Buying my first telescope

froog

hi all, been into astronomy for years and finally going to take the plunge and buy a telescope. I've absolutely no idea about buying them. any tips would be welcome. budget is around 500 but could stretch if it was recommended.

Pat Dunne

Before you get a telescope.
Go and buy a good set of Binoculars, a tri-pod attachment and a sturdy tri-pod.
This is one of the very best ways of starting off. The optics in a decent set of "Bins" are equal to, if not better than, almost all €500 scopes.

Also get the Stellarium App for your phone or tablet, it'll be your map to the stars.

endacl

Also...

Buy this book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Exploring-Night-Binoculars-Patrick-Moore/dp/0521793904

Then, when you know what you’re most interested in looking at, take telescope advice from http://www.ktectelescopes.ie/ What you want to observe will inform the type of scope you buy more than you might imagine.

(Not a plug. I’ve nothing to do with the company, but they do maintain an account on here. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/member.php?u=754181 I’ve bought from him before, and found him excellent, so, more of a recommendation really!)

froog

what about the whole reflector vs refractor thing?