hi

[james }br0{]

im new

i need help with getting a good telescope

well i live in australia, price range <1000-1200, if anyone in australia or others who know about telescopes

heres some i was thinking on getting not sure which one tho, any help will be appreciated

http://www.astronomyonline.com.au/cache/it...c.html?cache=no (http://www.astronomyonline.com.au/cache/item-736public.html?cache=no)

http://www.astronomyonline.com.au/cache/it...c.html?cache=no (http://www.astronomyonline.com.au/cache/item-1093public.html?cache=no)

http://www.astronomyonline.com.au/cache/it...c.html?cache=no (http://www.astronomyonline.com.au/cache/item-1774public.html?cache=no)

http://www.astronomyonline.com.au/cache/it...c.html?cache=no (http://www.astronomyonline.com.au/cache/item-1637public.html?cache=no)

[antoniseb]

I moved this thread to Equipment and Accessories, since it is not totally off topic.

[Darrrius]

Hi and welcome to the forum

check this link out for good info on astronomy equiptment, although I think its more for astrophotography

http://www.universetoday.com/forum/index.p...?showtopic=5084 (http://www.universetoday.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=5084)

[seeker372011]

James, if you are primarily interested in visual observing why not consider a 8 or 10 inch dobsonian?
you will have money left to buy some eyepieces and other accessories and you will get a lot of bang for your buck

[vet]

if you're a newbie, save your loot mate---i'd find a Hardin 10" dob---usa price $500. why? as the sky & tel review pointed out, there is a Big leap in visual performance from an 8" vs. 10"---you'll see globulars resolved, fantastic planetary detail that no 6" mak may show, and actual structure in major galaxies and other deep-sky targets---the 6" newtonian you show sells on ebay for +/- us$150---and no-way should any 41/4" newtonian go for $400+---a $100 perhaps.

the maks are great for planetary use, but will leave you looking at 'fuzzy' blobs on any but the brightest deep-sky objects. after 1/2 century, i've seen so many 'pack-it-in' from starting with small aperture telescopes---they expect to see 'near' photo views, and while even a 10" requires some 'learned' observational skills, dark skies or a nebular filter for things like 'the veil', M42, M27, eta carina, etc., w/o enough aperture, you may lose interest---i'd put money on that. the often quoted, 'aperture rules' is quite correct.

even 10" dobs and home digi-cams are making a big splash as 'entry-level' gear.
and the major factor is avoiding 'small-aperture-angst'. and if and when you outgrow your 10" dob? you'll easily recoup most of your loot. the major factor is to 'stoke-the-fire' of obsevational joy. That is addictive.

what to do if you wish more? look for an older meade 10" or celestron 11"---you may wish to do that now. prices are within your stated budjet, although i have no idea of 'down-under' costs---but as a lover of the night sky, i definately wish i'd been born Aussie---it wasn't 'till i lived in hawaii that i ever truly saw the Milky-Way as clearly an 'edge-on' spiral galaxy---and no telescope required---the most awesome object i'd ever seen---lucky guy---