Which Telescope to Buy? I Am Looking for an Intermediate Telescope

rohitroygre on 28/07/2020 - 16:57
Last edited 28/07/2020 - 17:53 by 1 other user

Hello,

I am looking to buy an Intermediate Telescope for Astronomy. My budget is around $800. I live in Melbourne.

Can you provide any suggestion on which one to buy? I had this one before (please see the link below).

https://www.astronomyalive.com.au/product/saxon-909eq2-refra…

This one was good but it did not show in very detail. For example, I can see Jupiter with this one but not in much detail or color. I can see Saturn but not very clear. I used Barlow 2X Lens but still it wasn't very clear. I just want to view moon, some planets, may be a large galaxy etc.

I am looking for something decent so that I can view things in a bit more detail. I am not a professional astronomer and I don't need anything highly professional or advanced. I just need to have a telescope which is better than my previous one.

Thank you.

Entertainment Telescope

Comments

  • echocae on 28/07/2020 - 17:43
    +1

    for visual… get 8"-10" dobsonian.. it will suit ur budget perfectly and has amazing quality and easy to use.. even my 6yo know how to use it

    I recommended 8"-10" dobs of Saxon or Skywatcher…

    because it can be upgraded with Go-to Mount Base… if u wish to do it in future…

    and try if you can but not Priority to get Pyrex glass on primary mirror.. as is faster too cooldown… if u want to go 10" +++

    and spend money on TELRAD finder ($60-100)

  • bwilliams94 on 28/07/2020 - 17:44

    If you only need it for visual (and not astrophotography) and you have a fair bit of space, a Dobsonian telescope is going to give you the best bang for buck.

    With a budget of $800 you'd probably be able to pick up an 8 or 10 inch Dobsonian which will give you significantly better visuals than the one you linked.

    Being in Melbourne, you'd probably be able to pick it up as well as, being so large, they can be expensive to ship as they have to be freighted.

    They are big though and a good example is to think of the 10 inch as an adult standing straight up in terms of how much space it will require just sitting in a corner stored away.

    Someone else with a bit more knowledge of astronomy than me will probably be able to give an even better answer but hopefully this is a good start for you!

  • Cluster on 28/07/2020 - 17:44

    For $800 you can either get a good EQ telescope mount, or a decent telescope, but not both.

    I would look at getting a Dobsonian mount telescope. Cheap way of mounting a telescope and you can get real bang for buck that way.

    http://www.andrewscom.com.au/optical-telescopes

    Guan Sheng GS-680 8" - $699

    It's a reflector not refractor telescope so you'll need to learn how to align the mirrors. There are cheap laser tools available to help with that.

    Maybe ask at a local astronomy club what you should buy. Those people are usually more than happy to assist.

  • Driscoll on 28/07/2020 - 17:49

    Hey mate, you might wanna check out IceInSpace amateur astronomy forum for advice and second hand telescopes within your budget.

    Basically you have 3 types of scopes: refractors, reflectors and catadioptric. A Dobsonian is a good reflecting (Newtonian) telescope that's easy to use, won't break the bank and can give you large aperture (the more aperture [i.e. the light that you let in to your scope] the more you can see). The issue with them is their size and therefore lack of portability. A Schmidt-Cassegrain catadioptric telescope for example solves that problem but at a significantly higher price.

    There are lots of options to choose from depending on what you're looking for so it'd be a good idea to do a bit of research since this is a commonly asked question in astronomy circles. You might also want to attend a star party organised by a local astronomy club (when the lockdown ends) and try out different scopes to see which ones fit your criteria best.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/07/2020 - 20:10
      -1

      This. I got a second hand 10 inch GOTO dob in perfect near new condition + heaps of accessories for $600. It's worth $4k all in.

  • dissin on 28/07/2020 - 19:20

    If you already had a big dobsonian for a while, what do people generally move to next?

    • Driscoll on 28/07/2020 - 20:14

      Depends on what you want to use it for and your budget. Assuming it's purely for visual, then in my opinion an SCT is a good choice because it's much more portable and just as powerful if not more. But if you're planning to do astrophotography then you should invest as much money as you can into a good mount before you purchase a scope. In either case, second-hand equipment is the way to go - you'll save a ton of money and maybe even get some freebies!

  • bazingaa on 28/07/2020 - 20:09
    +1

    I had a 8" Skywatcher Dobsonian overseas (got for ~US$300 or something like that from Amazon US). Dobsonians are the cheapest and value for money but little harder to track specially planets.

    I have observed Saturn, Jupiter and Mars with that Dobsonian and some of my photos are here. Please note I just got these photos by just keeping a camera (so much better when seeing with eyes) in front of the eyepiece and in overseas. You can also see Jupiter and its moons with a long DSLR lens as well. I have seen Callisto and Ganymede faintly with a Nikon 55-300mm lens as here. But I am not sure what would be the results in the Melbourne sky due to light pollution.

    I have also used (not owned) a MEADE 6" LXD75 and a Celestron NexStar 6SE which have GOTO mounts. But, I think Celestron NexStar 6SE is good for a beginner but it costs more. Being a Schmidt-Cassegrain, you can pack it easily in your car and go for star gazing in rural areas with less light pollution.

    Also, for "Deep Sky Objects", just try with a DSLR if you have one. Actually, planets are the hardest to see as they are so small and don't emit light. I think you should be able see many DSO even with your current telescope. Easiest one is M42 (Orion Nebula) and I took decent photos even with Nikon 35mm and 50mm lenses.

    • fantombloo on 28/07/2020 - 20:35

      I find Saturn is always the most mind-blowing object to see IRL.

  • Baa on 28/07/2020 - 20:47

    This is the thread I didn't know I wanted, but needed. Same question has been on my mind for awhile and advise seems good for a similar budget.

  • rohitroygre on 28/07/2020 - 20:48

    Thank you everyone. This is highly appreciated.

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