Suggestions please??

My wife is getting her masters in astronomy and geoplanetary science for teachers. In this program she's required to work at the local observatory quite a bit. She's meantioned several times how much she loves it and would like to have her own telescope one day. I assume she knows what she's talking about because she's always talking about reflector/refrators, light gathering capacity, lenses & optics, and other stuff I have no clue about. To make a long story short...I'd like to surprise her with her first telescope, but I have no idea how to shop for one. I'm looking for some good recommendations considering I'd like to spend $500-$1500. Something that will last a while (technology wise). Something that will interface with or capture images onto her computer (Macbook Pro). Something that is somewhat portable that she can carry around to her classroom for her students, or take on a trip to a dark place (Not Houston. Hopefully I'm supplying enough information. Some good recommendations or starting place would be great! Thanks.

Hi Brandon:

After thinking about this for a bit, I am moving over to the camp that argues that it would be best for your wife to narrow down the choices for you. She may have already done so in her mind. Although surprising her would be nice, it does have a flip side. She probably has access to a professional grade observatory and is likely spoiled by the experience. (I am envious of course).

However, if you do decide to take the risk, I second the motion for a Celestron NextStar 6 or 8 inch ( the larger scope of course gets you to see more ).

Good luck and let us know who it goes.

Rey

Hi,
The above advice is all good. For a detailed discussion of this issue, check this link:

http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html

One good choice for a first telescope is not a telescope, but binoculars. The link above recommends 7x50mm binoculars or 10x50mm binoculars (7x or 10x magnification; 50mm diameter front lens).

Why binoculars? They can be picked up and used in seconds, they are easy to aim, require little skill.

Another option are Canon Image Stabilized binoculars, such as:

http://www.buytelescopes.com/product.asp?t=&pid=1823&m=45

My final thought, is that I agree that your wife probably some ideas of her own. You can surpise her by putting a picture of a (or several) telescope(s) in a box and wrap it up. After she opens it tell her she's going telescope shopping!

Steven

You're looking at one of two options:

Gift certificate-Safe, cautious, dull compared to the real thing under the tree.

Gift- Kinda chancy, but if it doesn't work out, sell it on Astromart!! I'm in the camp of taking a chance with a gift of the real thing. Just gotta be realistic, you can't get everything at once with your budget.

It's tough IMHO to go wrong with an 8" SCT. It's got nice aperture for years of enjoyment. Lunar, planets, and some deep sky (later enhanced by imaging equipment, video eyepiece perhaps) It's compact, breaks down into light weight components. Maybe I'm goin' against the crowd but I say go for it!

Here's one on Astromart at a good price:http://www.astromart.com/classifieds/details.asp?classified_id=460622


Hey, and you've got money left over to binoculars! Binos are terrific to have, even with a telescope! Get a 10X50, you'll love it.

Good Luck!

Gerald

Brandon,

Well, I think the surprise is a must, so I would not ask her 1st. But I think you can have the best of both worlds. So I'd get her one really nice eyepiece - that's the surprise #1, maybe even in a small foam padded case like you can get from Ritz Camera that will fit just the one nice EP - make it extra special even though not practical - but presentation sure matters.

Next I would do the gift certificate for the balance you want to spend at a place like others already recommended. You can put that in the case too. Or perhaps just a check so she can go anywhere and you can include a hard catalog from Orion, Anacortes, and others...fun to look thru all the pics

As for the eyepiece, well, I'd say a 9mmT6 or a 13mmT6 Nagler. It's premium and more reasonable that other premium EPs. If you think she is more a high power lunar or planetary observer, then go with the 9mm. The 13mm is kind of middle of the road, not high power, not low - assuming a typical fast f-ratio scope design as are most popular today.

If you want to be a bit more practical, and frugal, they you could put and entire set of 5 Edmund RKE eyepieces in that case for $250. These are middle of the road, not the best, nor the worst, and for the price perfom well. But if me, I'd like the one 9mmT6 Nagler.

-Bill