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Thread ID: 64752 2005-12-26 10:42:00 telescope recommendations DangerousDave (697) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
415824 2005-12-27 04:41:00 I've often thought of getting a telescope, but as Trev says a decent pair of binoculars would be a good starting point.
A "few hundred " dollars would not buy anything much better.
A good telescope would be more like a few thousand.Beat me to it - I was just about to say the same thing.
Tony (4941)
415825 2005-12-27 04:43:00 There is an old saying when buying a telescope, anything in size under 160mm buy a refractor and above 160mm buy a reflector that is because the thingy that supports the mirror that relects the light to the eyepiece stops the scope from gathering a certain amount of light, over 160mm it is not so important. Take a look here.
www.astronomyonline.com.au

Trevor :)
Trev (427)
415826 2005-12-27 05:08:00 Try here as well. www.rasnz.org.nz/ http:

Trevor :)
Trev (427)
415827 2005-12-27 06:31:00 I must admit to a little surprise at the suggestions of using binoculars - unless they are mounted on some sort of tripod. Suppose it depends on your age, but my old binocs are heavy after a little while and generate the shakes. This matters when trying to hold a focus on some item at the edge of your vision. I have a small Meade 4500 which has a 114mm primary mirror. In our semi-rural area of Motueka this pulls in good light. From memory, it cost about $550 or $600 some years ago. Scouse (83)
415828 2005-12-27 07:40:00 7X50 is ideally the max. size of binoculars you should use without a tripod.

Trevor :)
Trev (427)
415829 2005-12-27 07:51:00 Agreed - a tripod is best for binoculars. A Newtonian scope is fine and very economical. Winston001 (3612)
415830 2005-12-27 08:32:00 Beat me to it - I was just about to say the same thing.Which is just as wrong, unless using a tripod capable pair. Greg (193)
415831 2005-12-27 10:02:00 Which is just as wrong, unless using a tripod capable pair.You are right of course - I was referring to the telescope more than the binoculars.

There - does that make you feel less grumpy? ;)
Tony (4941)
415832 2005-12-27 10:58:00 You are right of course - I was referring to the telescope more than the binoculars.

There - does that make you feel less grumpy? ;)Yup. Thanks. Better than a cup of hot Horlicks ;)
Greg (193)
415833 2005-12-27 19:30:00 Agreed - a tripod is best for binoculars. A Newtonian scope is fine and very economical.

Yes I would love to own a Meade LX200GPS 10" which is only a cool $5,399 AUS $s.

Trevor :)
Trev (427)
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