First telescope?

Hayley · #1 28-06-2010, 09:25 PM

Hi,
I'm new to this site-forum, but I have found it really great so far for helping me figure out what I want to do about equipment.
I'm looking at starting to do some practical viewing of these things I have spent years reading up on...however, not a rich girl. So hears my thinking...feel free to correct me if i'm wrong, Thats why I'm hear!
I'm thinking of getting the Star Tracker 127 ( as I can get a nice discount at DSE, which will take it down to about $180), The reason for this one over the others is the price, and ease of purchasing. I feel like I should be able to see enough for long enough to figure out if I enjoy watching as much as reading and learning about whats out there. And if I do then I have no issue then spending more in a year or so, cause I havn't really laid out so much money on this one....and will have a better idea of what I wont to watch and what I need to do that well....
So is this line of thinking a rookie mistake or does it make sense to someone out there too?
Thanks for taking the time to at least read this!
And for all the stuff on the forums...

torana68 (Roger) · #2 28-06-2010, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayley

Hi,
...however, not a rich girl. So hears my thinking...feel free to correct me if i'm wrong, Thats why I'm hear!
I'm thinking of getting the Star Tracker 127 ( as I can get a nice discount at DSE, which will take it down to about $180), The reason for t...

Haley,
I wouldnt buy anything from DSE

mostly because i know that you will find something second hand for near that that will have reasonable resale (for when you upgrade to a bigger 'scope) and that will work a lot better. Having said that how about dropping in to http://illawarraastronomicalsociety.hostoi.com/
sign up and learn with them? if you like it then look for something like a 6' or 8" dob second hand.... youll need something reasonable due to light pollution in the 'gong.
Roger

acropolite (Phil) · #3 28-06-2010, 10:23 PM

Hayley, some good advice from Roger, join a local Astro group and see what they are using. The $180 you have to spend would go a long way towards a better telescope, for example an 8 inch Dob.

Aperture rules, the bigger the scope the better the image, 200mm (8 inches) is often regarded as the minimum aperture to aim for.

Hayley · #4 28-06-2010, 11:02 PM

Just took a look at 8" Dobs, and they are about twice what I have to spend at the moment. I found a 6" that didn't cost to much....would that be more suitable?

mental4astro (Alexander) · #5 28-06-2010, 11:32 PM

Hi Hayley,

I can most certainly understand your eagerness to get your hands on a scope, especially a new scope.

I can only highly recommend you follow Roger's suggestion to attend an astro club's viewing session. There you will see what a good telescope is capable of. This does not mean bigger is better, necessarily, but what a good quality scope is capable of. You will also see what good quality accessories will also deliver, coupled to a good telescope. You will be able to make a much better, and much more informed choice on the telescope you then decide to purchase.

The Illawarra Astro club is highly respected. You can also look at the Star Parties forum for other get togethers in and around Sydney. You can also chase down other astro clubs through the 'Resources' link in the heading column on the left of this page.

My first scope was a 5" Schmidt Cassegrain, but I had spent many, many hours pouring over magazines, books and astro viewings and saved my pennies for over a year, and it wasn't a cheapie. That was nearly 20 years ago. I've still got that scope, and three more since then, including a big 17.5" dobsonian I've rebuilt. But do I still use the 5"? You bet! It was my scope of choice for viewing and photographing last Saturday night's partial lunar eclipse.

Mental.

stephenb (Stephen) · #6 29-06-2010, 06:52 AM

Hayley, please do not go down the DSE path. Their scopes are rubbish. You will seriously regret wasting your money on anything you buy from these shops. Also steer well clear of eBay. I strongly recommend you take all the previos advice and....

1. Make contact with your local astro club.

2. Look at saving just a few more dollars for a 6" dobsonian telescope.

3. Consider spending you money on a pair of binoculars. They'll last you a lifetime and most amateur astronomers have at least one pair.

I know you probably had your heart set on the little DSE scope but don't feel disheartened. Take all the advice given and you won't regret not buying it

OneOfOne (Trevor) · #7 29-06-2010, 07:49 AM

I think most astronomical societies have a telescope loan facility for members, eg. the ASV offer 8" Dobs for members for a very nominal fee. The cost of membership would be considerably less than buying a scope and would allow you access to a decent sized scope for a number of months, and the wisdom of the members. During this period you can save for a "proper" scope and not waste money on a "toy" in the interim.

I am sure there will be a society in your area.

Suzy · #8 29-06-2010, 09:24 AM

Hi Hayley

The guys here have given you some excellent advice.

If you are thinking of going down the 6" dob. path, may I say
that I own one and I find it just the right size & weight to handle and transport with a fair amount of ease. It is capable of showing you many deep sky objects - I even got the Sombrero Galaxy and that's 30 million L/Years away!

It will keep you very happy and busy for a long time.

The last thing you want to do is get a telescope which shows disappointing views - you'll most likely think that's as good as it's going to get, and this will only serve to put you off Astronomy ... Just know that there is some amazing stuff out there, second hand in particular for a lot less money than you would think.

Even if you have to wait a few months more, it will be worth it.

The fact that you got on this forum and asked these questions gives the impression that you want something decent, and that is a terrific step in the right direction!

hotspur (Chris) · #9 29-06-2010, 03:30 PM

Congratulations Hayley,for joining IIS,this forum is very,very good for getting the right information in regards to optical gear,there are some very good people who are always avaliable to assist with any advice you may require.

The above post are spot on,please do'nt buy the $180 scope you mention,you would be much better putting that money towards are really good set of binoculars.Many people underate binoculars as a astronomy tool,but they will provide you with many hours of pleasure.

I have a pair of Vixen 15 by 80 binos on a tripod,I bought these second hand for $330.Now I know that sounds like a lot of money,as you are starting out.but a pair of binos on a tripod is so sweet.A telescope is a tricky piece of equipment to start of with.

If you can join an astronomy club,that would be the best thing to do,also go to a 'star party',now your on ice you will have all of the best information at your finger tips.

I think some of the retailers sell good chinese binos on tripods for less than what I paid for mine,once again get someone from the astronomy clubs to go with you when you make a purchase.

good luck and enjoy-Chris

ausastronomer (John Bambury) · #10 29-06-2010, 06:12 PM

Hi Hayley and welcome to IIS,

You have been given some excellent advice thus far. Get along to a club or public night and have a look through some different scopes and ask peoples' opinions.

Let me repeat some comments I made in a post a couple of months ago in response to a very similar scenario.

"Some of these cheaper scopes have poor optics, poor finderscopes and even poorer mounts. You will find them to be nothing more than an exercise in frustration. You will not be able to find very much, when you do find something you won't see very much and what you see will not stay in the FOV very long and you will then spend the next 30 mins trying to re center the target. After 2 weeks of frustration the telescope will spend the next 2 years unloved in the corner of the closet, the loungeroom or the garage. Avoid any telescope sold by any store other than a store that specialises in astronomical telescopes. Avoid stores like Dick Smith Electronics, Australian Geographic and Camera stores. These stores carry a very small range of astronomical telescopes and what they do carry is nothing more than junk, in most cases. Experienced people call these XTT's. Short for XMAS TRASH TELESCOPE's. Further, the people who work in these stores might sound like they know what they are talking about when talking to someone who is a beginner, but truth is 99% of the people working in these stores don't know one end of a telescope from the other themselves. Some of these small cheaper scopes are very difficult for an experienced person to use, let alone a beginner.

If you can stretch the budget a little further I would recommend a 6"/F8 dobsonian which you can buy from Andrews Comms for about $350. A scope like this will show you 500X more than some of these other "toy" telescopes and most importantly will be infinitely easier for you to operate and find things in. You want to foster your interest in the hobby, not leave it out of frustration after a short time period."

Cheers,
John B

ColHut (Colin) · #11 29-06-2010, 09:57 PM

Welcome aboard Hayley!

I managed to make all those mistakes so Nooooooooo! Do not get a wobbly cheapie short tube Newt. You want tears of joy not frustration.! The best the DSE will be will be with modification is below par. Good advice above. Try out a Dob first.

regards

Hayley · #12 29-06-2010, 10:01 PM

Thank you everyone for helping, but at my Birthday dinner I was given a Star Watcher 114mm telescope from my dad! Very happy Birthday indeed. But thankyou everyone for you advice If I was still going to buy my own I feel like I would make a better choice from hearing it!
Thankyou all again...

Darth Wader (Wade) · #13 29-06-2010, 10:25 PM

OK Hayley, all is not lost.

Download stellarium (http://www.stellarium.org) and use it to learn the constellations and the night sky.

The first thing you should do is point your scope at the moon. As most newbies are, you'll be amazed at what you see. Hopefully this will whet your appetite for more targets!

I started with a 70mm refractor, following the planets from my yard. I suggest a copy of Astronomy 2010 (http://www.quasarastronomy.com.au) to help you plan observing from your yard. If you decide you're really getting into it, then I'd recommend joining an astro club.

The best advice anyone could give you is to go at your own pace, come back here and ask for help if you're stuck but above all make sure you're enjoying yourself!

Cheers
Wade

Liz · #14 30-06-2010, 08:13 AM

Happy Birthday Haley, and welcome to IIS!!

Congrats on the scope your dad got you, its a nice start. You will be able to find a few goodies with it, and hopefully start in your quest of finding your way around the night sky. Many constellations with bful stars and star cluster, few planets, and a galaxy or 2. Enjoy.

Down the track you can aim for a 6" or 8" Dob, or whatever catches your fancy.

oh. ps. take Wades suggestion Stellarium is a great FREE piece of astronomical software!!

ZeroID (Brent) · #15 30-06-2010, 09:10 AM

Hi Hayley, Happy Birthday and welcome to the Madhouse.
Good start with your present, but now you still have your $180 I presume to go towards your next bigger and better scope. I have had a DSE 114 Newt for about 6 months now and it hasn't been too bad after I bought some good eyepieces but I am already realising the limitations and lower quality of the unit. So I am already building a 10" Truss Dob, expecting better views in light polluted Auckland.
Get Stellarium as others have advised, it is excellent after you download a few updates to star feilds, easy to learn and use and good fun when the clouds cover the skies.
Enjoy your night time views.

Rockah (Zal) · #16 04-07-2010, 10:11 PM

Hi Hayley

As a newbie myself, I can recommend that all the above opinions are spot on. Although you've now got a scope, which I'm sure is more than adequate, in the future you'll probably get the apature fever all of us get at one time or another!

Keep a look out for sales - I just picked up an 8inch Black Diamond sky watcher newtonian on sale for 375 which I think was a pretty good deal - the point is keep your eye on the various Australian retailers, they all seem to have a sale on particular items at any given time. I got my scope on sale from Star Optics, and as Dath Wader recommended - get some resources to help out. I believe Bintelshop has a sale on the Astronomy 2010 book at the moment, and get Stellarium!!