[Chaos-l] Question about telescope

[Jeff Polston]

If it's a choice between a 6" versus an 8" scope, go with the 8".  They are about the same size considering bulk, but that extra 2" in aperture will be better in the long run.  Aperture counts, especially on deep sky objects.  You might not immediately see a difference as a beginner, but as you become an experienced observer you'll appreciate the extra light gathering ability.

Dobsonians definitely give the most bang for the buck and I always recommend them to beginners for a first astronomical telescope, both for performance and cost.

Some people consider an 80mm or 90mm refractor as a first scope.  These are smaller, but also easy to use/transport.  They are good grab and go scopes.  Another benefit is they lend themselves to daytime use more readily (i.e. birds, distant vistas, spying on neighbors, etc.).  The refractor would be good on the moon, the planets, and the brighter deep sky objects.  But if you're going to be going after a lot of the deepsky stuff (like galaxies, nebulas, etc.), then I'd still suggest the larger dobsonian over the refractor.

Photography can be so challenging that I wouldn't even consider it a factor in deciding on a first scope for a parent and child.  Besides, even with the dobsonian, you can still take some pretty awesome snapshots of the moon (and even Jupiter and Venus).

Someone else mentioned a tabletop style telescope.    I've seen some with great optics, but I personally find them somewhat cumbersome to use, especially when pointing at something pretty high in the sky.  The moon and bright planets aren't so bad, but it can be frustrating going after a dimmer star cluster or nebula if you're a beginner.  Ease of use is a big factor for a beginner and nothing gets much easier than a dobsonian.

Bottom line is that if the budget agrees, I recommend an 8" dobsonian for a beginner.  If the budget is a little tight, then go for the 6" version.  If the budget is a lot tighter, then start exploring the cheaper alternatives.

Those are my opinions.  Good luck,

Jeff




From: chaos-l-bounces at rtpnet.org [mailto:chaos-l-bounces at rtpnet.org] On Behalf Of michelle s
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2011 10:51 AM
To: chaos-l at rtpnet.org
Subject: [Chaos-l] Question about telescope

Hi, my son and I want to buy our first telescope. We want easy to use but a good quality one that won't break the bank, and we won't want to replace after a few months. From what I've been reading on the internet, the Orion skyquest xt8 looks like a great one. Can anyone give us advice about it? Is it worth getting this one over the xt6, or is there an entirely different one that is preferable?
He is anxious for me to order one NOW, so pls advise. Also, I'd prefer to purchase used, as they are pretty pricey new. No idea where to find one used.
Thanks,
Michelle


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