Best Telescope Under $400: Top Picks and Recommendations for US Shoppers

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  • Thread starter Thread starter Littlejenny
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around recommendations for telescopes under $400, focusing on suggestions for brands and models suitable for US shoppers. Participants share their experiences and preferences regarding different types of telescopes, including Newtonian and Schmidt-Cassegrain designs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant inquires about telescope recommendations within a $400 budget and requests specific stores or brands in the US.
  • Another participant suggests the Orion XT8, describing it as an 8" Newtonian telescope on a Dobsonian mount, emphasizing that a simple mount allows for better optics.
  • A different participant recommends browsing eBay for options, mentioning that there are often good deals on telescopes like the Meade 8" LX90 Schmidt-Cassegrain.
  • One participant reiterates the recommendation for the Orion XT8, highlighting its features such as a parabolically-figured primary mirror that helps reduce coma and its sufficient aperture for deep-sky observations.
  • Another participant suggests purchasing a star atlas or set of charts to aid in navigating the night sky with the telescope.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the recommendation of the Orion XT8 as a suitable option within the budget, but there are multiple suggestions and no consensus on a single best choice, as other models like the Meade LX90 are also mentioned.

Contextual Notes

Some participants provide links to specific products, but there is no discussion of the availability or condition of these items. The conversation does not resolve which telescope is definitively the best choice, leaving room for personal preference and further exploration.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in purchasing a telescope for astronomy, particularly those looking for budget-friendly options and recommendations from fellow enthusiasts.

Littlejenny
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with about 400$, any suggestion for me ? what i should buy, pls me a store or brand in US pls :D
 
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Littlejenny said:
with about 400$, any suggestion for me ? what i should buy, pls me a store or brand in US pls :D
An Orion XT8 is well within your budget. It is an 8" Newtonian on an alt-azimuth (Dobsonian) mount. By staying with a simple, inexpensive mount you get the best optics for your money.
 
I would browse ebay to see what is available. There are some nice cats there in your price range on a regular basis e.g., http://cgi.ebay.com/Meade-8-LX90-Scmidt-Cassegrain-Telescope_W0QQitemZ150510652706QQcategoryZ74929QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp4340.m8QQ_trkparmsZalgo%3DMW%26its%3DC%26itu%3DUCC%26otn%3D5%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D4524310907123046014
 


turbo-1 said:
An Orion XT8 is well within your budget. It is an 8" Newtonian on an alt-azimuth (Dobsonian) mount. By staying with a simple, inexpensive mount you get the best optics for your money.

thx for that suggestion, hmm, I've searched for it in google, seem to be quite good :D

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Littlejenny said:
thx for that suggestion, hmm, I've searched for it in google, seem to be quite good :D

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It has parabolically-figured primary mirror (not spherically, so you can escape some coma) and has enough aperture to get you into some pretty serious fuzzy-hunting territory. This is a decent scope with reasonable aperture. Buy a nice atlas or set of charts, so you can learn your way around the night sky, and you'll be busy for years.
 
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