First telescope

[markgross]

Sorry to post what has already been asked 10 gillion times, but reading those posts i'll try to do a better job with my situation. FYI - I tried binoculars, but didn't work out. Returned them twice. Ugh. Fuggeddaboutit.

Budget: Up to $1K
Environment: I live in rural Oregon east of the cascades. Big, dark sky.
Objective: Check out planets and relatively near earth sights
Hope: I can use app to find things easily (i know it's a cheat)
Other: No need for transport. Easy to set up.

Any thoughts?

[Lady Fraktor]

This is a good package for starting out and good enough quality that with just a few improvements over time you will have a really good package.
https://www.highpointscientific.com/cel ... cope-21088

Plus it will leave you a bit of extra money for a few accessories.

[Refractordude]

The problem with the refractors is they are all out of stock. The Orion dob at f/8 focal ratio is a great deal.

https://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/Do ... goryId=398

https://www.astronomics.com/nexstar-102 ... actor.html

https://www.highpointscientific.com/cel ... gLT8fD_BwE

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-V ... /10105.uts

[turboscrew]

BTW, what was wrong with the binoculars? (Just that it may affect the telescope selection.)

[Larry 1969]

Here's a decent read about what to avoid.
https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-e ... ot-to-buy/

Larry

[Richard]

Binos are fantastic , just remember that if you ordered astro binos they start with 15x70 and up tp around 25x100 , these all work well but all need some form of mount as holding them by hand for most people is impossible and therefore frustrating , me personally I like 7x50 for hand held any higher mag than 7x is not so easy for me , I love my 15x70 on a simple tripod
Also binos are not really suited for high magnification , like for the planets , but there are only a few planets but lots and lots of other stuff

[WilliamPaolini]

BTW, what was wrong with the binoculars? (Just that it may affect the telescope selection.)

I agree. Critical to know what about them didn't work for the OP before venturing off other recommendations.

[GCoyote]

Here's a decent read about what to avoid.
https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-e ... ot-to-buy/

Larry

That was excellent. If I had read that five years ago my closet would look very different.

[pakarinen]

That was excellent. If I had read that five years ago my closet would look very different.

Do we have a "Gee, I wish I hadn't bought that" thread?

[GCoyote]

That was excellent. If I had read that five years ago my closet would look very different.

Do we have a "Gee, I wish I hadn't bought that" thread?

Yeah, a little bit. But I've limited my losses by 'adopting' homeless scopes so far so I've been able to experiment with different OTA designs, mounts, and accessories while staying within budget. I'm fortunate in that I enjoy learning how the equipment works almost as much as the actual astronomy. I now have a much better idea what I like and don't like and so I'm able to focus on specific needs when I do buy new equipment.

IMO when figuring out what to buy next, a positive forum conversation like this is orders of magnitude more helpful than the usual ratings, reviews, and other generic Internet sources of information. The forum community provides a level of context that is missing from the usual sources.

[turboscrew]

IMO when figuring out what to buy next, a positive forum conversation like this is orders of magnitude more helpful than the usual ratings, reviews, and other generic Internet sources of information. The forum community provides a level of context that is missing from the usual sources.

I agree.
Reviews usually can't call garbage as garbage. They need to use quite neutral expressions. Otherwise the seller/manufacturer feels offended, and doesn't want their products to be reviewed by that reviewer.
The differences between really good and really bad gets blurred.

[pakarinen]

a positive forum conversation like this [...]

Yes, that's the key. Too many discussions in other forums devolve into trading insults.

[GCoyote]

a positive forum conversation like this [...]

Yes, that's the key. Too many discussions in other forums devolve into trading insults.

... and the bulk of user reviews appear to be written by people trying to justify a purchase or by 'bots rented by the seller to boost sales.

[turboscrew]

a positive forum conversation like this [...]

Yes, that's the key. Too many discussions in other forums devolve into trading insults.

... and the bulk of user reviews appear to be written by people trying to justify a purchase or by 'bots rented by the seller to boost sales.

And often reviews basically "compare products to themselves" - just facts that you could read from the brochures.
Not much about how the product really compares with other similar kinds products, or evaluation of the features of the product in practical use. Sometimes it's hard to tell a review from an ad.

[Bigzmey]

Welcome on board Mark! Would you like to have a telescope with manual mount to learn how to read star charts and navigate to target manually, or you would prefer to use GoTo mount, which once set up correctly will find the target for you and keep it in the view by tracking it?

[GCoyote]

Welcome on board Mark! Would you like to have a telescope with manual mount to learn how to read star charts and navigate to target manually, or you would prefer to use GoTo mount, which once set up correctly will find the target for you and keep it in the view by tracking it?

As it turns out, that is a very good question to ask now days.

The answer may depend on how much light pollution he has to contend with.

Mark?

[markgross]

Thanks so much for the info and the recommendations. I'll try to respond here to all questions and comments

1.Lady Fraktor made a specific rec (thanks!) - Celestron Omni XLT 102 Refractor Equatorial Telescope - 21088. Refractordude said these are often out of stock, and recommended the Orion dob at f/8 focal ratio (thanks). These were the two specific recs.

2. Several q's on binoculars. I bought the Skymaster 25x100 gigunda binocs, and the recommended mount. The problem - which I posted in the binocs forum - was that to see thru them and have the to images merge, they need to be completely closed (forgive me for not using correct terminology. Even then the images didn't merge. My IPD is in the normal range, so based on forum advice, I exchanged. Same problem with next set. I was advised that it might be possible to make adjustments by opening the binoculars, but I'm not confident enough to tamper with delicate and expensive devices. So I figured, go for a scope.

3. Bigzmey and GCoyote asked about GoTo mount. Yes, I'd like that feature.

Here are the reqs from my original post

Budget: Up to $1K
Environment: I live in rural Oregon east of the cascades. Big, dark sky.
Objective: Check out planets and relatively near earth sights
Hope: I can use app to find things easily (i know it's a cheat)
Other: No need for transport. Easy to set up.

Given all this, what's the word, my teleguru buddies!

Mark

[sdbodin]

OK, sounds to me like a 4 or 5 inch Mak on a goto, certainly within your budget. Specifically because planets and, the only other nearby object, the moon. Definitely an easier setup that a long tube refractor.

BTW, I'm in your neck of the woods, one state up. I have found that 11 or 15x70 binos are a good choice too and you'll have enough left over for a pair.

Good luck,
Steve

[Richard]

If the two images dont merge means the binos are out , and need to be collimated not something you should do as they are new , sorry for that but yes it does happen and only really notices for astronomy seems more and more people notice this , if you got your money back as mentioned a nice small mac is good

[Refractordude]

I read that Maks can have a hard time keeping up with changing temperatures. Would not want the OP to buy a Mak and every time He/she looks through it nothing but mush. The Mak is a great recommendation, but what are the falling temperatures like at his/her location? Left click the images.