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Tyler Wayne
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I've heard countless stories from my friends saying they only used theirs once or twice before it got old. I've been really interested in astronomy but is it worth the money?
I never go anywhere on vacation with a pair of Leica 10x50
Tyler Wayne said:Is it worth getting a telescope?
I've heard countless stories from my friends saying they only used theirs once or twice before it got old. I've been really interested in astronomy but is it worth the money?
Tyler Wayne said:I've always enjoyed going out of town at night and looking at stars, but my friends say you don't see much difference through a telescope. I want to get into astronomy but I don't know if buying a telescope is the first step.
chronos said:...Once you've seen an astrophysical body, you've seen it. It will generally look exactly the same for the next 50 or so lifetimes...
Same here. I don't always use them as much as I would like, due to health reasons, but it is so nice to know that they are out there in the garage, ready to go. Apochromatic refractors have gotten terribly expensive since I bought mine, but if you have the $$$, they should deserve a decent look.davenn said:I couldn't imagine ever not owning a telescope
Bandersnatch said:. . . buy a good pair of binoculars. They can give you similar experience to a small telescope, at much lower price and without being anywhere near as cumbersome logistically.
Welcome to PF!Andy Simpson said:Damn. You guys sure talk kids out of getting a telescope. Way to go nerds
I was joking about the nerd thing. Thought nerds were capable of understanding sarcasm. I was just disappointed that I was trying to get my son interested in something other than video games and sports and our research was so disappointing. perhaps the amount of money I'm willing to spend to expand his mind is a lot more than what this feed was talking about or he should just stick to video games and sports.russ_watters said:Welcome to PF!
1. Nerds rule the world, if you hadn't noticed.
2. To each his own. Since basically everyone in the thread owns a telescope, we love them. But we also know that not everyone has the patience or wonderment to actually enjoy them. I love showing-off the night sky with my telescope to people who have never experienced it. But there are two kinds of people when it comes to the view through the telescope: Ones who can't keep their mouth closed and ones who wonder why what they see doesn't look like what is in magazines. If you're the former, a telescope might be for you. If you're the latter, you won't be happy with one. The choice is up to you. All we can do is provide you honest experiences.
We do. Sarcasm is our favorite. But be careful, we're really really good at sarcasm and if you aren't careful, we'll take your joke and make it literal, then use it against you.Andy Simpson said:I was joking about the nerd thing. I thought nerds were capable of understanding sarcasm. again joking in case you didn't catch that. :)
You joined an hour ago and this thread is three years old. Is Tyler Wayne your son, Andy Simpson? No one in the thread said "don't get a telescope" and I would be willing to bet we weren't talking to your son. You chose a very poor way to get advice.I was just so disappointed with the amount of posts telling my son not to get a telescope after I worked so hard to try to get him interested.
Ok, I/we wish you the best. Since this thread is obsolete and doesn't match the new context, I'm locking it. If you wish to make a legitimate effort to ask a real question and engage in conversation about the answer(s), please feel free to start a new thread.I am willing to spend a lot of money for him to explore the universe but everything we read together turned both of us off. I guess we'll just stick to the usual things society wants our kids to be interested in...
...perhaps the amount of money I'm willing to spend to expand his mind is a lot more than what this feed was talking about or he should just stick to video games and sports.
It depends on your level of interest in astronomy. If you are passionate about stargazing and want to explore the night sky in detail, then investing in a telescope can be worth it. However, if you are just looking for occasional use or a simple hobby, it may not be worth the cost.
A refractor telescope is typically recommended for beginners as it is easy to use and requires minimal maintenance. However, it is important to consider your budget and what type of objects you want to view before making a decision.
The price of a telescope can vary greatly, but a good rule of thumb is to spend at least $200 for a decent beginner's telescope. However, if you want a higher quality telescope with advanced features, you may need to spend more.
Yes, with a powerful enough telescope, you can see all the planets in our solar system. However, the clarity and visibility of each planet will depend on factors such as atmospheric conditions and the quality of your telescope.
While having some basic knowledge of astronomy and using a star chart can enhance your viewing experience, most telescopes come with everything you need to get started. However, if you want to capture images or view distant deep-sky objects, you may need additional equipment such as a camera or filters.