Telescope wanted

Plug

Hello lads, im new to astronomy. Im on the look out for a decent second had telescope. I'd like something that can see jupiter and all the planets with good quality not like a dot with a few colours. I should say I never looked through a telescope before so I wouldn't know what 'good or bad quality' is.

Its only in the last 6 months i've gotten into astronomy and space, im a petrol head at heart:D I went through adverts.ie and ebay but I don't know what is good. Them seben big boss telescopes are supposed to be rubbish. Just read a review on one before I was going to purchase one on ebay:pac:

So have any of ye got a decent second hand one that can see all the planets, nebulae's and other things in good quality. I suppose I'll pay at least €200 - 250 but not too much after that. Any idea's just something good for around that price mark and a bit more if pushed. I would prefer a reflector telescope.

Plug

BUMP.

Mr Teeny

Plug wrote: »

Hello lads, im new to astronomy. Im on the look out for a decent second had telescope. I'd like something that can see jupiter and all the planets with good quality not like a dot with a few colours. I should say I never looked through a telescope before so I wouldn't know what 'good or bad quality' is.

Hi Plug,

Unfortunately the images you see in magazines / online are not like the images you will see through a telescope! My main telescope setup cost close enough €2500 and I have had people look through it at planets and say "so where's the planet? That's it??" The colours and details you see in photos are a result of long exposure shots our eyes could never see and a whole lot of photoshop In saying that, i've seen other people look through a very modest scope and be delighted with the view (just like I was when I first look in one!) Everyone has different ideas of what they'll see, some will be delighted, some really disappointed.

The best piece of advice I could give you is to buy a really good pair of binoculars and use them to learn the sky first. They are cheaper and far easier to use.

But if your heart is set on a scope, look through as many telescopes as you can before you even consider buying. Have a look at this thread:


Maybe the lads there will be having another meet up soon?

There are plenty of astronomy groups too. Check out the IFAS website and you can see if there is a club near you. Pop along to one of their events and actually look through some scopes before you commit to buying. You may end up saying "right I need to up my budget and buy a bigger scope" or you could just as easily say "no ta, I'll stick to walking out to the garden and just looking up!"

Hope that helps

Good luck!!

Plug

Mr Teeny wrote: »

Hi Plug,

Unfortunately the images you see in magazines / online are not like the images you will see through a telescope! My main telescope setup cost close enough €2500 and I have had people look through it at planets and say "so where's the planet? That's it??" The colours and details you see in photos are a result of long exposure shots our eyes could never see and a whole lot of photoshop In saying that, i've seen other people look through a very modest scope and be delighted with the view (just like I was when I first look in one!) Everyone has different ideas of what they'll see, some will be delighted, some really disappointed.

The best piece of advice I could give you is to buy a really good pair of binoculars and use them to learn the sky first. They are cheaper and far easier to use.

But if your heart is set on a scope, look through as many telescopes as you can before you even consider buying. Have a look at this thread:


Maybe the lads there will be having another meet up soon?

There are plenty of astronomy groups too. Check out the IFAS website and you can see if there is a club near you. Pop along to one of their events and actually look through some scopes before you commit to buying. You may end up saying "right I need to up my budget and buy a bigger scope" or you could just as easily say "no ta, I'll stick to walking out to the garden and just looking up!"

Hope that helps

Good luck!!

Cheers for that. I know were your coming from as I looked at video's on youtube of telescopes I have in mind. They weren't what I expected but I know the naked eye is a lot better than looking at a ripped video recorded off a telescope. I understand the quality won't be like looking at pictures on the web or TV as you say.

I could go out at night and take a glimpse at Jupiter, its cool knowing its a planet and not just a star, most people don't know this. I enjoy looking at it and Venus or any other planets visible to the naked eye. Thats why I'm out for a telescope:)

I know Im a beginner with no previous experience. I have 2 scopes in mind, THIS and THIS. There a lot cheaper on ebay than astronomy.ie shop.
What do you think of these as a beginner, my heart is set more at the 114SLT. Could you recommend me a better scope or have any mates selling one? cheers.

Mr Teeny

Plug wrote: »

I know Im a beginner with no previous experience. I have 2 scopes in mind, THIS and THIS. There a lot cheaper on ebay than astronomy.ie shop.
What do you think of these as a beginner, my heart is set more at the 114SLT. Could you recommend me a better scope or have any mates selling one? cheers.

Well the Astromaster 130 will get you a better final image (thanks to it's larger aperture size) but the GoTo on the 114 would obviously make it way easier for you to find objects. Depends on which is more important to you, image or ease of use.

If i had a choice of the two though, i'd say go for the 130 for sure. Larger aperture wins every time for me. As handy as it is to have a computerised scope, it's the end image that gets you coming back to look again. The 130 will get a clearer image and then if you get really into the hobby, you can upgrade to a computerised one with all the bells and whistles down the line

Keep an eye on this thread. Might be able to pick up a bargain there or even post up asking if any of the lads there have a spare scope lying around they might sell?

Plug

Ok so generally speaking the bigger the aperture the better the result? I will pick the 130 over the 'go to' scope then. However are they better ones on that forum for sale around the €200 - €250 mark? I don't really know the specs. I'd rather buy a good second hand one over an all right new telescope. Thanks a million for the help anyway!

EDIT:
How about THIS? any good?
I think I know the guy selling it, he's a user here too if Im right.

jumpguy

You should really read through this thread and learn about telescopes before you buy one (what is aperture for example). You'll then know what you're getting yourself instead of (unwisely) depending on the seller to tell you what you're getting. The larger the aperture the more light your telescope can obtain. The more light the more "information". Hence better images. However, depending if it's a reflector or refractor, the price goes up (but less so for a reflector).

Coincidentally, I'll be getting the 114SLT soon so I'd be able to tell you how it goes. From what I've read online it's got good reviews. If you can import one it'd be cheaper (although I haven't looked at the prices on Ebay, I do know the AI shop is very expensive). I'd advise you have a look at some Celestron computerized telescopes, if you want a computerized one (it'll locate stars for you, and track them as they move along the sky), and see what you can afford and what aperture, etc. However, computerized is generally more expensive than non-computerized.

The advantages of computerized systems (GoTo) is obviously it's ease to locate and track, especially for beginners. However, some argue that part of the fun is locating the correct star you want, and the computerized (GoTo) systems take this away.

It's up to you, your budget and your preferences then. As another poster said, it's a great idea to go to an astronomy meet-up, talk to some astronomers, look through their scopes.

Plug

After trawling through the web it seems the astromaster 130EQ is the one for me, im going to spend an extra few quid on the motor drive for automatic tracking. I've read a few reviews of it and seems a good beginner model.
However I would have preferred to buy a better second hand model but hey thats tough:D
Its just starting off anyway. Looks like a nice well built scope.
Cheers for the help lads.

kdog

Plug wrote: »

After trawling through the web it seems the astromaster 130EQ is the one for me, im going to spend an extra few quid on the motor drive for automatic tracking. I've read a few reviews of it and seems a good beginner model.
However I would have preferred to buy a better second hand model but hey thats tough:D
Its just starting off anyway. Looks like a nice well built scope.
Cheers for the help lads.

hey man, u might be in luck (if haven't already bought a scope). I live in Dublin and have a beautiful 4 inch Celestron refractor I've used like 5 times in last four years! It was a wedding gift and I wanna sell it as now living in an apartment so not able to use it. It originally cost EUR 1,000 but willing to let it go for EUR 350. I've seen Jupiter with it and all & I agree it doesn't look anything like pics in magazines and stuff but you are able to make out the belts, great red spot & four moons... it did look awesome (for me anyway). I was actually a fan of the Moon cos it felt like I was in Orbit (dat without smokin' anyting!! ). It has a heavy duty German Equatorial mount, clock drive (i never used it though), 6*30 finder, hand held controller (which I thought was cooool, but never used it!!) & 1.25 inch Celestron eyepiece & filter accessory kit (5 plossl eyepieces, barlow lens, 7 filters in an aluminium case). Let me know if ur interested, can try to send u pics if u want or if u wanna have a look we can arrange something.

K