Educate me on telescopes (edited for Webmost lol)
LiquidChaos66
Posts: 3,767 ✭✭✭✭
So I have one that was gifted to me that is pretty decent! I enjoy it but want to get something really top notch! What exactly should I be looking for in a good telescope? dimensions, lenses, whatnots? I really want good clarity and big magnification options
Life is like a blind fiver. You never know what you're gonna get.
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had a nice little meade unit when i was younger, couldn't tell you what the magnification or any of the specs were on it though. what i do remember is that it was one of the first models to have a motorized/automatic star-finder --- that was pretty sweet.
wish i still had it, the in-laws are out in the country and would be perfect place to set it up
but all i can tell you is get as far away from light pollution as possible and find yourself a dark sky. can see some awesome stuff out there with even low-powered scopes. this is a great resource if you haven't seen it yet -- http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/
and see if there's a local astronomy club nearby too, i know there's one here in central ohio i've checked them out online but never gotten into it. they might even let you test out some of their equipment and help steer you in the right direction before you plop down a wad of cash for a new scope.
* I have a new address as of 3/24/18 *
As for the astronomy club... I know there is one major one in Portland but I haven't looked into it yet. I think I may do that on my lunch break. Thanks for reminding me about that! lol its not that often that I think about looking into them. I will also check out that link here shortly!
I think the things I'd ask are:
What's your budget? $1,200-$1,500 can buy you a very good computerized all purpose scope, but there are lower-priced options with fewer bells and whistles.
What do you primarily want to look at? (planets, the moon, stars, galaxies, nebula)
Do you want to locate objects on your own or would you like the telescope to use a computer to locate them for you?
Do you intend to use the telescope for photography?
Does the size and weight of a telescope matter to you (i.e., can lift and transport a heavier scope?)
Where do you intend to use it most often---your backyard, or traveling somewhere?
After you've answered those questions, I can give you some thoughts on the issue.
Soooooo this is where it gets interesting. lol im gonna answer your questions but leave the money one for last... lol
I primarily want to view everything! I want to be able to view as deep and as far into space as I can. So something with vast versatility is preferred.
I would love to have a computerized telescope that can locate things for me. BUT I want to use this as a learning tool so a telescope that will allow me to make manual adjustments and locating as well.
I don't plan on using the telescope for photography. Would be neat but not a deal breaker.
(combining the last 2) I would prefer something that is transportable. As long as it doesn't weigh 100lbs I can manage it easily. I would be using it primarily for traveling but would use it at home (if I can find a spot in my yard that has decent visibility)
THE HARD PART! My budget... I don't know. If I plan on buying one I would have to come up with the funds myself... I would end up having to sell stuff to come up with the cash. I think $500 is a easily attainable goal but if I need to go higher Im sure I could scrape some stuff together to sell.
http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Reflector-Telescopes/Reflector-Telescopes-with-GoTo-Mounts/Orion-StarSeeker-III-130mm-GoTo-Reflector-Telescope-Kit/pc/1/c/11/sc/343/p/112997.uts?refineByCategoryId=343
I presume you've tried to copy and paste the link in your browser address bar, right? I just did that and it works fine at my end.... ??
I would recommend looking at this link, which gives you a quick primer about the three main telescope categories.
http://www.jtwastronomy.com/tutorials/telescope_primer.html
I would stay away from refractors because really good ones with large apertures are darned expensive. I've owned both reflectors and Schmidt Cassegrains. They're relatively inexpensive, but, as the article says, keeping the tube free of contamination is a bear. Use it in the spring and pollen can totally gum up everything.
I tend to favor Schmidt Cassegrains. An 8" model won't necessarily break the bank, and since its sealed you only have to worry about keeping the secondary glass (the one on the outside) clean. I also they think they offer the best Go-To (computerized) options. If I were getting a GOTO scope, I'd go for one that uses a fiork-type mount rather than an equatorial mount (the latter is the kind you see in the photos in the primar). Equatorial mounts are insanely heavy and I've found them incredibly difficult to calibrate and use.
If you decided you wanted an 8" GOTO SC, you could get a new Celestron Nextstar SE for $1200 or a Meade LX90 for around $1600. Both include mounts, 8" OTAs (the tube), and remote controls that have built-in databases of thousands of stars, planets, galaxies and nebulae. You don't have to use the computer--theyse can be controlled manually as well. While the quality of the "tubes" is comparable for both, the mount for the Meade is far more stable. If you look around, you can probably find used older models of an LX90 for under a thousand and the SE for between $600-$800. The main challenge with GOTO scopes is that for them to work correctly you have to first manually align them with two or more bright stars in the sky. You need to know where these stars are, so that means having seasonal star maps at your side. If you're in a light polluted area this can be a pain. Once aligned, you can choose the object you want to view and the scope will move until it "finds it." These scopes are generally never 100% accurate, so you do end up having to move it a bit yourself. But once it's centered in your viewer, the scope will track the object as it moves across the sky. This is particularly useful when viewing plants.
Generally, these telescope only come with one eyepiece. That means you have to spend more money to assemble eye pieces for different purposes. High magnification eyepieces (generally, 18mm or below) give you "larger" images of planets, but the higher the magnification the dimmer and fuzzier the image gets. A lower magnification eyepiece (generally 26mm and higher) are used for viewing larger expanses such as nebulae or star clusters. You can spend hundreds of dollars assembling a collection of quality eyepieces. Then you also need to have a dew filter (a plastic extension that attaches to the open end of the scope to keep dust and few from settling on the glass), and, if you have a powered scope, a 12V external power source (GOTOs can generally use batteries, but the batteries don't last long). One of those jump starter/tire filler things can work fine, as long as it has a built-in 12V outlet, which most do.
Before you buy, I'd definitely do some research and ask questions. Some good sites are:
http://irwincur.tripod.com/telescope_primer.htm
www.cloudynights.com
I also really recommend you seek out a local astronomy club. I have to imagine that with all the light-pollution-free areas in the Pacific NW there are plenty in your area. Usually they'll have viewing nights at least once a months where you can see various models owned by members so you can get a sense of what's available. Take the time to research. It's an expensive hobby, and one where making the wrong decision can drive all the enjoyment out of it.
I'd seek out Sky & Telescope, which is the pretty much the main astronomy magazine. Every month they include star charts for that month and highlight various planetary and deep space objects that will be visible. There are also some "permanent," large plastic star chart things (I have some at home, I'll try to see if I can find the cover). If you bring them with you to your site, view them using a flashlight with a red filer (or put a piece of red tissue paper over the lamp). It takes awhile--sometimes an hour or more--for your eyes to fully adjust to low light conditions, and you don't want bright lights near your eyes. You may also want to bring a pair of binoculars with you. They're good for helping you get a good orientation on the constellations and identify the location of starts or other objects you'll late "zoom in" on with the scope.
Other than the planets, the most impressive deep space object you can view this time of year is the Orion Nebula. Focus the scope around the middle of Orion's belt. A good quality scope should show you the cluster of stars surrounded by whisps of gas.
I will check that magazine out!
Honestly, much as I can see the attraction of smoking whilst viewing, I'd advise against it unless you're really, really careful. You absolutely don't want smoke anywhere near your scope or eyepiece lens. Also, the oils from the wrapper could get on eyepieces and other parts of the scope. You really want to create as sterile an environment as you can. And if you're running back and forth between a scope and a stogie you can't concentrate all that well on viewing. I'd suggest spend as much time as you want viewing, and then enjoy your smoke after the scope is all packed up and you can sit or stand there admiring your view of the heavens with the naked eye (there's a joke in there about heavenly bodies that I won't mention.)
We're scheduled for cloudy skies for the rest of the winter so I'm sure I'll miss it.....
Thanks for the info! I will see if we have clear skies any time soon and try to track it down! Is it visible to the naked eye? If so that might make it easier to locate
LMAO!!! I love this... it been purposefully misspelling words in the titles to my posts periodically.
Supposedly it will be visible to the naked eye if you're not in an overly light polluted area. Even a cheap pair of binoculars should give you enough of a view to locate it.