We've explained how to get into astronomy and buy your first telescope. Now we're going to take things to the next level and get you drooling about bigger and better telescopes. If you're serious about astronomy, what kinds of telescopes will give you the best bang for big bucks?

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One option that you did not mention is making your own. While the telescope, proper, is a fairly small (say a third) of the cost of a reasonable observatory, I believe amateurs have made reflectors up to about 20in (50cm) aperture.

Ed

Hi,

I just wanted to say that I feel your article is not quite accurate. Good quality refractor telescopes are not the least expensive option. A 8inch Apochromatic refractor will cost considerably more than a 8 inch reflector. While I agree broadly that you could buy a cheap department store refractor or non Apochromatic cheaper than a reflector, I would not recommend this option as it will do more to put off someone's initial interest.

Kind regards,

Paul

Hi All,

The RC mirrors are hyperbolic, not parabolic. That shape is particularly difficult
to figure, esp. since there is a matched set. Parabolics are used with Newtonians,
which are every where.

Also, there is a Hungarian company that makes excellent mounts, I have one.
This mount (G41+) is about $7500US as apposed to whatever the Paramount
is priced at. Load is about 75 lbs. My current telescope is a FSQ-106, which is
to be used for a special purpose (my PhD). And yes, you don't need a huge
telescope for science, look at www.superwasp.org.

Cheers,
Doug

Just to note that Pamela made a small error when she said that RC optics use a parabolic mirror. I think she meant hyperbolic. Standard Newts and Cassegrains are parabolic.

See RCOS site.

Take Care

True, except that there are very few 8 inch apos made. TMB made one (don't know if they still do) and Roland made a very few (about a dozen, as I recall) many years ago. Horribly expensive and very hard to justify given the cost of competing reflectors.

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