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telescope virgin seeks grab-n-go for 1st night

Started by Carrottop, 07/16/2010 07:47PM
Posted 07/16/2010 07:47PM Opening Post
hello all,
im a newbie to the fascinating world of telescopes,
tho have done my homework,
and read most introductory websites on the subject,
got binos,
and learned the sky basics.

i live in a big polluted city (atlanta),
in a small apt,
and am thinking about getting my 1st telescope.

but,
most important factor is that it is a grab-n-go scope w/ a top image,
so:
- dont care so much about price (with limits on the $1000),
- dont want something heavy, that takes time to assemble, to cool, to collimate, to align, to pick on a gps...
- dont want GOTO/electronic features, rather spend it on a better image.

so dobsonians,
the usual scope for virgins,
are out for me.

what should i go to?
Posted 07/16/2010 08:53PM #1
Daniel Unger said:

hello all,
im a newbie to the fascinating world of telescopes,
tho have done my homework,
and read most introductory websites on the subject,
got binos,
and learned the sky basics.

Best advice I can give you? Don't buy ANYTHING...not yet. Your city has a large, excellent, and very active astronomy club. Join, and pick the members brains and check out some of their telescopes before you jump. Some of them will be living in exactly the same circumstances as you, and the good folk of the AAC will help you.

Uncle Rod

Time on your hands?
Waste it with Uncle Rod's Astro Blog!

http://uncle-rods.blogspot.com/
Posted 07/17/2010 01:06AM #2
Okay . . . so the advice you have gotten so far is very good. It is excellent.

But . . . Dobsonians aren't just for virgins--they are also for sluts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So . . . wait six months, as advised, before becoming a slut:
Posted 07/17/2010 04:53PM #3
in the meantime,
i've been naughty:
yes, i confess,
been flirtatious w/ many scopes that fit my tastes (small, great image, next to no maintenance or setup time),
1st it was the refractors,
especially those small new triplet ED orions,
so cute,
but everyone tells me an 80mm wont get a beginner even into the preliminaries,
besides, it's too expensive for a 1st,
like a fancy car for a 16yo,
not a good move,
so i moved on,
lately i have my eyes on a Vixen VMC110L,
which apparently (correct me if im wrong),
cools down quickly and needs collimation infrequently,
but i keep comparing it to the orion apexes (102 or 127),
and think i could fall for them too,
tho am more worried about cool time.
any insight here?
as i wait,
i'll eat chocolates and read novels about the ole south,
im also thankfull for y'all's input,
and intend to follow and research thru.