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OT: Telescopes
This thread has 23 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 10:09
Zohan
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My 9 year old is into space and astrology. I want to get him a telescope but not some kind of toy, I want something that works well so he'll like to use it.
Sex, drugs and rock and roll im familiar with, telescopes im not.

Can anyone recommend something or give me insight on what to be or not to be looking for in features and what not.

I'd like to be 75.00 - 150.00 but I dont know if that is possible at this point.
Educate me please.
Post 2 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 10:32
highfigh
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Astrology, or astronomy?

The link shows a reflector scope at the high end of your range, but they also have videos for how to select some kind of telescope. The reflector type will have the brightest/largest image for the money and it can be better than a direct-view scope (the kind where you look from one end and the primary lens is at the other because you don't need to raise it or get into awkward positions to use it. This type is also used as a platform to add a reflector to allow looking in at a right angle, but this needs to be aligned properly to avoid seeing a multi-colored halo around everything.

[Link: telescope.com]
My mechanic told me, "I couldn't repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder."
OP | Post 3 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 10:55
Zohan
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Lol. Yup, astronomy.

Thanks for that link going to check out now.
Post 4 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 11:31
King of typos
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Also look for a telescope that has the ability to attach a DSLR. It may not directly fit from the factory. As you can imagine all the adaptors needed for all the different DLSRs out there. Or even mirrorless for that matter.

Nevertheless, there are telescopes out there that allow the eye piece to be removed and an adapter for a camera. I just don’t know which ones. Just knew that some people use it to shoot the ISS.

[Link: skyandtelescope.com]

KOT
Post 5 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 11:32
Fins
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Any new neighbors just happen to move in as this interest in astronomy came up?
Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.

Post 6 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 11:41
Trunk-Slammer -Supreme
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On August 5, 2017 at 11:32, Fins said...
Any new neighbors just happen to move in as this interest in astronomy came up?

Dirty minds think alike....LOL
OP | Post 7 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 11:53
Zohan
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On August 5, 2017 at 11:32, Fins said...
Any new neighbors just happen to move in as this interest in astronomy came up?

lol, no, but if it happens i'll be prepared.
Post 8 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 12:55
King of typos
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On August 5, 2017 at 11:53, Zohan said...
lol, no, but if it happens i'll be prepared.

Prepared to move the telescope to your best area for viewing huh? Lol

KOT
Post 9 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 14:09
rmalbers
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Here's my tips, FWIW: Get one with tracking, things move out of view very fast without motor drive, if going with a reflector get at least a 6 inch scope/mirror, you should be able to see several of Jupiter's moons with that. Put an ad out there with a WTB once you have enough info to make the right decision and you'll probably get a bunch of replies, there are a lot of telescopes setting in closets! Light pollution is a real problem so unless you are willing to drive to good sites or happen to live a low light area, you may not like the results. Good advice on the digital camera adaptor.
Post 10 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 14:31
thecapnredfish
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Got a cheaper one a few years ago. The hundred and a quarter range. It sucks. My daughter lost interest using it quickly, but not space and science.
Post 11 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 14:57
Ernie Gilman
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On August 5, 2017 at 11:41, Trunk-Slammer -Supreme said...
Dirty minds think alike....LOL

If your goal is to have a telescope for watching people, you'll want to get a terrestrial telescope. The other kind is called an astronomical telescope (if they happen to mention this at all).

Astronomical telescopes have only the lenses, and therefore light loss, necessary to get a focused image, and the image is usually upside down. With a planet, who cares? But terrestrial telescopes have at least one additional lens so the viewed image is right side up. Those are preferred when looking at land-based heavenly bodies.*




*wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
A good answer is easier with a clear question giving the make and model of everything.
"The biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." -- G. “Bernie” Shaw
Post 12 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 18:13
fcwilt
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Hi,

With that limited budget you are going to have to accept some compromises.

[Link: telescope.com]

[Link: telescope.com]

[Link: telescope.com]

All of the above are "manual" meaning you have to point them at the desired object by hand.

When you move up in price you start getting scopes with some "smarts" which will either guide you to the destination or actually point the scope using electric motors.

The latest of this type have GPS receivers and other smarts allow them to automatically orient themselves to your location - a process you normally have to do "by hand".

Frederick
Regards, Frederick C. Wilt
OP | Post 13 made on Saturday August 5, 2017 at 23:02
Zohan
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Wow, all great info thanks guys.
Frederick, how do those scopes move? Do you somehow input coordinates or a planet name and it moves automatically?
I'm afraid to see the price tag on one of those, though it looks like I might have to spend a little more anyway.
Post 14 made on Sunday August 6, 2017 at 05:52
King of typos
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Check out your local pawn shop, Craig’s List, eBay and such for used telescopes.

Telescopes aren’t something that gets used and abused much anyhow.

Here’s one from eBay. Looks like one of the AA battery holders, out of 2, is broken. But they can be found at an electronic store. Not even sure why there are two, unless it’s for the motors to move the scope via the computer.
[Link: ebay.com]

KOT
Post 15 made on Sunday August 6, 2017 at 09:30
rmalbers
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On August 5, 2017 at 23:02, Zohan said...
Wow, all great info thanks guys.
Frederick, how do those scopes move? Do you somehow input coordinates or a planet name and it moves automatically?
I'm afraid to see the price tag on one of those, though it looks like I might have to spend a little more anyway.

The 'old' style scopes (with clock drive) you 'zero' them out by lining them up with the north star (north hemisphere), then when you move it to a planet or star the motor driven gears move the scope at the same speed as the earth is moving. Like the other poster said, with the new scopes that are computer controlled and GPS enabled all that is much easier. Without motor drive a planet moves out of the frame within, I'll guess 8 seconds, on a 6 inch reflector with a, I think, 6mm lens on it.
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