tTz
Posted:
Thu Aug 09, 2007 3:33 pm
Joined: 09 Aug 2007
Posts: 1
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Hey everyone
I've read the telescope buying guide on this site several times, but I'm in need of some more advice - I hope you don't mind this, it's just that having only started reading up on telescopes several days ago, my head's in a bit of a spin. Basically, my parents are offering to buy me a telescope, because they know I'm really interested in astronomy, and because I did fairly well in my exams, with the catch being that I'd have to order one off the internet by next week, while I'll still be at home to recieve it. After that, there won't be anyone at home, and the delivery depot is quite a long journey away. I'm trying to find telescope shops nearby (proper specialist ones) but no luck so far.
I'm totally new to telescopes, but I'm reasonably competent at finding my way around the stars with binoculars, so computer controls are not necessary, and would probably just annoy me. I'd like to (in the future) be able to use the telescope for astrophotography, which means an equitorial mount will be preferable, and also rules out Dobsons. I'm more interested in deep sky objects, like nebulae and paricularly galaxies. I live in a large town, and light pollution is pretty bad, so I'm not hugely optimistic on being able to see such things with stunning clarity, but I'd like the capability to be there so I could journey further afield with the scope and see the things I'd miss from here.
Anyway, I've got £200 to spend, a little more if I add my own money, so here are the most promising scopes I've found:
Celestron C4-R: a 4" refractor. The only negatives with this are the colour problems refractors tend to have, and the small aperture when compared to the other choice. The fact that the eyepiece is at the end of the telescope rather than the side seems a lot more natural to me, for what little that's worth. It's £200 (I'm not able to post the URL).
Celestron C6-N : a 6" Newtonian, at £200 also. Not sure if this is overkill for my purposes, but I've seen pictures taken with a Canon 300D and one of these scopes that looked pretty good. No wierd colours from this either, I presume, as it's a reflector. I've seen the 8" version of this for £275, which I could go to if it was really worth it, but extra eyepieces would be totally out of the question for that, and if 6" seems like overkill, 8" is even more likely to be.
I'd probably need some different eyepieces too, but they're not cheap, and I know nothing about them, despite my rapid education in telescopes (or at least an attempt at a rapid education in telescopes).
Anyway, if anyone has any advice, I'd really appreciate it. I'm leaning towards the 6" Newtonian just now, purely because I keep seeing things saying 'aperture wins' and 6" is bigger than 4". Also it's a 'faster' telescope too, f/5 instead of f/10 of the refractor, though any significance of that is lost on me.
Thanks
tTz
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Lydia
Site Admin
Posted:
Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:47 pm
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 589
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Hello and Greetings from Texas.
I recommend you read Marc's excellent information on purchasing a telescope. The two options you have researched are good ones and I am sure you will be happy with either one of them.
That said, I suggest, however, that you not rush into a decision.
Time is actually on one's side when making this type of purchase since prices are falling 
Case in point: my 5 1/2" Celestron Go To has decreased in price by about 60% since I obtained it in 2001. ! !
Frequent star parties, talk to people who have the type of scope you are researching, invest in a good pair of binoculars, and bide your time.
Tarrying in your purchase will actually benefit you in the long run.
I relate research for the right telescope to searching for a " life partner ".
Wishing you well.
LL
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Lydia
Site Admin
Posted:
Fri Aug 10, 2007 3:48 pm
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Posts: 589
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Hello and Greetings from Texas.
I recommend you read Marc's excellent information on purchasing a telescope. The two options you have researched are good ones and I am sure you will be happy with either one of them.
That said, I suggest, however, that you not rush into a decision.
Time is actually on one's side when making this type of purchase since prices are falling
Case in point: my 5 1/2" Celestron Go To has decreased in price by about 60% since I obtained it in 2001. ! !
Frequent star parties, talk to people who have the type of scope you are researching, invest in a good pair of binoculars, and bide your time.
Tarrying in your purchase will actually benefit you in the long run.
I relate research for the right telescope to searching for a " life partner ".
Wishing you well.
LL
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