Beginners setup

[Trido]

While researching these forums on what to buy, I have found that everyone has an idea on what newbies need to get setup. The main issue though is that they are contained in a thousand different threads. With this thread, I hope to build a list of all the useful little things (finder scopes, eyepieces of varying types) etc categorised into different uses. For instance, if an eyepiece is better for a planetary observation, then that way, when people new to the hobbie they have a single thread which will give them (I hope) everyones ideas on what is great and worth buying, and what is crap.

[rogerco]

As a beginner I am not really so sure its a good idea. The hobby isn't so simple that it can be boiled down in this way. I have learnt a huge amount through spending nights going through the threads and thanks everyone for all the info that is here.

However the biggest thing I have learnt is that this is a huge and diversified hobby. You really need to decide what you want to do and learn what the options are.

Best advice - buy a pair of binoculars and look through them, they will always be usefull - anything else you might spend thousands on perfectly good equipment but be un-satisfied because its no good for what you eventually find you want to do.

Roger :welcome:

[Blue Skies]

That's an excellent comment - everyone is different, everyone likes different things and that's why there is so much variety on the market. It's very hard to get everything perfect the first time around so unfortunately we all end up making mistakes and buying things we find we don't like. And it also depends on what you want to do.

It both amuses and frustrates me at times that no matter how many "what scope to buy as a beginner" articles there are, there will always be someone asking "What should I get?" It's just human nature to ask.

[kljucd1]

Hi,

Although I get what you are trying to achieve here, and it is something good :), I think that the following article pretty much covers this topic.

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=63,260,0,0,1,0

The reality is that every time someone posts a "I wanna get into astronomy" question the first response is always "what do you want to be able to do" and sometimes "how much money do you want to spend". First and foremost people who are new to astronomy need to think not about the equipment to buy, but about what they want to be able to do, and whether their budget will, realistically, allow it. From there they can then read reviews/ask questions specific to their choices based on the grounding they should have by that stage.

If I had read that article prior to my first purchase I know that I would have bought something different, rather than playing catch-up now.

Regards

Daniel...

[Trido]

I totally agree about the telescopes. My main aim was the accessories, such as eyepieces as new people (And I am still very new myself) are overwhelmed by the plethora of choices out there by brands that we are unfamiliar with.

[Blue Skies]

Well, eyepieces are very personal - and that's why you don't see much written about them. You will only know if they're the right ones for you by actually looking through them. Just reading about them wont give you much of an idea about whether they're right one's for you, unless you want a specific field of view. For example, lots of people I know who wear glasses like Televue's radian eps, but me with normal vision - I don't like them! (hate is a bit strong, but I've not been that impressed with them). So it still comes down to a bit of what scope have you got and what are you trying look at or do?

The UK astronomy magazine, Astronomy Now! did a good reveiw of high power eps last year, and that would be the closest I've seen to the ideal situation you are looking for.

As I wrote this I also thought about trying to write about all eyepieces, as there are a fair number that would change hands as second hand goods - I think you would find the task rather overwhelming, there is so much out there - which you are wanting to summarise, I know. (I can see this discussion going in circles, I think I'll stop there!)

[edwardsdj]

Hi Trido,

Eyepieces are just the same. Depending on what you want to do, different eyepieces are suitable.

Wide field, long focal length eyepieces are prefered by many deep space observers whereas planetary observers want much shorter focal lengths (for more magnification) and field of view is not as important as on-axis performance.

Many may disagree, but if you're really not sure what is going to interest you and you are looking for something that isn't a toy, I'd suggest an 8" Schmidt Cassegrain (SCT). The Celestron ones are lighter than the Meades.

The SCT is a great all-round scope that is excellent for planetary work. SCTs also don't require the same high-end eyepieces to provide a nice view.

If deep space interests you more than planets then a 8" to 12" dob could be the go. These are vastly cheaper and the Dobsanian mounting is very rigid. They don't track though. This makes them far less comfortable for planetary work than an equatorially mounted SCT.

Please let us know what your expectations are so you can get some reasonable advice!

Hope this helps.

Have fun,
Doug