well, Looking for a telescope, again...

N757QQ · Joined: 22 Apr 2008 Posts: 3

Hello all.

I am in search of a telescope, again. I purchased just a week ago from what I thought was a reputable company (not this one but I do not want to name names & cause problems), a telescope. I learned just prior that the specific model was no longer produced, so I placed the order, since they showed to have several in stock still (Celestron Star Hopper 8").

Well, they shipped my package, and I even called & confirmed that the shipment was complete. It arrives, but only with lenses. My calls, and emails are answered, but only to say, 'well there is just one guy that calls on discontinued items, so he must have just not gotten around to you.' & other just sad excuses. If there are that many discontinued items that the guy was backlogged enough that within 5 days (all weekdays) they guy couldn't have tried to reach me, perhaps I am missing something.

Regardless, I am rather mad about the entire deal. I just don't understand how a company would ship lenses & just hope I won't notice the 60+lbs telescope is missing from a 4" x 4" box?

Back to my point... I am back at zero now. I had decided on a Celestron Starhopper once I had heard so many great things about it, and now that I am not going to receive one, I am not sure where to go, nor what to buy.

I have been looking here, at opticsplanet.com for a comparable dobsonian, since that seems to be the right way to go for my wants.

I am gathering that 8" Dobsonians (the size I want, within my price range) are not that crowded of a market, but the few I have found here, and on other websites do not seem to live up to the now 'extinct' Starhopper, so does anyone have a suggestion on what I should look for?

I do not mind a computer, but I do not need one. I would rather learn the stars on my own, and not use a computer, since I may well just not ever really learn them. But if there is a great 'scope out there with a computer, I am open.

I think my primary focus will be deep sky, with occasional planet observing.

I have a beginner budget of around $500. I do not want to drop a lot of money only to realize I just don't have the time, desire to use the tool.

I gather from my limited reading (this is my first real telescope), that a reflector dob is the right one for me. I want a large aperture (but not the giant price tag if possible) for deep sky viewing, with the ability to still observe the planets, should I feel the need. I also want portability at the moment, since I am in a decent spot, but there are much better ones close by.

Thanks for any suggestions on quality Dobsonians. Also, I faintly recall reading somewhere that Celestron is going to remake the Starhopper series, and new ones will be out at some point in the future, I think. Is this correct, or very old news that I read, or just my information overload playing wishful thinking on me? I would wait & purchase one, from all the great reviews, if they were going to be selling them again within the next few months.

Thanks.

Larry Stewart

Jne_K · Site Admin Joined: 24 Sep 2003 Posts: 4991

Hi Larry

Sorry about your experience, but keep in mind, you would have needed to add more eyepieces, anyway. What they shipped with the Starhopper would be enough to get you started, but not enough to do all you want to do in astronomy. No matter what you choose, you will need two eyepieces and a barlow or three eyepieces without a barlow as a minimum for all your observing needs.

You are right on target wanting a Dob for your situation. Still the best buy going in a large manual telescope. I wouldn't give up on that idea for one minute.

All we can offer is the Meade Lightbridge, which is a truss tube Dob. This design has its advantages, but it's also more expensive. Great scope if you plan to travel. Otherwise, I believe Orion still offers some Dobs.
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