Re: Selecting a telescope

Llanzlan,
Thanks for the comments. This gives me more to think about.
Regards
Peter

"Llanzlan Klazmon" <Klazmon@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:Xns98348A7F823A1Klazmonllurdiaxorbgo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Peter Clarke" <pbclarke@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in
news:6vOdnenvAfc0oGbZRVnyrA@xxxxxx:

I am looking to buy a telescope but never having had one before, I am
uncertain what size (aperture) telescope to get. After some
investigation I now am thinking of something like a 6" or 8" reflector.
I would like the opportunity of looking through some telescopes to see
what can actually be seen. Does anyone have any suggestions. I live in
Ross on Wye, Herefordshire.

Much depends on whether or not you want to regularly transport the scope.
You will want to consider how easily it fits in your vehicle. Most six or
eight inch Dobsonian reflectors can be transported in a typical family
car.
The "lazy susan" base is likely to be the difficult part to deal with.
Beware of the cheaper equatorial mounted scopes as the mountings are often
unstable. Try before you buy is alwats a good idea. Whatever you do, don't
buy one of those fast F4 reflectors on an equatorial mount!

Also, how worthwhile (for a beginner) are the computerised GoTo systems.
They sound like a great idea, but they add a lot to the cost, and are
they accurate and reliable?

I believe the Meade and Celestron ones can work very well but how reliable
they are is another question. The more electronic gee-gaws you add, the
more that can go wrong. Choose a dealer who is prompt at dealing with
warrantee issues. Join an Astronomy society in your area and you will have
a local source of advice and the chance to check out various scopes in
action.


One more question while the going's good. Both Meade and Celestron
appear to have good ranges of telescopes. Does anyone have any comments
about these makes, good or bad.

For their SCT's they are much of a muchness. Celestron nearly went broke a
year or so ago and was rescued by the Taiwanese company Synta Optical
Corp.
Synta themselves primarily make Dobsonian reflectors and small refractors
which are sold under various brand names in different parts of the world.
The Celestron SCT's are still manufactured in the US I believe but any new
Dobsonians or refractors with the Cellestron brand name are most likely
made in Synta's factory in mainland China.

Synta's main opposition for the cheaper end of the scope market would be
another Taiwanese Company called Guang Sheng Optics (GSO). They supply
Meade with some stuff but Meade's SCT's and RCX's are manufactured in
North
America or Mexico.

Klazmon.



Thanks






.

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