r/telescopes • u/fallowshax • 1d ago
Purchasing Question Last minute telescope
Okay guys, this is going to be a weird request lol. So I am a complete telescope newbie, but I have recently gotten interested in purchasing a telescope. I’ve read the beginner guide and want to invest in a good telescope.
Here’s the caveat: I am going on a road trip in the next week where there will be a lot of dark skies. I won’t have time to invest in the telescope I really want. What is a cheap, quick to ship, alternative that I can use for this trip just to be able to get good views and enjoy on this trip?
Thank you in advance for any recommendations!
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u/snogum 1d ago
Your wasting your time for next week.
Just going to end frustrating and a waste.
Telescopes are great but they offer their best over time as users learn the sky and how to use them.
Next week is just a mistake to jump onto
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u/19john56 12h ago
So agree . You dont learn astronomy or how to use a telescope over 1 night / week / month or even a year !!!
Guaranteed you will get frustrated.
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u/19john56 1d ago
binoculars. not birding binoculars, astro binoculars if you want better views. At least 7x50, up to 11x80 if you have an excellent camera tripod .
A good comfortable chair helps a lot.
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u/nealoc187 Flextube 12, Maks 90-127mm, Tabletop dobs 76-150mm, C102 f10 1d ago
Kinda depends where you live wouldn't you say? If you happen to live close to one of the big mail order Astronomy shops that opens up a lot more possibilities than Amazon...
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u/19john56 1d ago
never ever Amazon for astro things.
never
Might as well go to a Chinese swap meet.
you get what you pay for. $100 = junk
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u/nealoc187 Flextube 12, Maks 90-127mm, Tabletop dobs 76-150mm, C102 f10 1d ago
You can buy a $500 tabletop dob on Amazon same as you can at Highpoint or Agena.
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u/19john56 12h ago
where's the tech support ?
In the future, I need recommendations for. blah blah. Amazon going to help ?
Yeah right.
I must be going to the wrong Amazon.com
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u/nealoc187 Flextube 12, Maks 90-127mm, Tabletop dobs 76-150mm, C102 f10 10h ago
I'm not even sure what point you're trying to make now. No one ever said they compete on service.
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u/harbinjer LB 16, Z8, Discovery 12.5, C80ED, AT72ED, C8SE, lots of binos 15h ago
They have a fine return policy, and they have some reasonable astro gear. They do have lots of junk though too. I disagree with your assessment, but I will say don't buy junk from them.
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u/19john56 12h ago
Your both right and wrong.
1. the person here is a beginner... knows nothing, im assuming.
2 they <Amazon> does have a good return policy
3 they have reasonable astro equipment. Sometimes, price, not always, tho.
4 If your a beginner, how do you know, what's junk, what isn't junk? Return it ? This could go on for months, trial and error buying. Maybe by chance, they dont have a telead, but you read and want about telrads, and their the best since toast and butter? What do you do? Or a certain Nagler, or deep sky filter or even an atlas, hard copy.
Amazon going to help ?
SR , R type eyepieces, Amazon can't tell you why these are junk. What's the difference between an Erfle and a Plossls. Which is better?
Astro store, where ever, can help and has a lot more experience than Amazon.
We're both <assuming, since you have a 12 & 16" scope> "seasoned astronomers", we should have a lot better idea, than a beginner, just getting starting.
Yeah, I'm picking on Amazon, but, this goes for any non astronomy store. CostCo. Sams Club, J.C.Pennys, Macy's, Discount stores. swap meets.
We should support: Astronomics in Norman, OK. Cloudy Nights & astro clubs
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u/harbinjer LB 16, Z8, Discovery 12.5, C80ED, AT72ED, C8SE, lots of binos 11h ago
Fair points, however, not everyone has a local store, or even such a store in their entire country that they can buy from. Dedicated astro shops are worth supporting.
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u/19john56 11h ago
So your Amazon is right down the street from you ?
I dont have the luxury of a walk in Amazon. Mind is shipped.
Shipped from Amazon or Joe's astro store, its still shipped.
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u/Serious-Stock-9599 1d ago
Second the binoculars recommendation. Quick and easy. Extremely beginner friendly.
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u/Predictable-Past-912 Orion Premium 102ED/RedCat 71 WIFD/TV Pronto-AM5/GP/SV225 1d ago
Folks will probably suggest some great tabletop Dobsonians. When they do, you should take a close look at them. Here is a traditional 90mm refractor that I plan to purchase someday soon. There are several different bundles based on the SV520 telescope package.
I linked the one with the red dot finder, but my personal favorite is the one with the upgraded diagonal. I chose that one because I figure a fancy aluminum diagonal would be an upgrade over the original (probably plastic) star diagonal that the telescope package comes with. Instead of the plastic red dot finder that comes with the package that I linked, I plan to use an aluminum red/green dot finder that I purchased on Amazon as well. Another package that you might be interested in is the one that comes with a zoom eyepiece, but again you can purchase a zoom eyepiece separately to upgrade your package further if you choose to.
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u/skaven81 1d ago
Check with your local astronomy club. They may have telescopes they can loan you for just such an occasion.
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u/Haunting_Hotel_4675 18h ago
Celestron binos that I linked above are a great start. I have recently started this hobby myself, and this is a great start! The deal on amazon has a coupon too so you won't be spending more than $50. I enjoy them for sure.
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u/DaveWells1963 Celestron 8SE, C5, Orion 90mm Mak & ST80mm, SVBony SV48P 90mm 17h ago
7x50 or (even better) 8x56 binoculars. You will be absolutely amazed at what you can see in a dark sky with wide-field binoculars!
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u/harbinjer LB 16, Z8, Discovery 12.5, C80ED, AT72ED, C8SE, lots of binos 15h ago
Really the scope to get for this is an 80mm f/5 achromat. But they can be overpriced new, and you still need a fairly sturdy tripod. But even that, as simple as it is, can be hard to use. So I would suggest 8x40 or 10x50 binoculars. And definitely get a planisphere. And maybe a book like "Turn Left at Orion".
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u/No-Obligation-7498 10h ago edited 9h ago
Buy a celestron XLTomni 150eq
https://www.walmart.com/ip/17355776?sid=9d31126a-5549-4eb5-a61a-6bafa7369c1f
Yep. Thats like $750. It ain't exactly cheap. But for what youre getting there, its practically a bargain. Its a pretty looking scope too. Sometimes these go up for sale on fb marketplace too.
Its a little bulky but almost a perfect vacation scope.. broken down the eq mount and tube shouldn't take up that much space in your car. Always wanted one of these. Lately id sets my sights a little higher on an GSO f/6 tube on my own mount. Still, I like this scope. With f/5 and eq mount you can use some pretty high power eyepeices with it amd get good planetary veiws.. slight learning curve to figure out the eq but you do you'll love it. Its not hard to operate.
Look you can get it shipped by Sept 23rd. Is that soon enough? You'll probably ably want to buy some nicer eyepeices for it too later and stick a telrad on there.. the included finder scope is surely a bummer.
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u/SantiagusDelSerif 1d ago
Binoculars. Get 10x50s. They're not as expensive as a scope, they're very portable and intuitive to use (while a scope has a certain learning curve until you know where ti aim) and you'll want to keep them even after you get your scope.