The Orion Nebulae can easily be seen through that scope. : )
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James : )
Warrior Transition Unit
Ft. Stewart, GA - Nikon D700 & D7000 w/grips , Nikon 24-70 2.8G ED, 105 2.8 VR, 80-200 2.8, 50 & 85 1.8, Sigma 12-24 & 105-500, SB 900 Flash, Nikon R1C1 Macro Flash Kit.
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(#29)
| | took an arrow to the knee
Posts: 2,149 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Shady Vale, Southland Real First Name: Garret Camera: Canikon D7600 Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 3 LIKES Received: 85 LIKES Given: 37 |
12-07-2011, 05:59 PM
Telescope and accessories will be at the house on December 13th... her mind to be blown shortly there after :D
--------------------------- My Flickr Canon 60D - 65mm MP-E + MR-14EX Nikon D7000 - 1.4x TC APO EX + 150 2.8 HSM EX + Nikon R1
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(#30)
| | took an arrow to the knee
Posts: 2,149 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Shady Vale, Southland Real First Name: Garret Camera: Canikon D7600 Can Others Edit My Photos: No iTrader Rating: 3 LIKES Received: 85 LIKES Given: 37 |
12-15-2011, 11:34 PM
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