Anybody have a telescope?

[GREEDY GENIUS]

I'm looking to get my son a very nice telescope for christmas but i know nothing about them?

Does anyone have one or ever had one or know anything about them,whats a good one and where to get a decent one etc?...he's 11"thumbsup"

 

[rockeater]

I receieved this one as a gift not long ago its bad to the bone. I never had a nice one but got this as a raffle gift from work.
Not sure what it cost but dang before I fell on it and broke it after a night of drinking ya could see the woman on venus doing the tango


NexStar 6SE Computerized Telescope (item #11068) / NexStar SE Computerized Telescopes / Telescopes / Products / Celestron.com

 

[BUBBA069]

Take a look through Orion Telescopes Orion Telescopes & Binoculars - Telescope.com they run all kinds of deal this time of year.

I got my daughter a 6" SkyQuest XT6 Dobsonian Orion SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope | Orion Telescopes

Here is a pic of her last year with it

She like is, but doesn't like that the fact is doesn't transport easily because she cant pick it up. I have to move it for her. If I did it all over I would get one like this Orion GoScope 70 Backpack Refractor Telescope | Orion Telescopes easier to acquire stuff and keep acquired.

Also if your planing on looking at the moon make sure you get filters. Its like looking straight at a flash light otherwise.

 

[adale4130]

I have an 8" dobsonian that I'm really happy with. I found it on craigslist for $75 that was only used once and then stored away in a closet. I just bought a few new eye pieces for it and it was good to go.

I'm very pleased with it. You can see Jupiters color bands and 4-5 moons, Saturn and its rings and moons, Mars polar ice caps, moon craters.. Orion nebula is also one of my favorites to see. Also lots of star clusters and double stars etc.

Its great for taking out in the yard or driveway to star gaze. But, not as easy to trasport as others due to size.

Get a good star chart for him also. That teaches you a lot about how to find stars in the sky, and the names of those stars.

Also, there is a program called stellarium which is great to find out where the planets and stars will be in the sky at what time.

 

[GREEDY GENIUS]

Wow,thanks guys.

I'll look at these and see what i can come up with.

 

[EeePee]

I'm very pleased with it. You can see Jupiters color bands and 4-5 moons, Saturn and its rings and moons, Mars polar ice caps, moon craters.. Orion nebula is also one of my favorites to see. Also lots of star clusters and double stars etc.

That's awesome. I've always wanted a telescope to see those things, but never made the commitment. I anticipate the newest Hubble and ESO podcasts weekly.

 

[drywallguy]

I receieved this one as a gift not long ago its bad to the bone. I never had a nice one but got this as a raffle gift from work.
Not sure what it cost but dang before I fell on it and broke it after a night of drinking ya could see the woman on venus doing the tango


NexStar 6SE Computerized Telescope (item #11068) / NexStar SE Computerized Telescopes / Telescopes / Products / Celestron.com

Celestron does make a good product at a good price. I just donated mine (eyes don't work like they used to) to some guys from the McDonald Observatory who take kids out. They seemed to like it.
An equatorial mount can take a little getting used to

 

[rockeater]

I have an 8" dobsonian that I'm really happy with. I found it on craigslist for $75 that was only used once and then stored away in a closet. I just bought a few new eye pieces for it and it was good to go.

I'm very pleased with it. You can see Jupiters color bands and 4-5 moons, Saturn and its rings and moons, Mars polar ice caps, moon craters.. Orion nebula is also one of my favorites to see. Also lots of star clusters and double stars etc.

Its great for taking out in the yard or driveway to star gaze. But, not as easy to trasport as others due to size.

Get a good star chart for him also. That teaches you a lot about how to find stars in the sky, and the names of those stars.

Also, there is a program called stellarium which is great to find out where the planets and stars will be in the sky at what time.

This is good advice.

The one we had was above my *cough* level of um intelectual capacity. Ok It made me feel dumb. But I can say I definatly think ya get what ya pay for. I bought a 200$ one when I moved out here (no lights anywhere, dark as dark can be) and ya could see a few things and it broke it was cheap. I would read up a bit cuz these things have come such a far way since I was a kid. A buddy down the mtn has one so big one night I thought it was a canon ( had a few beer's) and it moves on its own, talks, even some infared thingy ma bob and has remotes and more things then they use to for sure

Gl with your search whatever ya

 

[Manning]

I've got a 8" dobsonian made by Discovery. Dobs are easily the best bang for the buck. I'd strongly recommend a Dob over a conventional refractor. Much more light gathering capability over an equally priced refractor.

Regardless of what type of telescope, get the book "turn left at Orion". Excellent newbie book, it shows how to find all the cool stuff other than what's in the solar system.

 

[cabron]

i have an 8 inch celestron schmidt casegrain
starbright coatings
4000mm lens motor drives on the german equatorial mount

it is good to have motor drive so the scope will stay centerd on what
you are looking at and specially for photography

if you want it i am about to sell it
was 1200.00 new i have a few extra lenses for it
id take 700.00 for it

 

[1320Fastback]

Have had a few telescopes before but wanted to chime in with:

If you have a iPhone there is a free App called Sky-view that will open the phones camera and superimpose the celestial bodies as well as the space station in real time.

Good modern way to figure out what your looking at "thumbsup"

 

[SLPatt]

My mom and dad bought be a tasco telescope probably 17 years ago when i was about 9 or so. I learned one thing; it's best to view the stars and planets in the winter months due to the atmosphere's humidity level is lower and there is clearer skies in the cold season. I do remember spending a lot of time on the back porch of my parents house gazing into that thing when I was younger, and i enjoyed it. I always love to gaze at God's beautiful creation.

 

[cabron]

another good program is

www.stellarium.org

and it is free

 

[Twiztid Metal]

Im glad this thread popped up, Iv accualy been watching the whole series of the Universe and shows like it on NexFlix. I have always been interested in space, but never looked into a telescope, and Just last night I told the Girlfriend that It would be interesting to get one and see whats out there. But then again watching the shows gives me a better view of whats out there than in a telescope with a low budget lol.

 

[slowngreen]

Opening this thread back up. Been wanting to get a telescope for a while now.

What do you guys think of this setup? And is it easy to use/focus?

Zhumell Z8 Deluxe Dobsonian Reflector Telescope - Telescopes at Telescopes

Or a computerized one, would it be more fun to use?

Celestron NexStar 130 SLT Computerized Telescope - Telescopes at Telescopes