VERY VERY confused,NEED HELP PLEASE!!!

[angelus316]

HI, hope someone can help.i am stuck between a rock and a hard place about my first telescope.
I want a refractor for land viewing 30% - sky viewing 70%

Am torn between a celestron firstscope 90EQ , 90mm x 1000mm
skywatcher sw909/300 , 90mm x 900mm
or a short tube AOE0SEQ 90mm x 600mm

now i understand i will have a wider view with a short tube but how much can i see anyway with a 90mm short tube.

And last but not least viewing planets,what will the real difference be between a long tube and a short tube and telling me in % makes it difficult to understand as i don't know what i will see anyway.PLEASE HELP!!!

[gaa_ian]

I recommend you get together with some of the fine IIS people in Adelaide & look through some of these scopes.
Your biggest issue with those scopes will be the quality of the mount & the Tripod.
That small Aperture will be a Handicap to some degree, although not as much with the planets.
Above all get out & look through some scopes first !

[Phil]

I agree if you have the chance look through some scopes before you buy also how much are you willing to spend.

[angelus316]

hi my budget is very low about 300-350 and i have looked at reflectors and dobs but am set on a refractor.
all scopes have a EQ mount except the AOE .it has a EQ2 mount

[ballaratdragons]

1. You won't get much of a refractor on an EQ mount for $300-350. They often have good optics but wobbly mounts.

2. The EQ2 is an EQ. It is the size of it that the numbers represent. Anything under EQ5 is pretty flimsy.

[cahullian]

For an extra $50.00 you can get yourself an 8" Dob. Not good for land but great for the heavens.

Gazz

[h0ughy]

mate for that much I would buy a set of binos from andrews

Giant 20 X 90
binoculars

New low price!
$299.00 AUD

New shipment here now!

Broadband fully multicoated (BBFMC) to level IV on all BAK4 prisms and objective lens
Rubberised body weighs 3.7kg
Right ocular diopter focusing adjustment
Built-in stainless steel mounting bar and bracket
Soft nylon case included!

:whistle: ;)

[Phil]

You can not wait till you save a little more as this will help i the long run. You dont what to wast that $350 on a piece of crap. While you are waiting to save more check out as many scopes as you can. You will be happyer if you get something better then getting something now. Thats what i would do. I no it is hard when you get the bug to buy. But try try to wait.
Phil

[acropolite]

If your budget is limited I would suggest you get a 6 or 8 inch dob, or at least look through one before making a decision on a refractor. The views through an 80-90mm refractor are disappointing when compared with an 8 inch reflector.

[Dennis]

Land viewing is quite awkward with an equatorial mount, unless you live at the South/North Pole or the Equator where it will essentially operate as an Alt-Az mount.

Cheers

Dennis

[mickoking]

Binoculars sound like the go. A large aperture pair with a tripod :thumbsup:

[angelus316]

everyone thank yoy very much.seems the point is WAIT.

[Astroman]

If you can get along to one of the members nights of the Astronomical Society of SA, they can show you many different types of scopes etc... Or to get a feel for it, goto one of the many Public viewing nights.

Bino's look the way to go though for what you want, good apature and you get to use both eyes and you can do land viewing too.

[janoskiss]

Given your requirements for terrestrial viewing as well, I'd say go with the AOE 90mm scope on the AZ mount and get an erecting diagonal also. Short tube is preferable, as it will be more stable. It just means that you will get a bit more false colour than the long tube, esp at high powers, but the increased stability (decreased wobble) will be worth it.

If you really want to view planets in detail, you need aperture. 8" Dob, 6" refractor or bigger. That does not mean you cannot view planets with a 90mm scope. Saturn's rings will still impress, as will Jupiter's moons and two main belts. You just won't see a lot more detail beyond these larger features.