Re: Selecting a telescope

Hi Paul,

There is an old school that grew up without the aid of computers to move your telescope, and had to learn the art of finding objects with just the aid of a chart and a finder, and are of the opinion that if it's good enough for them it's good enough for you.

The other school believes that if such aids are available through technology, why limit your choices?

And then there are some that see it as an aid, and IF you can learn to find objects just using a finder and moving the scope yourself, then why not use a GOTO to make your life easier while you learn? I'm of that school now. Also, some objects are just plain difficult to find even if you're good at star hopping, at least for me, so a GOTO means more time actually observing the object and less time fiddling to try and find it. So if observing time is precious to you from time to time, then a GOTO is definitely money well spent in my books.

GOTO definitely takes money away from aperture, needed as always for faint stuff, and puts it into the GOTO. Something to think about.

Good Luck !

Clear and Steady Nights !
--- Dave



Peter Clarke wrote:
Paul,
Thanks for your comments. Other people have also suggested joining a club, so I intend to do just that.
There appears to be two schools of thought on the GoTo system. Some say its good, others like you suggest spending the money on a larger aperature. Food for much thought.

Regards
Peter

"Paul Winalski" <prune@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:98oof2taup9gukrvdplh3fdftq4msnp8js@xxxxxxxxxx
Welcome to the hobby!

I suggest contacting your local astronomy club to see if there are any
public observing sessions, sky watches, or star parties coming up in
your area. These events give you the opportunity to see and observe
through a wide variety of different types, makes, and sizes of
telescopes, and to talk to their owners. You can then decide which
scope is for you based on some first-hand knowledge.

For a beginner, I would advise you to get a Dobsonian-mounted
Newtonian reflector (colloquially called a "Dob"). That combination
of mount and optical configuration gives you the most aperture for the
money, combined with high portability. Orion (www.telescope.com)
makes a very good and affordable range of scopes of this type. For a
beginner I recommend the Sky Quest XT6 Classic. Portable, easy to set
up and use, good optics, 6" will let you see all kinds of cool stuff,
and the price is low enough that should you decide you don't like the
hobby after all, you haven't sunk your life's savings in it. If
you've decided you are committed to the hobby, consider its larger
brother, the XT8.

I would advise against getting one of the computerized GoTo systems.
Instead, spend that extra cash on more aperture.

Clear skies,

-Paul W.

On Sun, 3 Sep 2006 10:36:52 +0100, "Peter Clarke"
<pbclarke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

I am looking to buy a telescope but never having had one before, I am
uncertain what size (aperture) telescope to get. I would like to see some
images of planets, constellations etc taken from a selection of telescopes
in order to see what one gets for the money. Does anyone know of any web
sites containing images along with information about the telescope used.
I am presently thinking of something around 6" or 8" reflector.
Also, how worthwhile (for a beginner) are the computerised GoTo systems,
they sound good but add a lot to the cost.
Thanks

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