Advice on first telescope purchase

[Dennis79]

Hi Everyone,

I am about to purchase my first Telescope and was looking at the Celestron Astromaster 130EQ as a starter scope to do some planet viewing and looking at things like the jewel box, the orion nebula and some galaxies if I can.

After reading a heap of reviews, the one thing I can be certain of is the finder scope sucks. There were some other things that were raised as issues that I don't really understand.

1. One guy said the short focal ratio was a problem. What issues arise from having an F5 telescope?

2. Some people have mentioned that the Equatorial mount is difficult to use. My research on this type of mount makes me think it would be superior to an Alt-az mount but would take some time to align correctly. Would the alignment process be the only hassle?

3. A couple of people mentioned that the eyepieces weren't real flash. If I buy a box of eyepieces, what should I be looking at?

4. Some people were annoyed there were no filters. That seems a bit silly to me to be expecting filters. I understand the need for filters for solar viewing but what do they do for viewing galaxies, planets and nebulas?

Are there any other pros/cons with this telescope?

[Siguy]

1. In a short focal ratio scope, optical aberrations are more evident. I think the optics are pretty good though. Collimation is more sensitive in shorter focal lengths, and there is a larger central obstruction, but f/5 isn't an incredibly short focal ratio, and I think it should be fine. My scope is an f/5.

2. Equatorial mounts are quite important for more advanced scopes, but for a smaller, cheaper scope like Astromaster 130, it has few benefits for the added complication. German equatorial mounts are heavily designed and so small ones aren't very stable and more difficult to work with. Most aren't terrible, though, and some work reasonably well.

3. I'm not sure whether the included eyepieces are Plossl or Kellner, but either way, they're most likely fine for starters, and you can always expand your collection later if you want a wider range of focal lengths or enhanced performance.

4. Eh? Telescopes almost never come packaged for filters. The scopes that do usually come with a cheap-o moon filter which usually does not work at all. A few really junky scopes come with a very, very dangerous "sun" filter which screws into the eyepiece (where the light is concentrated, creating extremely high temperatures) and should NEVER, EVER be used, because they crack, explode, burn your retinas blinding you permanently, start fires, etc. But you don't have to worry about that. Anyway, different types of filters enhance nebulae, planets, cut light pollution, etc. and can be quite useful, but aren't essential for beginning observers. A variable polarizing or neutral density moon filter could perhaps be useful though.

[stktos]

because they crack, explode, burn your retinas blinding you permanently, start fires, etc.
Oh god! :eek:

OK, but really.
The mount may be annoying in the beginning. A friend of mine had a smaller scope, actually much like the one your looking at, and it came with a mount very smiler. At first, when we would go out he would have a hard time getting it all set. But after a while he was able to get that scope to do anything on that mount with no troubles. Just took a bit to get used to.

And the filters. I have to agree with Siguy. Except for those real cheap scopes you can buy at your local super market, no scopes come with good filters. I myself have a light pollution filter and a variable moon filter. Both of which are useful.

[JustAFriend]

For the same price, I got this Celestron 130mm Mak (http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestron-c130mm-mak-spotting-scope.html)for Christmas and I'm having a blast with it.

Of course you have to get a mount, but a dollars worth of pipe and wood works great for me as shown HERE (http://www.bautforum.com/astronomical-observing-equipment-accessories/84246-cheap-diy-german-pipe-mount.html). Only took one afternoon to put it all together.

The longer 2000mm f/15 focal length is great for lunar and planetary viewing, but I've enjoyed Orion and the Pleiades too. I've got an order in for a full-diameter solar filter (the only SAFE way to do it). It was a great first-purchase for me and will do until the economy turns around.

Plus with a camera on the back I'll be able to use it for wildlife photography on a standard camera tripod.

[tinfoilhatman]

I would second the Mak if you can afford it. I find myself wishing for more focal length when looking at planets. Also look at the little William Optics zenith star refractors for wide field use.

Do you already have binoculars?

[rommel543]

... A few really junky scopes come with a very, very dangerous "sun" filter which screws into the eyepiece (where the light is concentrated, creating extremely high temperatures) and should NEVER, EVER be used, because they crack, explode, burn your retinas blinding you permanently, start fires, etc. ...

The manual that came with my Sky Watcher (dob) said the exact same thing, except it also added that the increased heat inside the tube, if the above doesn't happen, will fog the focusing mirror, and possibly warp the tube. The comment in the manual says it all.

"If you let the light (and heat) in and you don't let it out. It's gotta go somewhere."

I was actually looking at getting some solar filters for my dob but they're quite costly (for me) and I can't justify spending the money for the novelty of it when I can go on the SOHO site and get up to date images.

[RickJ]

Baader film is quite cheap if bought in bulk. Just cut out a piece and use an elastic band to hold in place. Wrinkles won't hurt a thing. Daytime seeing due to solar heating is often rather poor. If your aperture is large, say 16" then a 4" off axis filter will likely show all detail seeing allows and be cheaper.
http://www.astro-physics.com/index.htm?products/accessories/solar_acc/astrosolar

Rick

[RickJ]

As to the original post get to a star party with a local club where you will see and be able to use scopes of all types. Only then will you have even a remote chance of getting the right scope for you. All your questions are quite personal in nature. No two amateurs would likely answer them the same. This is why there are so many different scopes out there of so many different designs. Each has advantages and disadvantages compared to other designs.

Personally, for an adult I'd not start smaller than 150mm diameter, light grasp is too limiting as is resolution (unless an apo refractor). But others are very happy -- until they use a larger scope at a star party that cost less money that is.

To me a dob design gives the most for the money. While I've used eq mounts most of my life in today's world I can't recommend them for beginning scopes. Compared to a Dob mount they offer nothing but headaches as far as I'm concerned. If a drive is needed then put the dob on a poncet table. You'll still be money ahead unless you don't mind shaky images. Solid dob mounts are cheap. Solid EQ mounts aren't though if you like to do some work you can make a good one from 4" pipe fittings that will beat anything commercial I've seen under $500 for the mount alone.

The important thing is to get to a few star parties and see what each scope can and can't do well. Only then can you make a good decision.

Rick

[Dennis79]

Oh ok, thanks everyone for the suggestions, I'll forget about eyepieces and filters for a while and will start shopping around for a different scope.

Yes I have binoculars, I have been using 10x50 binoculars for the past month or so.

Unfortunately there are no star parties in my area, I'm 2 hours out of the nearest city and the closest observatory has daily shows but it is an hour away. I hope to get there in the next few weeks.

I have found a couple of Saxon scopes available 2 hours away, they are the 909EQ achromatic Refractor and a 6" Dobsonian, both about the same price as the Celestron, I guess I have a few big shopping trips to make.

Does anyone have any tips on reducing vibrations from walking etc? The suppression pads you can buy seem a bit over priced in my opinion.

[RickJ]

A dob has no need for pads. They are far more stable than a tripod using them normally can be. As I don't know their production cost I have no idea if they are over priced or not but they do work with a good tripod. They can't begin to help a poor one however. They work because any tripod sends vibration down the legs where it then bounces off the ground and returns to the scope. Pads greatly reduce this bounce. But if the tripod isn't solid to begin with that vibration will be too small compared to the other problems to be seen.

I'm lost though by your reference to walking.

On star parties I drove 8 hours to my first one before buying a scope. Saved me far more money than I spent. 50 years later I'm still using that scope because it was right for me then and now. Our club hosts both local and national star parties where folks come from across the country and even from foreign countries including, yes, Australia. http://www.nebraskastarparty.org/ Many come proudly with their new first purchase to attend our beginner classes. Far too many go home realizing they wasted their money. Their scope may be just fine but it wasn't for them. It's sad to see but happens way too often. A telescope isn't a computer, it doesn't wear out or become obsolete. It will last a lifetime. The right one will grow with your needs, the wrong one will soon be a garage sale item. Maybe you have the money to try again. I didn't then or now.

Rick

[tinfoilhatman]

Beware of star parties lest you catch a disease called aperture fever! I made the mistake of sending one of my friends to TMSP or OSP and have been spending the last 3 or 4 months putting this thing together.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c293/Jeromeco/scope4.jpg

I got a Kiwi buddy. I'll ask him if there are some down under brands of lesser or greater merit next time I see him online.

[redshifter]

In addition to the great advice already given on this thread, read this: http://scopereviews.com/begin.html

[frakattack]

Hi tinfoilhatman, that scope you are building looks ripper, I am building one at the moment with my father-in-law. I reckon building them is an aboslute thrill and I just cant wait til I can use it.