Discussion
I’m looking to get a telescope for garden use with my son. I have used one before, although it was a long time ago. Things seemed to have moved on in the last 15 years!
If I get one with a motor and automatic finding; can I still move it manually?
I want one for looking at the moon, planets and occasionally for taking pictures. I don’t known what budget, but I like the look of Celestron ones which are around £200-300. I don’t want to spend £100 and wish I had a better quality one. I’m really after one that gives good detail, relatively easy to use and keeps us interested.
Any advice very welcome.
If I get one with a motor and automatic finding; can I still move it manually?
I want one for looking at the moon, planets and occasionally for taking pictures. I don’t known what budget, but I like the look of Celestron ones which are around £200-300. I don’t want to spend £100 and wish I had a better quality one. I’m really after one that gives good detail, relatively easy to use and keeps us interested.
Any advice very welcome.
Been a few threads but searching can be hit and miss.
Moon is an easy target as are the planets, you won't need any goto stuff to find them. Save that cost in motors and other hardware in getting a sturdy tripod and biggest mirror as a first option? Type of tripod will also need to be taken into account.
BUT, as a possibility, get one you can add the motors to at a later date, upgrade if you decide to take it further. I went that route and still star hop to locate what I want to look that outside the solar system. Doing that I got a larger mirror first time
Photography can get expensive and obsessive. Some photography requires motors and specialist camera's. Personally I take a few of the moon using a DSLR with the appropriate mounts and it can be very frustrating if you mess up one option. You can get phoned non DSLR camera mounts these days as well.
I went reflector route, rather than refracter or cassigrain (see guide below). Idea is I can take the scope to a dark site, reflector is shorter than a refractor. Fits in the boot of the car. And it is a bigger light bucket.
Eye pieces will be boggo and probably gain from an upgrade at some point at the cheaper end but will be OK till you find the need.
Sky at Night guide
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/a-buyers...
First Light Optics shop possible contender
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescop...
I went for the biggest I could afford at the time, a Skywatcher 200 and the resolution means I can see stars as a single point and none too blurry.
The Moon will need a filter for the eye as well. Bright bugger to look at full moon. Off the shelf and will screw into the eye piece.
Edit.
Forgot a bit on the mounts.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/a-basic-...
Moon is an easy target as are the planets, you won't need any goto stuff to find them. Save that cost in motors and other hardware in getting a sturdy tripod and biggest mirror as a first option? Type of tripod will also need to be taken into account.
BUT, as a possibility, get one you can add the motors to at a later date, upgrade if you decide to take it further. I went that route and still star hop to locate what I want to look that outside the solar system. Doing that I got a larger mirror first time
Photography can get expensive and obsessive. Some photography requires motors and specialist camera's. Personally I take a few of the moon using a DSLR with the appropriate mounts and it can be very frustrating if you mess up one option. You can get phoned non DSLR camera mounts these days as well.
I went reflector route, rather than refracter or cassigrain (see guide below). Idea is I can take the scope to a dark site, reflector is shorter than a refractor. Fits in the boot of the car. And it is a bigger light bucket.
Eye pieces will be boggo and probably gain from an upgrade at some point at the cheaper end but will be OK till you find the need.
Sky at Night guide
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/a-buyers...
First Light Optics shop possible contender
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescop...
I went for the biggest I could afford at the time, a Skywatcher 200 and the resolution means I can see stars as a single point and none too blurry.
The Moon will need a filter for the eye as well. Bright bugger to look at full moon. Off the shelf and will screw into the eye piece.
Edit.
Forgot a bit on the mounts.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/a-basic-...
Edited by Zirconia on Wednesday 22 April 07:43
Holding up well. The mirror is the main concern with an open end so look after that, use the lid when ever it is not in use (cooling down outside excepted). For the stars, clusters etc. it is quite good, the resolution is enough to make out a lot and colours of stars that you will never see with the naked eye even with light pollution.
The tripod I went for (EQ5) is sturdy and good for taking the camera though I expect the assembly is slightly overloaded but that is a DSLR minus lens. Details on the moon or looking at Jupiter or Saturn is a breeze with the 8". The shadows of the Galilean moons are quite sharp. Mars, well, I looked at Mars thought the 28"(?) at Greenwich and it was a fuzzy blob at the time (planet wide storm) and this 8" will get you a fuzzy blob any time. At least for my eyes.
It will take the usual upgrades for motors and all the better eye pieces are standard sizes and will fit no problem. I though I was going to be upgrading a few things now no longer working but due to the lack of time at the sharp end last winter, not yet done the spend, see what happens next winter.
Only draw back and one I keep meaning to address is the focuser, it is a bit industrial and will benefit from an after market Crayford but the price varies and time at the eye piece last winter was zilch with the weather. It is good enough for looking through but suffers with a camera on and is a bit clumsy.
Building is something you need to take care with, drop a weight on your foot and its bye bye toes. There is a set way to do it and balance it correctly, take it methodically and it goes together first time every time.
Lining the up the eq mount to the Pole star can be done with a dedicated finder or by eye. Depends if you will be tracking, the finder rings can be fiddly to get used to or you star hop. Once set up correctly only one adjust needed as the Earth moves for the stars.
Best upgrade for least bucks is the red dot finder. The finder scope, though good, is not as quick once you zero in the red dot finder.
Edit. I expect the other brands with similar set to be equal I suppose. I went Skywatcher as the local telescope shop (sadly shut now) had them on display and I could go play with them. If the OP can get to a local astronomy club or if there is a shop near by, looking at them is a great opportunity to help decide.
Also for the OP, bear in mind as the days get longer it will get later in the evening before you can get any useful time and warmer atmospheres means more disturbance (stuff really shimmers as the mirror cools and air interferers with light). Winter is the better time.
The tripod I went for (EQ5) is sturdy and good for taking the camera though I expect the assembly is slightly overloaded but that is a DSLR minus lens. Details on the moon or looking at Jupiter or Saturn is a breeze with the 8". The shadows of the Galilean moons are quite sharp. Mars, well, I looked at Mars thought the 28"(?) at Greenwich and it was a fuzzy blob at the time (planet wide storm) and this 8" will get you a fuzzy blob any time. At least for my eyes.
It will take the usual upgrades for motors and all the better eye pieces are standard sizes and will fit no problem. I though I was going to be upgrading a few things now no longer working but due to the lack of time at the sharp end last winter, not yet done the spend, see what happens next winter.
Only draw back and one I keep meaning to address is the focuser, it is a bit industrial and will benefit from an after market Crayford but the price varies and time at the eye piece last winter was zilch with the weather. It is good enough for looking through but suffers with a camera on and is a bit clumsy.
Building is something you need to take care with, drop a weight on your foot and its bye bye toes. There is a set way to do it and balance it correctly, take it methodically and it goes together first time every time.
Lining the up the eq mount to the Pole star can be done with a dedicated finder or by eye. Depends if you will be tracking, the finder rings can be fiddly to get used to or you star hop. Once set up correctly only one adjust needed as the Earth moves for the stars.
Best upgrade for least bucks is the red dot finder. The finder scope, though good, is not as quick once you zero in the red dot finder.
Edit. I expect the other brands with similar set to be equal I suppose. I went Skywatcher as the local telescope shop (sadly shut now) had them on display and I could go play with them. If the OP can get to a local astronomy club or if there is a shop near by, looking at them is a great opportunity to help decide.
Also for the OP, bear in mind as the days get longer it will get later in the evening before you can get any useful time and warmer atmospheres means more disturbance (stuff really shimmers as the mirror cools and air interferers with light). Winter is the better time.
Edited by Zirconia on Wednesday 22 April 07:52
Was steering clear of getting complicated with Jupiter and Saturn. Seeing the changes of the angle of the rings is interesting but it don't happen over night. The Moon is fascinating, I know people get a bit meh with it but someone walked on it. Aristarchus for example is is interesting to see different states and Tycho is great to marvel at. Different phases also produce some great detail that varies as they change. Law of sod involved though.
There is another object in the solar system you can play with but demands great care and correct kit and absolutely check the filter before every use without fail. Slightest issue, abandon the attempt until corrected. Never ever observe it directly.
There is another object in the solar system you can play with but demands great care and correct kit and absolutely check the filter before every use without fail. Slightest issue, abandon the attempt until corrected. Never ever observe it directly.
I love looking at the moon. The more you look at it through a telescope, the more you realise that its surface has quite a lot of apparent colour variation. Some of this depends on lighting condition but most of it is due to the different chemical composition of the geological features.
Well, 8" example with camera direct and camera on a Barlow. They are not the best, just pulled two at random. My eyepieces are 10 and 25 mm and as a rough guide only. You change magnification by changing the eye piece but with a DSLR on the tube, there are no eyepieces (barlow excepted), the telescope is basically a 1000mm lens.
Might explain detail loss on the second me using the barlow, the focal length is increased.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/the-impo...
First one.
Barlow x2
Might explain detail loss on the second me using the barlow, the focal length is increased.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/the-impo...
First one.
Barlow x2
Zirconia said:
Been a few threads but searching can be hit and miss.
Moon is an easy target as are the planets, you won't need any goto stuff to find them. Save that cost in motors and other hardware in getting a sturdy tripod and biggest mirror as a first option? Type of tripod will also need to be taken into account.
BUT, as a possibility, get one you can add the motors to at a later date, upgrade if you decide to take it further. I went that route and still star hop to locate what I want to look that outside the solar system. Doing that I got a larger mirror first time
Photography can get expensive and obsessive. Some photography requires motors and specialist camera's. Personally I take a few of the moon using a DSLR with the appropriate mounts and it can be very frustrating if you mess up one option. You can get phoned non DSLR camera mounts these days as well.
I went reflector route, rather than refracter or cassigrain (see guide below). Idea is I can take the scope to a dark site, reflector is shorter than a refractor. Fits in the boot of the car. And it is a bigger light bucket.
Eye pieces will be boggo and probably gain from an upgrade at some point at the cheaper end but will be OK till you find the need.
Sky at Night guide
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/a-buyers...
First Light Optics shop possible contender
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescop...
I went for the biggest I could afford at the time, a Skywatcher 200 and the resolution means I can see stars as a single point and none too blurry.
The Moon will need a filter for the eye as well. Bright bugger to look at full moon. Off the shelf and will screw into the eye piece.
Edit.
Forgot a bit on the mounts.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/a-basic-...
Thanks very much for the info and links. I will take a read.Moon is an easy target as are the planets, you won't need any goto stuff to find them. Save that cost in motors and other hardware in getting a sturdy tripod and biggest mirror as a first option? Type of tripod will also need to be taken into account.
BUT, as a possibility, get one you can add the motors to at a later date, upgrade if you decide to take it further. I went that route and still star hop to locate what I want to look that outside the solar system. Doing that I got a larger mirror first time
Photography can get expensive and obsessive. Some photography requires motors and specialist camera's. Personally I take a few of the moon using a DSLR with the appropriate mounts and it can be very frustrating if you mess up one option. You can get phoned non DSLR camera mounts these days as well.
I went reflector route, rather than refracter or cassigrain (see guide below). Idea is I can take the scope to a dark site, reflector is shorter than a refractor. Fits in the boot of the car. And it is a bigger light bucket.
Eye pieces will be boggo and probably gain from an upgrade at some point at the cheaper end but will be OK till you find the need.
Sky at Night guide
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/a-buyers...
First Light Optics shop possible contender
https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescop...
I went for the biggest I could afford at the time, a Skywatcher 200 and the resolution means I can see stars as a single point and none too blurry.
The Moon will need a filter for the eye as well. Bright bugger to look at full moon. Off the shelf and will screw into the eye piece.
Edit.
Forgot a bit on the mounts.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/a-basic-...
Edited by Zirconia on Wednesday 22 April 07:43
Is this the one you mentioned;
https://www.picstop.co.uk/reflector-telescopes/sky...
Mike
^^^^^
Probably more concise than my rambling. Took me many months to decide going through the various versions and looking at them in the flesh. Note down the + and - on a note pad or something. I was driven by my local conditions with light pollution and what parts of the sky I could see from my garden.
Probably more concise than my rambling. Took me many months to decide going through the various versions and looking at them in the flesh. Note down the + and - on a note pad or something. I was driven by my local conditions with light pollution and what parts of the sky I could see from my garden.
Another guide from sky night just popped up in me twitter feed
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/buyers-g...
Dated 16th April
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/buyers-g...
Dated 16th April
Think another one of my preferred options with the reflector was being able to stand at the tube comfortably, refractor I saw on display meant being at the end of the tube or using a mirror adapter to see in. Or a suitable mount to get it to my height. If I had the money I would have both.
Red dot finder is the mutts.
I was going to get a laser but I am on the flight path for landing at Cardiff. Plod are often over as well, don't think they are a good idea really when the red dot does a good job.
Red dot finder is the mutts.
I was going to get a laser but I am on the flight path for landing at Cardiff. Plod are often over as well, don't think they are a good idea really when the red dot does a good job.
T5SOR said:
Thanks very much for the info and links. I will take a read.
Is this the one you mentioned;
https://www.picstop.co.uk/reflector-telescopes/sky...
Mike
Sorry, missed this. One I mentioned was just an example. Don't rush it, get it right and it will get more use.Is this the one you mentioned;
https://www.picstop.co.uk/reflector-telescopes/sky...
Mike
Edited by Zirconia on Saturday 25th April 21:36
Looking at the Moon when it is full is quite a strain on the eye, it is very bright. All the filter is for is to dim it a bit making it easier. A crescent moon would not really need a filter but it is a personal thing. Certainly full moon is bright but that is on my scope.
edit. I have a larger scope, not sure what it is like for smaller mirrors.
edit. I have a larger scope, not sure what it is like for smaller mirrors.
I follow 'sixty symbols' on youtube, a bunch of profs wittering on about their respective fields. Obviously with coronavirus they are all stuck at home and one of the professional astronomers, Professor Mike Merrifield, bought himself a telescope [fully motorized as he finds it difficult to set up himself]. To me the results were pretty impressive, considering. He's imaged galaxies, supernova's and so on.
Now when he was describing what he bought I remembered reading something a while back that is less complimentary, but I think he got it cheaper as he did kickstarter and the results/ease still look good for 'mild amateur' level stuff.
Anyway, it's interesting to see what you can do from the back garden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glOWZoFnB8w
Now when he was describing what he bought I remembered reading something a while back that is less complimentary, but I think he got it cheaper as he did kickstarter and the results/ease still look good for 'mild amateur' level stuff.
Anyway, it's interesting to see what you can do from the back garden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glOWZoFnB8w
I follow a guy on instagram -
https://www.instagram.com/wayneaspley/?hl=en
He once documented his set up as a skywatcher 80ed with an EQ5 motorised mount, sadly it seems to be the best part of a £1k in set up.
He gets some awesome photos though.
https://www.instagram.com/wayneaspley/?hl=en
He once documented his set up as a skywatcher 80ed with an EQ5 motorised mount, sadly it seems to be the best part of a £1k in set up.
He gets some awesome photos though.
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