help to find the right one

[Paulwww]

I've had New Telescope a http://www.swisslink.com/products/product.php?id=385&sid=15 for the last few weeks, but want to change it for a Meade 125-PE.

Is that not too advanced for a beginner like me?

[aurora]

Well, almost anything is better than a cheap 50mm refractor.

Have you done any reading on telescopes for beginners? Lots of info and links here.

For someone to give you advice, they would have to know more about what you want to use it for, what you already know, how it would be used, what your budget is, etc.

The worst thing you can do is buy a telescope without doing some research in advance.

[RickJ]

Every telescope has its advantages and disadvantages. None of which can be detected by a novice in the ads. For this reason I say to NEVER -- repeat NEVER spend money you can't afford to waste on a telescope without first locating an astronomy club in your area, even if it means driving 200-300 miles (300 to 500 kilometers) to attend a couple star parties. There you will see many scopes of different types and see what each can and can't do. Only then can you make an intelligent decision on what scope to buy. We see members in our club attend their first star party after buying their scope. the vast majority discover they could have bought a far better scope for them at the same and more often than not far less cost than they spent. No matter how good the telescope, if it doesn't fit your needs you won't use it and the money will be wasted. I've seen all too many times. But it does create bargain telescopes for members of our club that the scope is right for. Another reason for finding the club. There you may very well find someone selling just the right scope for you saving you hundreds of dollars. It happens all the time in our club. Clubs often have loaner scopes of various types that members can try to help find what they want from a scope before buying. We have them ranging for a 4" refractor to a 13.5" dobsondian mounted newtonian for instance. Small clubs can't afford this however so not all can do this for their members. But they all have star parties where you can see and use member scopes to learn what you need to know far easier than trying to get it from reading up on scopes though you should do this as well.

http://www.astronomyclubs.com/
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/community/organizations
http://www.astronomy.com/asy/community/groups/

For instance the scope you mention is surprisingly big and awkward to work with. We've had several who bought them sight unseen and were sorry they did due to the size and weight element. While the optics are very good the mechanics tend to be a bit frustrating to work with. Though I haven't seen the latest version so that might have been addressed though I rather doubt it. A Mak scope of this design is great for planets and other small objects but has a very restricted field of view compared to some other designs meaning many open star clusters just won't fit into its field of view and be lost to the viewer. But it is a real telescope contrary to the one you now have which most of us would consider to be a toy. For one of our members the scope you are looking at is right for him but not the rest of us. This is why there are so many different scopes. It is also why I now own 10, each for its purpose. One is over 50 years old and used constantly. The right scope is a lifetime investment.

There are other ways of getting help finding objects that are far cheaper as well. For instance a 6" dob with computer pointing help in which you push the scope guided by indicators that show you which way to push and by how much work very well and cost less than half what the scope you are considering cost yet gather more light and have a much wider useful field of view and are just as good for planetary work as well. They are bigger but less complicated to use and far easier to lug around and set up.

But as Aurora says, without knowing what you want to do with the scope there's no way to know if this is right for you or not. My guess is you don't know enough yet to know what you will be doing with it in a year or two either.

Also budget for needed accessories. You will want more eyepieces and a barlow. A good star atlas and a good observing guide book will be needed to know what to look at and where to find it. An adjustable red LED flashlight to light the atlas in the field without killing night vision is useful. I find an eye patch over the viewing eye when not at the scope also helps preserve night vision and a necessity, especially as I've gotten older and my night vision returns more slowly. Binoculars, 10x50, are also needed. I'm lost when I go out and find I forgot mine back at the house 30 miles away. BTW, the scope you now have is really no better than half a binocular yet costs as much as a pair.

For some good reading material search this sight and others such as:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/equipment/basics

But this is no substitute for hands on experience at a star party. As I hear from beginners all the time when at their first star party "Oh, that's what they meant" as they suddenly connect what they read to what they are experiencing while at the telescope.

Rick