Looking for beginner's telescope

[Premodial]

Hello there, I am very new to this field, and I was looking for a beginner's telescope.
Also, is there a certain place on where i want to use it? (I live in a suburban area not a lot of light pollution)

[JohnW]

Here are a couple of links to get you started:

http://scopereviews.com/begin.html

http://astronomics.com/main/category.asp/catalog_name/Astronomics/category_name/How%20to%20pick%20a%20telescope/Page/1

In short, there's no one "best" telescope for a beginner. It depends on what's important to you:
- ease of use
- cost
- portability
- cool down time
- what you want to look at: planets, galaxies & nebulae, double stars... ?
- star hopping or electronics?
... etc.

Regarding your location, the darker the skies the better, but you should be able to see a lot from Everett. I can find most of the Messier objects from my Seattle backyard with a 4.5" refractor.

You might want to check out the Seattle Astronomical Society (http://www.seattleastro.org/) and Everett Astronomical Society (http://members.tripod.com/everett_astronomy/). Both groups have regular star parties, where you can try out a range of scopes and see what you like.

[redshifter]

John's advice is good. Do research, figure out what you want your telescope to be able to do, and try to look through other scopes before getting your own. Having said that, a 6" or 8" dob makes for a great beginners scope for the following reasons:
1) Very easy to set up
2) Dobsonian mount is inherently very stable - many scopes at the entry level suffer from flimsy mounts that make viewing difficult at best
3) Decent aperature for the $$ - you'll be able to see all the Messier objects pretty well, and detail in the brighter ones
4) Excellent overall value
5) Reasonably portable

Luckily, you'll have plenty of time to figure out what you want, as the weather out here in the PAC NW has been terrible for observing for far too long.

Here's a good example of an 8" dob: http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=252215&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=3&iSubCat=334&iProductID=252215

[ColoRambler]

I second the advice to go to a star party first. Just about everyone will want to show you what you can see in their scopes!

The 6" or 8" Dob suggestion is an excellent one, but also consider this: even though I have a fairly large (12.5") Dobsonian, I've gotten a lot of mileage out of the 100mm (4") refractor I got as a "quick look" scope. I once managed to see Ganymede against Jupiter (not just its shadow -- the disk of the moon itself). On some nights it's been the only telescope I've used. During the daytime, the 100mm scope doubles as a spotting scope for looking at the countryside -- something I can't easily do with the big scope. I'd seriously consider looking at a 100mm or 120mm refractor as a starter telescope, especially if you decide deep-sky observing (galaxies, e.g.) isn't as appealing as other types.

[sts60]

First, start with a pair of binoculars and become familiar with the night skies. Pick up Astronomy and Sky and Telescope; they have good introductory material and discussion about interesting objects visible each month.

Second, don't buy any telescope in a store which is advertised by its magnification, e.g., "600X!". High magnifications are generally useless, making things harder to spot and track, dim, and wobbly.

Third - maybe this should be first - look up a local astronomy club, and go to one of their star parties. Talk to the members. Look through different 'scopes.

Fourth, "what they said" - i.e., the previous posters, who have given good advice.

Fifth, spend adequate money to get a decent telescope - at least a 6" reflector, either Dobsonian or equatorial mount - or a 3" refractor. But don't spring for all the bells and whistles, nor an observatory-grade monster that you aren't ready to use to its fullest. And don't get one with an automatic go-to system. Learn the sky first, learn how to use setting circles, learn how to star-hop. Then you'll be an astronomer and not someone sitting back and letting a computer flash random things in front of your eye.

[Dave Mitsky]

Here are a few more links about choosing a good first telescope:

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

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

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

http://www.howstuffworks.com/telescope.htm

http://www.company7.com/library/begin.html

http://stupendous.rit.edu/richmond/answers/telescope.html

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

http://www.celestron.com/c2/esupport/index.php?_a=knowledgebase&_j=subcat&_i=4

A 6" f/8 (or, better still, a 8" f/6 Newtonian) on a Dobsonian mount is an excellent beginner's telescope. A 3" or 4" achromatic refractor is another good choice. It is far better to spend a bit more for such a truly useable scope than to skimp on an ultimately disappointing Wal-Mart special or a small aperture GoTo telescope with poor optics such as the now widely available Jones-Bird short-tube reflectors.

Dave Mitsky

[Mihaita]

I have started recently with a reflector, Skywatcher 130/900 and I am pretty satisfied with it. I have seen Saturn’s rings, Jupiter together with some moons and a little bit of its clouds (they were blurred, but I guess it was because of the Barlow lens). It’s a matter of taste and of what you want to watch at and how much would you pay for it as well.
Where’s less light, there you should go, but I do not do it all the time. I live in a place with quite a lot of light, especially during the winter when there are no leaves to stop it and all’s well so far.

[torque of the town]

I live in a place with quite a lot of light, especially during the winter when there are no leaves to stop it and all’s well so far.



Have you thought of trying an LP or HC filter, I also suffer from light pollution where I live and these filters can be very useful for planetary and deep sky.

David

[Mihaita]

No, I haven't, not yet, since I am moving away from this area, but if my next location is as this one I'll try them. Thanks a lot!!!

[Tucson_Tim]

And don't get one with an automatic go-to system. Learn the sky first, learn how to use setting circles, learn how to star-hop. Then you'll be an astronomer and not someone sitting back and letting a computer flash random things in front of your eye.

Excellent advice! There's plenty of time later on, after you know the sky, to get a "go-to" scope.

[Palomar]

Edmund Scientific's "Astroscan" is a good beginner's telescope; however, you'll have to "star hop" and manually track. This 'scope also has a solar screen attachment (purchased separately) which allows "viewing" of sunspots and solar eclipses. Can also purchase a piggyback attachment which allows photography/astrophotography (manual tracking). It also has a WIDE field of view, is light-weight, speedy setup and is very portable. I still have mine since age 16, a cherished treasure.

http://www.scientificsonline.com

The Orion company also has a couple (last I knew) of beginner's telescopes.

http://www.oriontelescopes.com

Good luck and happy viewing! :)

[Tucson_Tim]

Edmund Scientific's "Astroscan" is a good beginner's telescope; however, you'll have to "star hop" and manually track. This 'scope also has a solar screen attachment (purchased separately) which allows "viewing" of sunspots and solar eclipses. Can also purchase a piggyback attachment which allows photography/astrophotography (manual tracking). It also has a WIDE field of view, is light-weight, speedy setup and is very portable. I still have mine since age 16, a cherished treasure.

http://www.scientificsonline.com

Good luck and happy viewing! :)

I second the recommendation for the Astroscan scope. I bought one last year and it is a great little scope. It's basically a tiny Dobsonian - very easy to use, light weight, and completely sealed except for the eyepiece holder. I use it and my binoculars a lot more than my 6-in F-8 Newtonian.