Buy Time

I've been using my brother's Konus 90mm Maksutov-Cassegrain for some months while he's been away. He just came back and took it and im looking to buy a scope for myself. I'd like to buy used from somethign like eBay or Astromart. I want something that i wont grow out of anytime soon. I can spend maybe $400-450. I've been looking at used S-8 Meade reflectors and Nexstar 5s, all used but they end up being just beyond this price range used. Can anyone throw some advice my way about what kind scope to buy and where? Thanks alot!

Yeah sorry i forgot to mention my biggest interests are primarily DSOs and Planets equally.

What do you want to use it for?

Planets, galaxies, nebulas, star clusters? Depending on what you expect to use it for, you might want to buy different scopes.

Offhand, I would recommend a 6-8" Dobsonian telescope. That would be something which would give good views at a low price and that is simple to use.

I am sure other more experienced people will have different opinions.

I'll just ditto what everyone else has said and everyone pretty much will say on down the line, is buy an 8" f/6 dobsonian from Meade, Celestron, Orion or Hardin that's cheap and has enough power to keep you busy for years

Hi:

So, you want a decent quality telescope that you "won't outgrow" anytime soon.

First: Astromart is a good place to buy scopes, decent prices and decent people. There are "some deals to be had" on Ebay but it is also much easier "to be had by a dealer." Lots of poor quality equipment masquarading as "decent." Lots of 6 inch with 20 inch Tube but a 1400mm focal length. Unless you are savvy and know your scopes, I suggest buying else where.

Local classified can be a good place, but before jumping what seems to be a great deal, post something here and you will get know knowledgeable help.

In the end, for those of us stuck here on the earth, astronomy is about aperture. The bigger the mirror or lens the more you see. Under about 12 inches, this is true whether you want to view the planets or the deep sky, both light gathering and resolution is increased.

An 8 inch scope has twice the resolution and gathers 4 times the light of a 4 inch scope. Planets will be brighter and sharper, DSOs will resolve that are mere smudges...

So, what to get...

The recommendation of an 8 inch DOB is a good one. No tracking but solid optics and the mount is solid. These are between $300 and $400 for the basic models. The next step up, the 10 incher sometimes is available on the web for about $500, sometimes including shipping. Personally this would be my suggestion, a used 10 inch F5 DOB can be had for sometimes under $400.

Tracking: An EQ mount has its advantages, more awkward to use but with drives, no nudging. In this price range don't make plans on anything well suited for astrophotography, that costs money...

Here you options are a new 6 inch EQ mounted scope, maybe an used 8 inch F5 Newt (I don't recommend F4 scopes) or maybe an old C8 or Meade 2080. There is also the option of the 120mm F8.3 reflector, not my recommendation, I had one, not a bad scope but not enough aperture IMHO.

So, you have some time, you have asked some good questions, try to find a way to look at and through some of these scopes before making a decision. Star Parties, quality dealers, friendly local amateurs....

That way you will avoid unwanted surprises like: "I didn't realize how big an 10 inch DOB really was."

Or:

"The catalog never mentioned false color."

Best wishes, clear skies..

jon

Thanks alot guys. I'll have my eyes peeled for that 8" Dob on the Classifieds.

I've never actually had the chance to use a Dobsonian. Isnt looking at DSOs and trying to keep them in the FOV without a tracking motor torture?

Thanks again everyone. You all seem to have given me the same advice so I'm going to put in an order for an 8" Hardin Deep Space Hunter! Thank you all so much for your input. Now... does anyone have an idea what kind of Eyepiece i should start out with?
-1,000,000 Questions Zack

[SIZE="Large"][/SIZE]DOH[SIZE="Normal"][/SIZE]I seem to have spoken too soon. After searching every corner of the web i have found that Hardin's 8" DSHs are backlogged a minimum of two months... Does anyone know if theres a dealer that might have them in or know of a similarly performing and priced scope?

Ok, im stumped what on Earth does F5 and all these things mean? I see them associated with words like fast...how can a telescope be fast?
-Confused

Hello all once again! I've decided in the interests of looking foward to pick up a 10" Dobsonian at a local(1 hour away dealer) and i was just wondering if i would be better off with an Orion XT10 or a Hardin 10" DSH which comes with a 2 inch widefield eyepiece and a crawford focuser which, not that i know why, is supposedly much better.(?). Thanks in advance!

-Zack