The Liverpool Astronomical Society Forum

Hi, I have recently become infatuated with everything above..Im 27 and From Litherland, Liverpool, I have read alot of posts about what telescope is right for a beginner. I have decided to go with the reflector version.
I dont want to spend too much on my 1st scope but i do want the best scope possible for the money. (around £200) I intend to upgrade in a year or two once i find my starlegs. Please if possible could someone recommend a scope (a link would be very handy also). Basically I wish to observe planets and would like "some" detail if poss.

Ty for your time

Hi Michael, Stockport Binocular have a good chioce for under £200, here is a links http://www.telescopesandbinoculars.co.uk/acatalog/NewtonianReflectors.html (ftp://http://www.telescopesandbinoculars.co.uk/acatalog/NewtonianReflectors.html) the £155 would probably suit you best.
Brendan

Ty very much for your advise regarding which telescope to purchase.

I have been glued to your forums all day and been taken around many other websites. I have now discovered my real ambition for my telescope. I would like to view more deep space items such as nebula and I was wondering what kind of telescope would be needed for best results. (I dont mind paying a little more if the results are good).

I have seen some amazing colourful images of deep space and wondered if the scope im after can capture such images

I intend to come visit your observatory on a Wednesday in the near future as I have alot of questions about this fascinating subject.

Ty again. Michael

hi mike , im not too far from you in kirkdale.
this "what scope to buy" is a pain isnt it :/
im pretty much a noob @ astronomy too and have just gotten onto my 2nd scope.
heres some considerations i found important.
have you got transportation ? sometimes  you wanna get out to those really dark places.
do you think your gonna use the scope maybe 5 times then put it away and forget about it ? if so dont get an expensive one,
its kinda a vicious circle tho the crapper the scope you get the less likely to use it i find anyway.

most of the stunning images we see in magazines are a result of time exposed photo's not really what you will see through the lens , ive never tried astrophotography tho, but for this im sure you need a scope which tracks the movement of the obkect otherwise your exposure is streaky.
for 200 quid you could get a cheap goto scope, altho they need to be in the right position first before this is useful, and if you know enough to setup a goto scope correctly then you may as well learn the stars imho.
it seems scopes with elecronic wizadry pay closer attention[at least in the cheap end] to the electronic wizzadry than the optics.
for the £200 quid mark id probably get one of these
http://www.telescopeplanet.co.uk/ViewProdDetails.asp?prod_code=PON07I000031

then again...what do i know  ;D
ps for any noobs like me this is a great program to learn the stars from and find stuff in the night sky
http://www.stellarium.org/
Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.
It is being used in planetarium projectors. Just set your coordinates and go.

Hi Michael, for imaging you will need to spend a lot of money  >:(  you can get some half decent images from a Driven telescope.
For deep space observing you need large aperture, bigger the mirror the more photons you can grab personally i would always go for a Dobsonian but these are not so good for imaging. call up to Pex Hill and we can show you various setups.
Brendan

Ty for your replys Guys.

Hey vincent, You been to pex Hill yet? Im thinking of going up in a week or 2.

I do have transport but ive been told its quite hard to get to.
If you dont drive and would like a lift up there sometime its no problem ;-)

I think as Brendon points out, I need to observe other telescopes before I make the leap. I am prepared to spend more money if needed on better equipment. However, Surley there is no better way than coming to Pex Hill to see for myself.

Ive been causing quite alot of interest from alot of my fellow electricians at work so hopefully there should be another 4/5 members joining (as well as myself).

As always guys, ty for your time its very much appreciated....

See you soon and take care ;-)

hi mike
i was thinking of goin to pex hill myself and takin me little lad too , i got transport  its only 12 miles away or so.
guess il be going on wednesday if its not cloudy or rainy, thanks for the offer of a lift.
 maybe cya there :)