What telescope should I pick?

[UnityLover]

@Doodlebug
The alt azimuth is nice, but people have said the alt was wobbly.
The equatorial, though more expensive, fits my budget, and with you guys, using this mount shouldn't be a problem to use.

[davesellars]

Last night I went stargazing with my 7x22 binoculars, saw like 15 stars, had some fun.

I suggest you take a look at this:

https://stellarium-web.org/

Use your binoculars to take a look at M45 (Pleiades) which is a very large cluster of stars and an excellent first target. Also M31 which will show very will in binoculars and should be bright enough from Bortle 7 but would be much better at Bortle 5. Get to know the sky and recognise the constellations naked eye and with the binoculars which will help you immensely when you do get around to getting a telescope.

[UnityLover]

I already know about stellarium, and my phone doesnt support stellarium, so will celestron skyportal work?

[davesellars]

Use whatever atlas your phone supports! Sorry, I don't use SkyPortal. If on Android or iOS then SkySafari is excellent.

[Juno16]

I already know about stellarium, and my phone doesnt support stellarium, so will celestron skyportal work?

As Dave @davesellars said.

If you have an iPhone, it will support Skyportal (free), or Skysafari (pay for). Skyportal is based on the Skysafari application, just much less frills.
If you try Skyportal and like it, you might want to upgrade to Skysafari later.

[UnityLover]

I dont own an Iphone, its a cheap android

[Juno16]

No idea then, but I’m sure that there is a good sky atlas for android out there.
I also use SkyGuide. I see that it is available on Google Play for $2.99. It’s a really nice app with the best graphics I’ve seen in a phone app.

[UnityLover]

I already use skyportal btw, its kinda like stellarium BUT you drag it around, since I dont have a gyroscope on my phone.
(I can use my moms phone which does have a gyroscope though)

[JayTee]

There is a free version of Sky Safari for Android.

[notFritzArgelander]

Astrobiscuit is just an advertisement site. Buyer should regard "recommendations" as advertising.

[UnityLover]

@notFritzArgelander
Ive already decided to not get the powerseeker, but thanks for telling me about the advertising.
Ive seen this equatorial reflector made by orion, has also been reviewed by Ed ting in this video.
The others haven't given opinions on it yet. (at least i dont think so)

[Frankskywatcher]

Here’s what you should get as suggested to me by another member here on the Forum !
https://shop.astronomerswithoutborders. ... -telescope

[Frankskywatcher]

@notFritzArgelander
Ive already decided to not get the powerseeker, but thanks for telling me about the advertising.
Ive seen this equatorial reflector made by orion, has also been reviewed by Ed ting in this video.
The others haven't given opinions on it yet. (at least i dont think so)

So I’m dying to know what telescope did you settle on ?

[UnityLover]

@Frankskywatcher
I borrows a starblast from the library, i can loan it for 7 days.
For buying a telescope to keep, probably the equatorial reflector in the post that you quoted. Cheap, great optical tube, and a not bad mount!

[UnityLover]

@notFritzArgelander
Ive already decided to not get the powerseeker, but thanks for telling me about the advertising.
Ive seen this equatorial reflector made by orion, has also been reviewed by Ed ting in this video.
The others haven't given opinions on it yet. (at least i dont think so)

So I’m dying to know what telescope did you settle on ?

btw, I used it last night, but couldnt find anything since the finder had a dead battery. I may or may not get a replacement battery for it.

[UnityLover]

Last night I used it, I found a 2032 battery, and put it in the finder. I looked at jupiter and saturn, but i had school so i looked at jupiter early, when it was closer to the horizon. I also mindlessly aimed it around to see those stars I cant see with my bortle 7 skies.

[pakarinen]

You can stumble onto some interesting things while scanning around, especially if you don't feel like generating / working off a target list. I often end an observing session by just scanning to see what I might find.

[davesellars]

Just keep loaning out the telescope from the library unless someone else has reserved it. It will give you some experience about what can be seen with that aperture without having to spend anything!

Invest in an atlas or guide - perhaps the Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas and / or the Turn Right at Orion for the bright deep sky objects. With a bit of luck, you may even find a used example to save money.

[Frankskywatcher]

@Frankskywatcher
I borrows a starblast from the library, i can loan it for 7 days.
For buying a telescope to keep, probably the equatorial reflector in the post that you quoted. Cheap, great optical tube, and a not bad mount!

Well that’s good unity lover I’m glad to see you are progressing.
I stated earlier that scope that I suggested to you was mentioned to me by someone else here on the forum.
That telescope is being used all over the world and it can be used by just about anybody and it’s not a “ toy “ telescope !

[pakarinen]

I recommend also getting a copy of The Monthly Sky Guide by Ridpth and Tirion. It has great maps and short write-ups which I think would be good for beginners. I love mine and I've been observing for a few decades.

https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-month ... on=8439015

https://www.amazon.com/Monthly-Sky-Guid ... 3901692477

I believe the 10th edition is the newest; older editions will have out of date planetary info, but you can get that off any of several web sites.

Addendum: I just found this site which has some decent sketches of things like TLAO does. Might be a useful adjunct.

http://rodelaet.xtreemhost.com/