Need Help - Beginner

Hello,

Just joined and a Beginner so bare with me. I've been crazy about astronomy and astrophotography for years, started to get into it a few years back with a Meade ETX-125 and a old Canon Rebel 2000 (film). Had our first child and had to sell the scope.

Here I am a few years later and now with 2 kids and its finally time for me to get back into this. Now...I've been reading for a few nights now and it seems the more I read, the more confused about which type/make/size of scope I should buy. I've come to the conclusion that an equatorial mount is a must but just cant seem to make up my mind on what scope to get so I figure I need help!

I want a scope which will allow me to take spectacular photos of the moon, planets and long exposure. I would also like it if the scope doubles up as a decent observation scope but rather it be more geared towards photo taking.

Reality: Budget is not high enough to buy anything crazy like a Vixen Refracting scope but I have roughtly a $1,500 budget to play with.

I will be using a Nikon D90 to snap the photos and also have a mac book pro if that makes a difference lol. Any help and I mean any will be greatly appreciated. If you need me to supply any other info just let me know and feel free to email me [email protected]

Thank you so much & I look forward to being a part of this community.

Albert.

Leslie Artola said:

Hello,

Just joined and a Beginner so bare with me. I've been crazy about astronomy and astrophotography for years, started to get into it a few years back with a Meade ETX-125 and a old Canon Rebel 2000 (film). Had our first child and had to sell the scope.

Here I am a few years later and now with 2 kids and its finally time for me to get back into this. Now...I've been reading for a few nights now and it seems the more I read, the more confused about which type/make/size of scope I should buy. I've come to the conclusion that an equatorial mount is a must but just cant seem to make up my mind on what scope to get so I figure I need help!

I want a scope which will allow me to take spectacular photos of the moon, planets and long exposure. I would also like it if the scope doubles up as a decent observation scope but rather it be more geared towards photo taking.

Reality: Budget is not high enough to buy anything crazy like a Vixen Refracting scope but I have roughtly a $1,500 budget to play with.

I will be using a Nikon D90 to snap the photos and also have a mac book pro if that makes a difference lol. Any help and I mean any will be greatly appreciated. If you need me to supply any other info just let me know and feel free to email me [email protected]

Thank you so much & I look forward to being a part of this community.

Albert.

It's best, if your main goal is imaging, to focus on the mount, first. Get something you can afford, but the BEST you can afford. A Celestron CG5 or (better) a CGEM or an Orion Atlas. That, and perhapes a little 66ED refractor (William Optics, Astronomy Technologies) and or a piggyback setup where you image through the camera's lens will get you started on the deep sky.