Great Telescope for $200... Any suggestions?

[TheFantasticG]

So my Wife has been wanting a really good telescope for years, and just never made it round to picking one out because she has a genetic defect that makes her incapable of making decisions randomly. I've been looking through the different types of telescopes, reviews, and all that, but when it comes down to it, I'm just not sure which is the best bang for the buck. I don't mind spending alittle more if its worth it, but there again I have no way of knowing. I'd rather not go through the hassle of returning blah blah blah. Purchasing the right one in the first place would be much preferrable.

She wants to be able to see plants in our solar system in the least. Like I said, if I have to save up some more to do so, thats just what I'll have to do.

Any suggestions?

[ChrisTX]

My daughter has a Celestron Astromaster with an equatorial mount. It's a good scope for what we paid. The EQ mounts are far better than the azimuth, because you can smoothly control the movement of the scope on axis. I got a 2x Barlow piece to get in even closer. If you spend money on a telescope, research the tripods more than the glass itself. Seeing a far away planet is fun, but trying to get a jiggling telescope to keep up with it is not. You can spend a lot of money on them.

Of course, I immediately bought the adapters to plug my camera into it.

[Hanky]

What Chris said, I bought this huge reflecter thing on HSN and it wound up as garage sale fodder.

[markfh]

Ok, if you want to spend $200.00 how about you just give me the cash and call it a day. Why? You can't get a good enough telescope to see squat for that little money.

If all you want to do is see the planets, and some of their moons, then buy a good pair of binoculars which $200.00 will do just fine.

Now, after you see the planets, and some of their moons then you can check out our moon.

After you get bored with all the above then you can sell what ever you buy in your next garage sale.

Now, if you really want to observe the skys then you're going to spend a little more money. Yes, you will want to have a good tripod but just like photography the glass is paramount.

If you're serious about wanting a telescope I suggest you spend $35.00 and join the Houston Astronomical Society. You can come to the once a month meetings we have at U of H and borrow one or more of several telescopes of different types. That way you can see if you're really interested and check out just how much it cost to get into this hobby.

It's like photography, if you don't invest in good enough equipment your results will be disappointing.

There are many more amazing things to see in the night sky and even some in the day sky and a good telescope allows you to really observe them. Astronomy can be addictive and a very expensive hobby so watch out...

[TheFantasticG]

Yeah, thanks Mark, but not really what I was asking information on. I'll pass it on to her regardless though.

[Steve Balderrama]

I suggest going to some meetings and star parties of the Houston Astronomical Society ( Houston Astronomical Society ) and trying different things out and seeing what you "really" can see with a telescope. If you are expecting images like what you see on the side of boxes, you will be disappointed. If you take the time to train your eye, it can be a great hobby.

and I'll second that nearly any $200 dollar telescope is going to be bad. $200 on binoculars is much better.

[TheFantasticG]

Thanks, and again, I'll pass it on to my Wife as the telescope is for her, not me.

[wwong]

+1 Steve.

At 1000mm (35mm) at 100% corp, this is what Jupiter, the largest in the solar system, looks like



If you have a chance to visit Brazos Bend State Park on a Saturday 3pm-10pm, check out the George Observatory. There are people stargazing whom are very friendly and are willing to let you see their scopes and you can ask them questions.

-Wilfred

[ChrisTX]

With the Barlow, 1/4 of the moon will completely fill up the view piece. It would be nice to drop a grand on a nice computer controlled telescope, but I'm not into it that much, and my daughter wanted one for her birthday. The occasional peep at the moon or a planet is not something I'm prepared to sink that much money into. This one gets a tiny bit of CA on the edges if you are a glass snob, but it's not so much that people notice.

If you have money burning a hole, spend as much as you can. If not, these came from a 'less than $200' telescope at 900mm.

[Steve Balderrama]

I will say that there is one $200-ish telescope that has been around forever and actually works pretty well. Good Old Astroscan 2000.

Astroscan Plus Telescope - best selling beginner telescope | Edmund Scientific

Here is a pretty good little article: http://www.deepastronomy.com/what-yo...telescope.html

[wclavey]

Steve, that is an excellent recommendation and you beat me to it...

Also, try checking out Orion Telescopes in CA (Telescopes for Sale and Telescope Accessories at Telescopes.com) - - they have all their equipment categorized by skill level and price. I have bought several complete scopes from them, as well as the parts to build and modify other scopes, back when they sold more of that stuff.

There is also a great astronomy store on the NW side of San Antonio (Analytical Scientific, I think). They have a lot of stuff on the floor that you can touch and try and they had used equipment at one time - - I haven't been there in about 10 years...).

Avoid buying something directly from a retail nature or outdoor store unless you know that is exactly what you want and you have checked the prices elsewhere.

But the Astroscan (above) is a great instrument for the price and the friends I have with them still take them camping or on picnics (fitted with solar filters - - some filter modification required) because they are so handy - - even though they have equipment costing much more.

[TheFantasticG]

Steve, thanks. Thats exactly what I was looking for.

[Steve Balderrama]

I also recommend this book, its really fun reading even if you arn't doing astronomy. :)

Its pretty good at helping beginners through the morass of decisions about telescopes and gear and general astronomy stuff in a humorous fashion.

Pick it up used for cheap, its a small book so it doesn't take long to read.

Amazon.com: Light Hearted Astronomer (9780913135013): Ken Fulton: Books

[TheFantasticG]

Awesome. Thanks again.

[KD5NRH]

Once you know what you want, keep an eye on OpticsPlanet.com - Binoculars, Sunglasses, Night Vision Goggles, Riflescopes, Flashlights, Telescopes, Rangefinders, Microscopes - Hunting, Outdoor, Science, & Military Gear for specials.

Like cameras, aperture is king. For solar system objects, you can get away with a 3-4" refractor or a 5-6" reflector, but for deep space objects, bigger optics make for much better views.

Frankly, if I had an extra $200 for telescope stuff, I'd shop online for a pair of mirrors and build a Newtonian. (Or watch Surplus Shed for refractor lenses) What you can build for $200 is roughly what you could buy for $500+.

Oh, and if you're thinking about shucking out $200 for binoculars, you'll want to put most of that into a tripod and mount for them. Even some $40 Bushnell 10x50s on a stable mount will beat a $200 pair handheld.