Which Telescope Should I Buy for City and Country Use?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around selecting a suitable telescope for both city and country use, focusing on the needs of a first-time buyer with a budget of under $500. Participants explore various telescope options, specifications, and their suitability for observing deep-sky objects (DSOs) as well as planets and the moon.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses a desire for a telescope with decent aperture for better visibility of DSOs and suggests a preference for an f/6 to f/10 specification.
  • Another participant argues that lower f-numbers (f/4.5 to f/6) are better for deep space observation, indicating that the suggested telescopes may not meet the aperture requirement.
  • Several telescopes are proposed, including the Celestron PowerSeeker 127 EQ, Orion Astroview 90mm, and Orion Spaceprobe 130ST, with some participants recommending the latter for its f/5 specification.
  • There is discussion about the importance of budget, with one participant suggesting that spending more could yield better quality optics and mounts.
  • Participants discuss the Nexstar 130 SLT GOTO, highlighting its ease of use and tracking capabilities as advantages over other models.
  • Concerns are raised about the limitations of lower-priced telescopes in terms of performance and potential for astrophotography.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on the suitability of various telescopes, with no consensus on a single best option. Some agree on the importance of budget and specifications, while others challenge the adequacy of the proposed models for the user's needs.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the discussion is influenced by personal preferences, budget constraints, and the specific requirements for both city and country use, which may affect the choice of telescope.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in purchasing their first telescope, particularly those living in urban areas with limited visibility and those seeking advice on budget-friendly options.

Cr74
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Hello all,

First of all thanks for taking the time to look at my post, and thanks ahead of time to those willing to answer my question.

I've always loved Astronomy and have done quite a bit of self-study over the years. I have a pair of binoculars but want to get a telescope.

I'll start by saying what I'm looking for, and provide a list of scopes I've found may meet my requirements, so the idea is for you experts out there to tell me which suits my needs best. If you have other suggestions they are, of course, welcome.

I live in a city, but near the outskirts so I can see most of the constellations and even some dimmer objects with the naked eye. So, I would highly value a scope that has a decent aperture to gather more light and help me see more DSOs. I would like one that is just as good at seeing DSOs as planets/the moon, so from what I've read I think I need something between f/6 - f/10, but am not completely set on that spec. I would also like one that's not too difficult to transport (for when I head out into the country) and also not too large as I live in a small-ish apartment. As I said I am a first-time telescope user but also have a decent knowledge of Astronomy, so keep that in mind. I am not particulary set on any type of telescope, either (refractor, reflector, etc...). Also important, I would like to spend less than 500 dollars and ideally around 300-400 or less.

So I leave you three telescopes I've found so far that may work for me, and will anxiously await your responses.

Celestron PowerSeeker 127 EQ
Orion Astroview 90mm
Orion Spaceprobe 130ST

Again, please note I am by no means limiting my choices to those above, and would welcome other suggestions.

Thanks again!
 
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hi there

welcome to PF :smile:

did you read this thread at the top of the forum section you posted in ?

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/planning-to-buy-a-first-telescope.391086/it gives a lot of background as to types of scopes and accessories etc

f6 + is good for planetary but not good for deep space ... low f/numbers are better for that f4.5 - f6 more lightnone of the 3 scopes you listed have your "decent aperture" requirement ... all are pretty smallDave
 
davenn said:
hi there

welcome to PF :smile:

did you read this thread at the top of the forum section you posted in ?

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/planning-to-buy-a-first-telescope.391086/it gives a lot of background as to types of scopes and accessories etc

f6 + is good for planetary but not good for deep space ... low f/numbers are better for that f4.5 - f6 more lightnone of the 3 scopes you listed have your "decent aperture" requirement ... all are pretty smallDave

Thanks for the reply.

I haven't been researching that long but have found it frustrating and overwhelming so far. Do any specific telescopes come to mind that you would recommend?
 
your budget is probably the most important factor ... give us an approx. figure in 100's or 1000's of $$
The more you spend the better the system you will get ... unlike audio gear

do you ever think you mite like to get into astro photography ?
that will determine optics quality, f # and quality of the mountDave
 
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Budget would be less than 500...ideally around 300.
 
Cr74 said:
Budget would be less than 500...ideally around 300.

OK ... they would be good, but don't expect too much from them :smile:
and that won't get you into astrophotography ( but that is a side issue in the mean time)

I would personally recommend the Celestron PowerSeeker 127 EQ or the Orion Spaceprobe 130ST
and out of those two, the Orion Spaceprobe 130ST because it is f5 rather than almost f8 that the Celestron is
The f5 will be a better all round scope for planet and deep space observing

Celestron and Orion are both good brands
my scope is a Celestron CPC925, current replacement price is over AU$5000 eeeekkkkkk

Dave
 
Last edited:
Can you recommend any other telescopes that are midrange?

Thanks again for your help.
 
Cr74 said:
http://www.astroshop.eu/celestron-telescope-n-130-650-astromaster-eq/p,7895 (Astromaster 130EQ)

is in the same league as the other 2 reflectors I commented on above

Cr74 said:
http://www.astroshop.eu/celestron-telescope-n-130-650-nexstar-130-slt-goto/p,7876 (Nexstar 130 SLT GOTO)

this would be a good scope, being an altitude / azimuth mount, it would be easy to set up and use
and the goto control would be great for you to find objects

Cr74 said:
http://www.astroshop.eu/celestron-telescope-n-114-1000-lcm-goto/p,19194#tab_bar_1_select

This one is a serious step backwards compared to the previous 4 reflector choices

the top 3 choices, from the top would be ...

Nexstar 130 SLT GOTO

(Astromaster 130EQ

Orion Spaceprobe 130STDave
 
  • #10
Thanks, Dave, for your insightful comments.

Do you think the Nexstar is worth the extra 250 or so euros? I think I'm leaning towards this one but I also want to make sure that I am making the right choice.

Do you think this scope is a good midrange choice? Would you recommend any others over this one for around the same price?
 
  • #11
Cr74 said:
Do you think the Nexstar is worth the extra 250 or so euros? I think I'm leaning towards this one but I also want to make sure that I am making the right choice.

The ease of finding objects and the tracking ability make it the best buy

the no tracking of the other 2 scopes would drive you nutz after a while as an equatorial mount is difficult to aim

Cr74 said:
Do you think this scope is a good midrange choice? Would you recommend any others over this one for around the same price?

yes it's a good low - mid range choice ... mid range would be more in the $800 - 1500 and hi range up to several 1000
then you can go extreme after that and spend $8000 +++++ :wink:Dave
 
  • #12
Really appreciate your help, Dave. I think I'll end up getting this one, but I'm still going to do a bit more research.

If you come across or think of any other scopes you believe may be a good choice for me please let me know!
 
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  • #13
no probs ...

pleased to be able to help ... :smile:
 

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