- #1
whalemangler
- 2
- 0
Hello everyone. Giant astronomy newb here. Some background:
My sons 5th birthday was a few weeks ago and I told my wife I wanted to get him a telescope about a week or so before. I did some research and basically got the "dont buy at a department store" message. My wife however was out and about and grabbed one and I was too busy and too overwhelmed by the choices to pick one so I stuck with it.
I have never looked through a telescope before but we took it out that night and pointed it at the brightest thing in the western sky which is about the only direction I can look from my yard. I saw a ball with 4 little lights aligned with it straight up and down. But I could not get past the 20mm eyepiece and still see it. I went inside and googled it to find out what it was and it was Jupiter. It was pretty cool to actually look up there and see it for the first time. But long story short, the telescope went back because it was crap (too shakey, too hard to make fine adjustments).
I then looked around online and found what looked like a good deal at Telescopes.com on a Meade 2114 GoTo model for only $149 ( http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/reflecting-telescopes/meadetelestards2114atstcgototelescope.cfm). I ordered that but it is still on back order. After reading some bad things about Meade, I am wondering if I should cancel and get a different one.
I really need to stay about $150 if I can, but they have a couple of deals on some Celestrons in that range ( http://www.telescopes.com/best-sellers/8197+13.cfm ). I am looking for something that can see the planets and some nebulae if possible.
Any suggestions?
My sons 5th birthday was a few weeks ago and I told my wife I wanted to get him a telescope about a week or so before. I did some research and basically got the "dont buy at a department store" message. My wife however was out and about and grabbed one and I was too busy and too overwhelmed by the choices to pick one so I stuck with it.
I have never looked through a telescope before but we took it out that night and pointed it at the brightest thing in the western sky which is about the only direction I can look from my yard. I saw a ball with 4 little lights aligned with it straight up and down. But I could not get past the 20mm eyepiece and still see it. I went inside and googled it to find out what it was and it was Jupiter. It was pretty cool to actually look up there and see it for the first time. But long story short, the telescope went back because it was crap (too shakey, too hard to make fine adjustments).
I then looked around online and found what looked like a good deal at Telescopes.com on a Meade 2114 GoTo model for only $149 ( http://www.telescopes.com/telescopes/reflecting-telescopes/meadetelestards2114atstcgototelescope.cfm). I ordered that but it is still on back order. After reading some bad things about Meade, I am wondering if I should cancel and get a different one.
I really need to stay about $150 if I can, but they have a couple of deals on some Celestrons in that range ( http://www.telescopes.com/best-sellers/8197+13.cfm ). I am looking for something that can see the planets and some nebulae if possible.
Any suggestions?