| There are a lot of factors to consider before | | | | eight-inch range. Both types of scopes are |
| you buy a telescope. And these factors range | | | | very portable (suitcase sized) and well |
| from price, to performance desires, to your | | | | suited for travel. |
| skill level and your lifestyle. I will go | | | | |
| over these factors and help you find the | | | | Should you buy a used telescope? |
| instrument that is right for you. | | | | |
| | | | This is more a matter of personal preference |
| A Quick look at scopes for beginners | | | | and I can't tell you whether a new one or a |
| | | | used one is right for you. But I can say that |
| Before I get into the specific performance | | | | for the most part, if a scope is well |
| and prices of telescopes I want to give you a | | | | cared-for it can remain practically perfect |
| quick rule of thumb about three different | | | | for decades. I can recommend that you don't |
| types. If you are very much a beginner and | | | | buy a used one if you can't get a good |
| are just looking for a telescope to get | | | | hands-on look at it first. If you don't know |
| started with you probably should consider | | | | much about scopes you should try to find |
| getting a refractor in the 60mm to 70 mm | | | | someone that does who can go with you to |
| range. This is the perfect entry-level scope. | | | | assess the condition and value of the one you |
| If you are pretty sure you are going to spend | | | | are considering. If you are a savvy shopper, |
| a fair amount of time with telescopes and you | | | | as is with most anything, you can find a |
| want to get an entry level priced one that | | | | fantastic value and get an instrument for |
| has superior performance you should consider | | | | less than half its retail value. |
| getting a dobsonian in the eight to ten inch | | | | |
| range. If you know a bit about astronomy, or | | | | The Telescope Buyers Dilemma |
| already have a scope, and are pretty sure it | | | | |
| will be a life-long pursuit I recommend you | | | | One question that gets asked a lot is "What |
| consider getting a Schmidt-Cassegrain scope | | | | if I get a low end scope now and find out I |
| which is a high quality compound style | | | | love the hobby?" Then I have to go out and |
| instrument (It is a compound of both | | | | spend more on a bigger and better instrument. |
| reflector and refractor). | | | | The money on the first telescope is pretty |
| | | | much wasted right? There is a small amount |
| Style of Astronomy you want to pursue | | | | of truth to this but you have to consider |
| | | | that with your first telescope you are going |
| Reflectors and refractors have very different | | | | to be getting a small one and just be |
| performance under the night sky and this | | | | dabbling into the hobby. If at some point in |
| performance could be a factor in what type of | | | | the future you spend more money and get a |
| instrument you buy. Generally, if you are | | | | larger telescope you will find that your |
| going to do observing of the moon and the | | | | first telescope is very useful. Some nights |
| planets and you want the absolute best | | | | you won't be dragging a hundred pounds of |
| performance you should consider getting a | | | | telescope out the door and spending a |
| refractor. This type of scope has the | | | | half-hour to set it up. You will just want to |
| absolute best performance in this area. If | | | | do some light observing and the first scope |
| you want to do a lot of deep space | | | | will be perfect. That first, and smaller |
| exploration by finding and viewing galaxies, | | | | instrument, will also be a perfect gift for a |
| nebulae, and other deep space objects you | | | | child or younger sibling. I pretty handily |
| should go with a reflector telescope. This is | | | | solved this dilemma when I mounted my first |
| because the most important thing about deep | | | | refractor right onto the tube of my second, |
| space objects is light gathering ability, and | | | | much larger, reflector telescope. It served |
| on a dollar per dollar basis a reflector | | | | well as a spotter scope. As a bare minimum, |
| gives you a substantial advantage over the | | | | if you take care of your first scope you will |
| refractor. You can get an eight-inch | | | | be able to re-sell it and recoup some of your |
| reflector for a few hundred dollars but an | | | | costs. But because the different sizes and |
| eight-inch refractor would cost you several | | | | types of scopes all have benefits they always |
| thousand dollars. | | | | useful and people who are bitten by the bug |
| | | | of astronomy rarely sell their telescopes. |
| Lifestyle and ease of Use | | | | They are usually sold by people who have lost |
| | | | interest in the hobby. |
| There are some other considerations that | | | | |
| should go into your choice of scope. Are you | | | | The hobby of amateur astronomy is a wonderful |
| a backpacker or camper? Do you travel a lot? | | | | hobby that can give you a lifetime of |
| If this is the case then the weight, | | | | rewarding observation and photo taking. And |
| portability, and ease of use are important | | | | finding the right instrument can be a bit of |
| considerations. Two good fits for this | | | | a challenge but with a little thought to |
| lifestyle would be an inexpensive four-inch | | | | price, lifestyle and future observing |
| reflector telescope or if you are able to | | | | aspirations you can find one that is perfect |
| spend more a Schmidt-Cassegrain in the six to | | | | for you. |