I'm new...Help with what scope to buy

Plumbcrazy · Guest

I am 50 years old and want to know whats out there past our solar system. I've been looking online and want to see galaxies and nebulas and such. The problem is I only have 1500-2000.00 to spend. Anyone have suggestions.

Thanks!

opticsplanet.com · Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2005 8:21 am Post subject:

Hi

For the deep-sky stuff - nebuale, galaxies and star clusters - think big. If your primary interest is the faint stuff, then you will get the largest telescope for your dollar with a reflector. A quality reflector on an equatorial computerized mount such as the Celestron C10N-GT, http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestron-advanced-c10-ngt-newtonian-reflector-telescope.html makes for a serious deep-sky instrument and also has a lot of potential for astrophotography.

A variation I like on a reflector is the Schmidt-Newtonian (SN). The overqll length of the tube is shorter and it gives better images at the edge of the field than a standard Newtonian. I also like the fact that the tube is sealed against dust, though dew can be a problem on the corrector plate. Try the Meade LXD75 SN10AT, http://www.opticsplanet.net/meade-lxd75-sn-10at-schmidt-newtonian-telescope-with-uhtc.html for my first choice here.

No discussuion would be complete without a mention of a Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT). Though more expensive per inch than a reflector, this scope can do any job and do it well - truly an all-around design with a million accessories available. For the price range you indicated, here are a couple gems.

Meade LX90, http://www.opticsplanet.net/meade-lx90-lnt-sf-telescopes.html

Celestron CPC 800, http://www.opticsplanet.net/celestron-cpc-800-telescopes.html
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