Telescope

Discussion in 'Astronomy, Exobiology, & Cosmology' started by Bachus, Sep 24, 2002.

  1. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    I want to buy a telescope but since i'm a beginner i have no clue what i should look for. Diameter etc wise. Could someone advise me on it?
     
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  3. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    Nevermind there is a telescope near my house where visitors can drop by (for a small fee). Better look there 1st

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  5. Enqrypzion Registered Senior Member

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    yep I could. I have two self-built telescopes myself.
    What kind of telescope you should uy depends mainly on two things:

    - what you want to do with it (objects)
    - your budget

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    also it matters how dark your skies are; if you live in a city you'll need a bigger telescope to see the same as on the countryside with a smaller one.

    Furthermore you might think about building one on your own. This'll save you loads of money (ie. I have a 15 cm f=1200 Nexton telescope for about $350, while it might cost $1000 in a shop), but if you have no-one to guuide you through the building process it might be difficult.

    Anyway. If you want to use your telescope mostly for deepsky (galaxies, nebulas), see that the diameter is big relatively to the focus distance. If you want to look more at planets and the moon, with large , it's more useful to have a long focus point. A value can be given to a telescope that can be conducted by the following formula:

    F= f/d

    where f is the focus point (e.g. in my case 1200mm) and d is the diameter (in my case 150mm, so my telescope has F=8). This is quite average. Minimum is about F=4, and useful maximum will be around 12 or so.. dunno that exactly.


    It's also good to look at the tripod, or whatever the telescope stands on. A simple tripod as sold with low-budget telescopes is actually far worse than making something yourself with wood

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    Tripods with aliminium bars of just a centimeter thick won't stand ferm on the ground anyway (kinda of a ~duh~). Remember that using 180x zoom will also magnify the vibrations of the tripod and telescope with 180x...

    well this should give you a start, don't mind to ask more!
     
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  7. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    I live outside of a city so it should get dark enough. I'm a beginner and making one would be far to difficult for me (now atleast) since none of my friend are interrested in stuff like that. Pretty nice advise though. As for what i want to use it for is mostly near earth object (planets and maybe a close star) And bugetwise i'd say for start about €300 (if that is too less please say so). I think i'll go to the observatory near my place to check that out (just saw they even give courses and such

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    . Entrance fee is only €3 so that is a fair price i think. Thanks for the advise.
     
  8. Xevious Truth Beyond Logic Registered Senior Member

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    964
    My serious reccomendation is the SpaceProbe '3 from Orion. It is a '3 Newtonian Reflector telescope, with good quality optics, and the price is unbeatable. I used to tutor Astronomy for San Antonio College, and this was to be my public demo telescope. I left my job before I was able to use it for it's intended purpose.

    They are currently On sale for $88 including shipping. (They are normally $130).

    It didn't break my bank, and the optics are unbeatable. It weighs only 16lbs, so it goes where I want. You can get a clock drive for it for no more than $40. Parts and accessories for it are inexpensive. You might laugh at me, considering this telescope is meant for younger people, but it beats the PANTS off of Tasco, Jason, Galileo, and other telescope companies which put products out in the same price range. Orion is well known and respected brand. There is nothing better for an adult novice than this little gem!!

    For More information and to order:
    http://www.telescope.com/shopping/p...e=PRODUCT&iMainCat=4&iSubCat=8&iProductID=379

    Orion ships to the US and Canada ONLY. If you will tell me which country you are in, I will be glad to find a dealer for you which carries the telescope.
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2002
  9. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    They only ship to the USA and Canada

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    I live in the Netherlands Well atleast for now.
     
  10. Xevious Truth Beyond Logic Registered Senior Member

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    Orion lists a dealer in the Netherlands. I am also going to include the dealers in Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and France. Even assuming that the telescope I suggest is one they do not normally carry, they will probably be able to obtain it for you, since they carry Orion insturments.

    The Netherlands
    Aquarius Optical Instruments
    Betuwe Singel 14
    4033 KN Lienden
    info@aquariusoptics.com
    http://www.aquariusoptics.com
    Phone: [31] 034-460-4340
    FAX: [31] 034-460-4437

    Belgium
    Urania Diensten
    J. Mattheessensstraat 60
    2540 Hove
    astroshop@urania.be
    http://www.astroshoponline.com
    Phone: [32] 03-455-2493
    FAX: [32] 03-454-2297

    United Kingdom
    Broadhurst, Clarkson & Fuller
    63 Farringdon Rd.
    London, United Kingdom
    telescopehouse@telescopehouse.co.uk
    http://www.telescopehouse.co.uk
    Phone: [44] 017-140-52156
    FAX: [44] 018-195-39909

    SCS Astro
    The Astronomy Shop
    1 Tone Hill
    Wellington, Somerset TA21 OAU
    scsastro@mail.eclipse.co.uk
    http://www.scsastro.co.uk/
    Phone: [44] 1823-665-510
    FAX: [44] 1823-661-545

    Germany
    O.S.D.V. Gottker/Pietsch GMBH
    Munsterstrasse 111
    48155 Munster, Germany
    Phone: 02-506-2900
    FAX: 02-506-2912

    France
    Le Chasseur D'Etoiles
    130, Avenue De Versailles
    75016 Paris
    Phone: 01-45-20-09-99
    FAX: 01-42-88-00-92
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2002
  11. Enqrypzion Registered Senior Member

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    69
    ey bachus where do you live? I live in the netherlands aswell so...
    I live near Hilversum in a smallish village
     
  12. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    I live near Amsterdam

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    . Thanks for the addresses Xevious. I should order one next month (after my course on stars

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    )
     
  13. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    Why is it $88 in the USA and €234 in europe?
     
  14. Xevious Truth Beyond Logic Registered Senior Member

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    964
    It has to do with retail middle-men, international shipping, and the like. I can buy it for $88 because I am buying it from the manufacturer AND it's on sale. The telescope's normal price in America is $130. If I was buying this same telescope from a retail shop, it would cost me $155.

    In your case this is a special-order item (assuming the dealer does not normally carry them), imported from overseas by an importer. They take their share, to say nothing about expensive international shipping.

    Hey, maybe if we look into it I could obtain one for you and ship it. It might be cheaper...
     
    Last edited: Sep 25, 2002
  15. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    That would be a perfect solution

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    I am planning to buy one around this time next month so i'll keep in touch.
     
  16. Xevious Truth Beyond Logic Registered Senior Member

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    That's fine with me, buddy. I need to let you know however that I can't guarentee that it will sill be $88 next month.
     
  17. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    Well even on the normal price it's still a hell of a lot cheaper then here in europe

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    but since i have to buy a new router and modem i do not currently have the $

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  18. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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  19. Xevious Truth Beyond Logic Registered Senior Member

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    Ah yes, Bachus! A short tube rich-field Refractor. This would be a nice telescope to have as well. If you can get it and your happy with it, by all means!
     
  20. chroot Crackpot killer Registered Senior Member

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    2,350
    The ST80 is a decent little beginner scope. It's going to have significant chromatic aberration, which will make it unusable for photography. If you find the violet halos bother you visually, you may want to consider a minus-violet filter.

    - Warren
     
  21. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    got a mail from the company who sells the stuff that to see both the planets and far away objects i should consider buying a "normal" telescope

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    Strange cause on the site it says that far away objects are this scope's favorit and you can see the planets good aswell. So now he's sort of saying the complete opposite then what it says on the site.
     
  22. Xevious Truth Beyond Logic Registered Senior Member

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    964
    Websites are all about marketing. The guys you probably talk to are the Telescope techs themselves. It does sound like you have one compay talking out of both sides of it's mouth because it really is. You have the marketers trying to push that little scope, and the techs who will tell you "how it is".

    I personally wouldn't mind having that ST80 telescope. It's a nice little spotter, portable, goes where you want to, and unlike the SpaceProbe 3 I suggested, you can use it for terrestrial viewing as well. So, it's really 6 of one and a half-dozen of the other. Both telescopes (Spaceprobe 3 and ST80) each have there own advantages and disadvantages.
     
  23. Bachus Registered Senior Member

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    1,271
    yeah i liked the portable bit since i have to travel a few miles to be in a really really dark place

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    . So i understand the ST 80 is a good scope. Is the 90mm version much better (ie worth the extra $ )?
     

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