telescope for beginners

[The_Radiation_Specialist]

I am an absolute beginner with low budget (around $100), can you please tell me which is the best telescope around with the following requirements in order:
1) price (less or equal $100)
2) zoom power
3) portability

I just want to be able to see the brightest planets and the moon of course.

[Dave Mitsky]

I'm afraid that there really are no worthwhile telescopes available at that price. If you can manage to save a bit more, you'll be able to purchase something worth having. Whatever you do, don't buy a department store telescope (especially a cheap GoTo telescope) that is sold on the basis of extremely misleading high magnification claims or Hubble Space Telescope photos on the box. A magnification of 50 to 60 times per inch of aperture (the diameter of the objective lens or primary mirror) is a practical maximum but in practice is not often achieved due to atmospheric turbulence (known as bad seeing in astronomy circles).

This low cost refractor may suit your needs - http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=5154&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=4&iSubCat=13&iProductID=5154

The Orion StarBlast is a very capable little reflecting telescope for the money but is a bit more expensive - http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=4644&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=4&iSubCat=8&iProductID=4644

Remember that, generally speaking, the larger a telescope's aperture is, the better the views are. A 6" Newtonian on a Dobsonian mount is a very good first telescope - http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=365&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=4&iSubCat=8&iProductID=365

You should have a look at some of these links before making a purchase:

http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/scopes/article_241_1.asp

http://skyandtelescope.com/howto/basics/article_260_1.asp

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=ss&id=9

http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html

http://www.r-clarke.org.uk/starting_astro.htm

http://www.floridastars.org/telescop.html

http://www.celestron.com/education/tel4ast.htm

Dave Mitsky

[hansolo1]

i see your post says you want zoom power which isn't important any telescope that boasts of zoom you do not want it will just be a piece of junk that will not yield clear views; the purpose of a telescope is not to magnify but to gather light, buy a good set of binoculars 10x50 and some star charts and a planesphere and save up your money till you have around 300 and buy a dobsonian clear views and ease of use

[The_Radiation_Specialist]

thanx for the advice :-)
I think I will save a bit more to buy a better telescope. Until then I think Im just gonno have a look at Hubble website for slighty old views of planets(but they dont change a lot, do they?)

[mickal555]

thanx for the advice :-)
I think I will save a bit more to buy a better telescope. Until then I think Im just gonno have a look at Hubble website for slighty old views of planets(but they dont change a lot, do they?)

They do compared to the deep sky objects...