Reddit mentions: The best telescopes

Hello :-)

What is your budget?

Most cheap and small telescopes are utter garbage, sorry. "Small" and "Pocket" suggest a small aperture and flimsy mount. For astronomy, that's a deadly combo :-)

• Binoculars. As /u/sflamel wrote :-) Even cheaper $30 binoculars such as the Cometron 7x50 are OK, but you get what you pay for. Still, a better choice than anything in the sub-$100 range.
  
  
• Verdict: Yes!
  
  
• $20: Astromedia Cardboard newtonian, plumber's telescope kit or Galilean kit (US). These work, are educational and fun to build. Overall they make more sense than a small telescope. IF the person likes to build stuff.
  
  
• Verdict: Yes?
  
  
  
• 50mm refractor. These cost under $50, but mount and accessories simply suck. Sorry. They might look like your normal telescope, and beginners will think: "This is great!" but they are not. Some start at 27 dollars. Even the ones from Brands like Celestron or Meade (e.g. 50az, 60az, 60eq) share some of the issues (stability, accessories).
  
  
• Verdict: Please No.
  
  
• $40-$60: Firstscope 76/300, Meade Lightbridge Mini 82 and similar.
  
  
• Travelscope.
  
  
• Those are cute small telescopes, but they do not show a lot. I used mine a couple of nights, but moved on. They have flawed optics making them less ideal for planets, and for wide-field, binoculars are much easier to use.
  
  
  
• Verdict: Firstscope/Mini: Maybe yes. Travelscope: Maybe No.
  
  
• 70eq, 70az and similar telescopes: Mount often not ideal. They work, but 70mm aperture is pretty limited by today's "standard".
  
  
• Verdict: Inspire or LT 70az maybe, but you can usually get a better telescope for a similar price-tag.
  
  
• $70-$100: Orion Skyscanner 100; Often $75 as "2nd" (used/refurbished) via Telescope.com. For that, it's a nice table-top telescope that already is more useful than the 3" table-tops. Still, it's not ideal.
  
  
• Verdict: Maybe. Beats most, far from perfect.
  
  
• $130 Dazzle 4.5. This is where it starts to get a bit better. 4.5" aperture already shows quite a bit compared to the other entry-level telescopes. It's not ideal for planets, but still outperforms all the cheap 3" telescopes.
  
  
• Verdict: Yes. Better choice in this price-range!
  
  
• Ignore all the 127eq and 114eq in this price-range. They either have flawed optics (bird-jones 114/1000, 127/1000; Spherical mirror: Astromaster 130) or a weak mount (All of them).
  
  
• Verdict: Burn. ... Especially these and the smaller refractors can often be found for $10-$20 on the classifieds, because no one wants them anymore.
  
  
• $180-200: Lightbridge Mini 130, Zhumell z130, AWB Oneksy (Europe: Heritage 130p). These are among the best entry-level telescopes despite some quirks. Other telescopes in a similar price-range are the Meade Inifnity 102mm (short, not ideal for planets, but decent otherwise), 90eq (decent but small aperture shows less), Orion xt4.5 (a bit more expensive, focal-ratio has some benefits compared to the 130mm table-tops, but it's price is close to a great 6" dobsonian). These might look like toys to some, but they are much less than an overpriced, bad, weak little refractor with 5 star rating on Amazon.
  
  
• Verdict: Wow!
  
  
• $300, $400: Skywatcher 6" or 8" dobsonian, Zhumell z8. Big. More expensive. Show so much more. z8 has so many accessories it's one of the best deals out there.
  
  
• Celestron Nexstar 130 or 127 SLT: Computerized, but GoTo will NOT make everything easier for beginners. Relatively compact. 8" will show a lot more though.
  
  
• Verdict: DO NOT get these. You will have tired employees all the time. They will stay up all night looking through their great telescope and come to work sleepy every other day!
  
  Difference a large aperture makes
  
  Size, Portability
  
   
  
  If you where thinking of something like a small $10-$20 handheld monocular or a $20-$50 spotting-scope: These work well for day-time and the moon. They are pretty bad for astronomy though. Anything with zoom in this price-range is. And over 10x magnification is difficult to hold free-handed, during the night, when you try to focus on a small detail. It's tolerable during the day, but not for nebulae and such.
  
  &nbp;
  
  TL;DR: "Turn left at Orion" or "Nightwatch" plus binoculars -> Best entry level set for beginners. Or at least the telescope in the $120-$200 range.
  
  
  Clear skies!

Head over to /r/telescopes and read the stickied thread over there. Great community. You may find a particular need will lead you to a certain telescope, but for purely visual observing, it's hard to beat a dobsonian reflector. Dobs are often called "light buckets" because the primary mirror is large and can collect a lot of light, making for better views.

The cheapest dob worth buying is the $200 AWB OneSky. It's a collapsible tabletop scope with a 5" primary mirror. Another scope of the same size and price is the Zhumell Z130. Zhumell is a respected dob maker, and I haven't heard many reviews of the Z130, but it won the "best telescope value" award for 2016. It's slightly less portable, but that portability requires a little bit of setup, so the choice is kind of just about your personal situation.

With a telescope like one of those, you will be able to see all the planets (Uranus and Neptune will appear just as blueish dots), Saturn's rings and moons, and Jupiter's moons and great red spot (in good seeing conditions).

You will be able to watch the moon in great detail, and see galaxies - Andromeda will look like this, nebula - Orion will look like this, and star clusters - M13 will look like this, all depending on seeing conditions.

If you can afford an 8" dob telescope, you will be able to collect 250% as much light as with a 5" telescope, and will get better results. Again, Zhumell is a good manufacturer. The Z8 is $400 and often considered the best value for an 8" dob because of the good accessories.

If you are ok buying used, you may be able to get a lightly used 8" for the price of a new 5". I got this collapsible 8" telescope for $250 lightly used. I once saw an 8" go for $100, but the person selling didn't know what they had.

Here is a picture that I took last week. My son and I set up in the town center and invited people to look at Saturn and its rings and moons.

Good times.

The absolute best telescopes for beginners is a good 8 inch dobsonion. If you are willing to take the time to learn the night sky and don't need goto a good one is 400 or so new. For 650 you can get a push to 8 inch scope that allows you to tell it what you want to see and it will tell you how to push the scope to see it. True motorized ones are much more expensive

The reason 8 inches is the best starters is it's big enough to provide great views of everything from the moon, the major planets and all the brightest deep space objects. The dobsonion type scope is easy to setup,very stable, and light enough that it's not a big production to get it out and ready.

If you get a scope order the book "turn left at Orion" on Amazon. It is a great book that gives you easy to understand directions on where to point a scope any time of the year to see the best objects currently in the sky. Also see if there are any astronomy clubs in your area because they are normally very willing to help you get started

Astrophotography is a whole other can of worms and requires specialized telescopes mounts cameras etc

Below are some examples of Scopes and good reading:
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11610-Traditional-Dobsonian-8-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3PRK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=skywatcher+dobsonian+8&qid=1569033244&s=gateway&sprefix=skywatcher+dobs&sr=8-3


https://www.telescope.com/mobileProduct/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/Orion-Limited-Edition-SkyQuest-XT8-Classic-Dobsonian-Bundle/pc/1/c/12/sc/13/101452.uts

https://www.telescope.com/mobileProduct/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/IntelliScope-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT8i-IntelliScope-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/27/102012.uts

https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundreds-Telescope/dp/1108457568/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=turn+left+at+orion&qid=1569034887&s=gateway&sprefix=turn+left&sr=8-1

I've made two recommendations before. I am not an astronomer, amateur or pro. I have been interested and have found some information about it, that's where these come from.
First order of business. Bigger hole is better. Always. Get the biggest diameter scope you can get. With that in mind these two have been suggested as great starters:
The Astroscan a good review from Dan's Data. It used to be cheaper, and normally was recommended before the next one, but now they're pretty close in price, but that one is still smaller and more portable.
The Orion Dobsonian XT8 Though really any 8" telescope would be good, but at 350$ for a well reviewed major name brand one is very nice.
Oh, and two more things, 1. get a book from somewhere. It's really important to know what's worth looking at, when and where. 2. find and speak with an astronomy club. They often have viewing events where you go and look through their setup scopes. That'll get you recommendations, perhaps second hand eq, and at the very least an idea of what you're getting into.
Edit: Wow, thanks generous stranger!

Well depending on how much they want for that telescope, you won’t want for much - it’s a nice piece of equipment with good clarity/contrast and intense magnification capabilities; your planetary view will be insane with the right eye pieces. If the other sub you’re referring to is r/astrophotography, they’re probably right - I haven’t looked too deep into AP on their level quite yet.

That being said, you don’t need an incredibly expensive telescope to get started, and astrophotography can be done on many levels. If you want to be able look at the Orion Nebula, but maybe be able to photograph Jupiter with a cell phone mounted to the eyepiece (after enjoying laying your own eyes on it, of course), this can be done for much less.

Hope this helps; reflectors are “cheap” (because they’re easy to make), if you aren’t sure about spending that much money to start out I definitely recommend going that route - either a dobsonian: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xf5wCbC5CSXBS

Or if you’d rather the computerized “GoTo” scene (which requires calibration by “marking” 2 or 3 stars in the sky so the scope knows where you are): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZY9KOTE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0i5wCb6HWP53C

Both of those were just examples, obviously you can spend what you want on what you will. I don’t disagree with other people on buying “anywhere but amazon”, but I can’t be a hypocrite ;I got my $100 special (celestron astromaster 70AZ refractor... which I love lol) on amazon and it’s great for searching what’s out there. Unfortunately they also tend to have the best price.

Thanks for the detailed response! Your other posts on this subreddit have been super helpful for me with researching and starting out! :)

> How much for each? Where are you from? No local offers?

It's 600$ for the XT8 and 630$ for the SkyWatcher, so around 200$ in shipping for each. I'm from Lebanon and sadly there's no local offers. The only scopes sold here are Celestrons, and they're priced quite high mostly due to their electronics.

Another poster mentioned that the SkyWatcher is pretty much the same as the AD8, does it have the same optics, construction, etc?

> About the mirror review: Got a link? That sounds odd.

The 'fatal flaw' comes from the 4th paragraph of 1st review on the amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6

I did some searching on Cloudy Nights, but there doesn't seem to be anything on it. The reviewer might be mistaken.

As for astigmatism, I don't mind having to take my glasses off and on. However, I think I read about people who have certain diopter values (unsure of mine and almost have no knowledge of eyepieces, exit pupil, etc.) who can't really see well through eyepieces without glasses.

I'm not really concerned about myself when it comes to observing with or without glasses as I'll probably be fine, but I'd like my mom to look through this scope as well. She has worst astigmatism than me, so I'd rather err on the side of caution and go with at least some eye relief if possible.

You mentioned high magnification helps for viewing without glasses, so wouldn't a barlow be worth it in that case? The only thing I know about them comes from this video from the stickied post: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpF1_Q5yPsk&list=PLLM5fRxAaC_cx-7xgBfGHGAi9d144AoRZ&index=5

He mentions they're a worthwhile investment since they can essentially double the amount of eyepieces you own. Also, would they offer good eye relief?

>Else, you'd have to try if you can live with ~13-15mm eye-relief (e.g. the $20-$40 gold-line, HR Planetary clones) or if you need eyepieces with 20mm ($80-$130+++) eye-relief.

13-15mm eye relief doesn't sound bad for those prices. Do you recommend any specific ones for planetary viewing, as well as clusters and some DSOs in case I get the SkyWatcher?

>Finder's included, but a Telrad is great for DSO if you have a dark sky and can see enough stars.

I'm in a Bortle 7 zone and will be doing most if not all my observing there so the sky isn't very dark. From what I've read, the SkyWatcher's finder is serviceable. Do you have any experience with it?

Just have Takahashi custom build you one of these for ~$300,000

http://www.takahashi-europe.com/en/FET-300.php (yes, that's a 12" apochromat)

And you'll be all set :D

On a more serious note, I would take the time to save up to $350-400 dollars. That might be easier said than done, but it opens up a solid class of telescopes for you that will be more rewarding and enjoyable to use.

As others have said, an 8" dobsonian is perfect for a beginner. It's easy to use, easy to set up, and gives excellent aperture for your dollar. Great general-purpose telescope.

If you want to stay at $300, then an Orion 6" SkyQuest Classic is a solid purchase:

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW

For the planets viewing from your backyard will be fine because they are very bright, but for most DSO's you will need to go to a dark spot, use this http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/

Id go with a 6 inch dobsonian because you have the aperature to see DSOs but is small enough that you can actually take it to a dark site where you can view them.
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-XT-6-Classic/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331787043&sr=8-2

Now for eyepieces:
You take the focal length of the scope, and divide it by the focal length of the eyepiece and you get the magnification it will provide.
For example the 6" scope I linked has a focal length of 1200mm, so with a 10 mm eyepiece you will get 120x.

Tthe best views of the planets are going to to be about 180-200x when you factor in seeing conditions and having to adjust the scope for the planets moving(move faster at higher mags).
For DSOs you want to use lower magnifications because they are very faint, so you will want from 40-100 depending on what you are looking at.
The orion sirius plossl eyepieces I have give great crisp clear images so im sure you will be happy with them, and they are not very expensive at about 40-50 each.
Barlows basically double your scopes focal length, so when used with an eyepiece it doubles the magnification. They effectively double your eyepiece collection so consider them when you are picking eyepieces.
Also download http://www.stellarium.org/ it is free and will teach you the constellations and will show you how to find anything you want.

Edit: also learn to collimate whatever scope you get or else you wont see anything good.

Rule of thumb is avoid cheap refractors. With refractors you need top notch optics to get good results, and you will never find them on cheaper ones. Don't be fooled by the magnification number, 300x magnification is useless when your optics cannot produce good results to begin with. It's just a cheap trick they use to impress beginners


Your best bet, with a 200€ budget is to get a good pair of binoculars, something around 15x70 and a tripod. If you still want a telescope, what you need is a reflector. Check out the dobsonians in Amazon, they're great and pack a lot of power for what you pay for, best bang for your buck as a beginner. Example: Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DsWCCb75RADY1

Telescopes are one thing where price does really matter though, it is advised to spend as much as you can on one, because quality and results obtained exponentially go up the pricier they are.

My suggestion would be to get a pair of nice binoculars, and if you like what you see thru them in the night sky (completely dark, away from City lights preferably) save up for a nice telescope. I've seen quite a few deep sky objects with just these cheap Olympus 10x50 ones, in completely dark skies. Olympus Trooper 10x50 DPS I Binocular (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AKGX3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HIWCCb36S5DK2

Good luck!

Based on the very little info you provided (and my advice for most amateurs) I'd recommend a dobsonian, because you will get the most bang for your buck if you're willing to spend some time learning the sky, and in the short term you will be able to see planets and the moon very clearly. You save money with a dobsonion because the technology is very simple-  it is essentially just a long metal tube, with two mirrors mounted on a simple pressboard mount. What you save on simplicity, you can put towards aperture. The aperture does two things- it allows more light to enter your eye allowing you to see fainter objects (such as nebula, galaxies, etc), and increases the highest useful magnification of the scope, which is better for planetary viewing. Overall, bigger= better so long as the optics are decent.  
One of the advantages of the dobsonian telescopes is the simple movements- it has an Altazimuth mount. That means there are two perpendicular axes for the mount, a vertical and a horizontal. It makes pointing the thing incredibly easy. "Equatorial" mounts are much less intuitive, they are set up to follow the arc of the sky and have adjustments that move the scope in counterintuitive ways. These mounts are much better for photography, but for simple viewing they are cumbersome in my opinion.
The disadvantage to the dobsonian is the lack of a motorized mount and the lack of a goto system (unless you spend much, much more). This means you will have to learn the sky, and once your skills improve, you will never be able to use this scope to photography deep sky objects. However, since they are so handy for quick viewing, even if you move on to different equipment, the scope will still be useful. I still use mine for photographing planets even though I have upgraded to an SCT, and just last week I used it to photography the International space station.


Anyways- so you can benchmark your price for this, here's a link to the amazon page for an Orion 6" dobsonian. https://www.amazon.com/Orion-894...  It's about the least amount you can spend without being disappointed by the scope as your hobby develops. If you can swing it- spend a bit more and get an 8" or 10". There are entire reddit communities devoted to this hobby you can check out, a lot of great advice about equipment there. The first link is good for someone that's on a budget, the second is good if you're curious about astrophotography.
https://www.reddit.com/r/telesco...
https://www.reddit.com/r/astroph...

I have a common 700x76 so its fine if I cant really see much detail (of course I would like to upgrade but right now my only option for sky viewing is hiking). As long as I dont downgrade from there Im fine. I got a plossl 25mm lens which improved the quality a lot but it's still hard to distinguish much detail.

My current budget would be around a 100 dollars. Where I live (Argentina) things are pretty rough with inflation and basically anything like this costs almost twice as much when you make the conversions. I have a relative travelling to the US and they could pick up a scope like this for me. Of course I could simply hold on and save for the next occassion.

Nebulae is something I would love to see but I could never do it, probably due to the light pollution. I basically gave up on them thinking its impossible. Would I be able to see them with a refractor? Clusters and panning scross the sky also sounds good and kind of what I want to do.

Maybe I should get some binoculars instead but I would really like a telescope I can take on hikes and take some beginner pics with my phone, sorry for the link but something like this is what I had in mind: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TI9Y2M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9dnDDbVM2WANA

Dobsonian is a type of mount - which is of the style: Alt-azimuth opposed to the other popular style: Equatorial
You can read about the differences here: http://science.howstuffworks.com/telescope5.htm

In short, Dobsonian style mounts are designed to be stable and easy to use but they're not ideal for long term tracking of objects in the sky for the use in say astrophotography. I would recommend this type for a beginner just because I find it easier to understand and use. It is also one of the cheaper solutions. Most Equatorial style mounts with a good telescope will cost you a good deal more than $300.

As for the 6" mirror. It's really quite simple. The bigger the mirror, the more light it collects and the better the image will be. Besides overall quality of the telescope, location, pollution, etc.. bigger is ALWAYS better. 6" is a good starting point. the XT8 (8" version) of the same maker is also a good choice, but would cost you a bit more than $300 - coming in at around $350 + accessories / shipping.

Take a look at these pictures: http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B001DDW9V6/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_1?ie=UTF8&index=1

Taken from a XT8. they will give you an idea of what you'll be able to see with these telescopes.

To be entirely honest with you, you should go for a light bucket. If you don't mind paying juuuuust a bit extra, I would go with an 8" Dobsonian. I've read in multiple places that it's the best bang for buck. You should start out, as heptapod said, with just a pair of binoculars and learn the sky. You can find many sky maps online and if you subscribe to Astronomy magazine, they supply you with a good amount. You can find an 8" Dob on Amazon from Orion for $329, which is a great deal. The larger the diameter of the telescope, the more light you'll be able to gather from the cosmos. There's many different things to check out when grabbing a telescope.

Check it: http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1266821888&sr=1-1

Look throughout some guides: http://findascope.com/
and others. I'm saving up for a 12" Dob. I'm also joining the local Astronomy club at the museum (The Neville Museum's Astronomical Society) which isn't a bad idea and you should look into as well. Good luck, and congrats on getting into an amazing field!

Don't get the celestron. Their low-end range is very bad for a variety of reasons.

At that price range, I'd recommend the Sky-Watcher Heritage 130p. It has the same aperture (you'll be able to see the same objects), but on a sturdier mount, and better optical quality (the celestron has a flawed spherical mirror). It's on a very stable dobsonian-style mount, but you'll need to put it on a table to use it at eye level. It's pretty much what everyone on this sub recommends, and for good reason.

The moon will look phenomenal (it does through any telescope!) and brighter deep sky objects (Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy) should also be visible. The planets will be doable, but I recommend getting a better quality eyepiece for higher magnifications. The 6mm Gold-Line eyepiece is a good choice that won't break the bank.

Clear skies!

Strictly speaking, wattages and THD are a good guide for figuring out quality, but are certainly not a hard-and-fast rule. Knowing your brands and trusted opinions are better, listening to it yourself is best.

The link in the sidebar has some good ones.

I'm actually in exactly the same position as you at the moment, I'm considering this one as it's the cheapest (50w per channel, ~au$80 delivered), but apparently this one is much better even though it's only 30w per channel and is $20 more.

Or then again I could anticipate future upgrades and just go for this yammy amp which is 100w per channel for ~$190.

I really like that Denon one you've posted, though. Decisions, decisions.

Holy Batman this is an amazing response!
The 4 year old has used a telescope before, he's just absolutely fascinated by space right now. If it was just him, I'd definitely be getting the £50 type scopes. Due to my interest, I really don't believe any model I get will be a waste of money.


I had the Heritage in mind, but had never looked at that Skyliner 150p, which has lead me to the 200p....I'm sure you know the feeling!

Already purchased Turn Left at Orion, definitely want a moon filter/scope as well as a planetary one.
Finder scope is essential from what I've read.

I think I'm settled on either the Heritage 130p or the Skyliner 150p. Is there any justifiable reason to even consider the 200p? I'm fairly certain I'll go in the middle for the 150p, but always welcome opinions!
Yet this Orion StarMax and this Orion SkyQuest keep appearing in my research. It will be between those 4 for sure, if you have any specific advice on those along with any accessories I need I would be eternally grateful.

I own one, and I like it a lot. The biggest advantage that it has is that it is very portable. And since it is so inexpensive, you don't need to worry about it getting broken or lost. It is of course not going to give Hubble-like views. You'll be able to identify Jupiter and Saturn, but its strength is on things like open star clusters. It has a f/4 mirror, so it has a very wide field of view. I can still picture in my mind the awesome view of the Pleiades in close proximity to Venus last year. I suppose it is important to keep in mind that the Firstscope is not my only telescope (I have an 8" dob). Also it can be a challenge to align things to what you want to look at, so it will probably be best to get the finder option (or build one yourself from some PVC pipe and dental floss). Also, you can get it cheaper on Amazon. Overall, I think this is a much better first purchase for someone compared to binoculars, since you can place it on a table, and get steady views (heresy, I know). I'm probably the only person in the world to make degree circles for the Firstscope. Just keep in mind that this isn't a high performance instrument. It has a spherical mirror, and if you want to attempt to collimate it, you have to do it with secondary mirror only.

Morthylist:
Item which would most make you seem like an old posh Englishman: Keep calm and carry on mug ("Random" WL)
Most "oh god, I would never be seen with this in public" looking item: As much as I love the movie, I'd still be a little embarrassed to be carrying The Little Mermaid around ("Moving Pictures!" WL)
Most phallic looking item: Uh...a sword, I guess ("If I had a million $$$s" WL)

Akeleielist:
Most geeky item: Coffee mug with a caffeine molecule on it ("Random" WL)
Item which would most help you achieve a goal: Running shorts to get my butt back in shape ("Fandom" WL)
Best item to bring to a deserted island: A telescope? I can look for ships on the horizon during the day, and look at the pretty astronomical sights at night! ("If I had a million $$$s" WL)

Love you both! :)

Any decent camera for astro-photography is quite expensive, several thousand $ or more. At your price range I would agree with the others and get good binoculars, they will provide a better beginning experience, especially for tracking faster objects.

In my limited experinece the biggest problem with low end scopes is the poor mounts which make it difficult to track and line up on objects. I did buy this scope (http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y/) and have enjoyed it even if the images are far from perfect due to distortion, much more glamorous for my kids than looking through binoculars and the mount is very stable, so I don't have too worry much about the kids moving it and losing site of what was there. It is possible to see the great red spot on Jupiter with it on a good night.

As far as pictures go, I am planning on getting a good DLSR with a good zoom lens once I can afford one. This will work for me for pictures of the planets, star clusters, etc. Then I hope to buy a tracking mount and trying my hand at some of the dimmer objects out there that require longer exposures.

Ah gotcha. I wasn't sure the age of your son, but it's awesome you are looking for one for your young son and helping him to venture into the world of science. If I were you I'd just wait and find a decent scope on craigslist. If he is still interested in astronomy in a couple years then I would throw down some money on a scope. I think a smaller scope for seeing the planets and looking at the moon will be interesting for him. The Orion XT6 is pretty large, but they do sell a 4.5" model which would be a bit smaller and cheaper. Link

I wouldn't buy anything from Wal-mart or K-mart though, those scopes are kind of trashy. I used to have a Tasco when I was younger that I won in a fundraiser and I could see the moon and not too much else so it was kind of disappointing.

Best of luck.

Thanks. I spend a fair amount of both time and money on my hobby.

The scope I linked is a fairly good starter scope. The mount may look a little intimidating but is easy to get the hang of. A similar telscope on a simpler mount is called a Dobsonian. They are very easy mounts to use. Here is a good example of a decent starter dobsonian. I would recomend getting a free program called Stellarium for pc/mac/linux. That is a great way to start.

Mark

As someone who lives in a city as well, it depends. If you can see at least a few stars at night, you might want to consider buying a telescope. I use a $70 Celestron travel scope 70. While it is pretty cheap as far as telescopes go, it does great where I live. And because the telescope will have more light collecting ability than your eye, wherever you point it you should see at least one faint star. Besides stars you should be able to see Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn. planets are relatively bright compared to other things in the sky. Really the one thing you definitely will not be able to see clearly are deep sky objects (nebula, galaxies, etc.) these unfortunately are too faint, and while you may be able to see a few stars where the nebula should be, it will be very difficult.

So really it depends on what you plan on looking at: planets/moon are great, stars are okay, DSO are very faint and difficult to see. I hope this helps!

EDIT: link to the telescope I own- http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001TI9Y2M?pc_redir=1411188054&robot_redir=1 it's fairly good for the price, however the tripod is a bit flimsy.

This will be a really broad question but here goes...

What is the best starter telescope I can get? I have literally nothing right now. No camera, no mount, no scope, nothing. I want to get into the hobby, but I just want to make sure I spend my money the best way possible without spending a fortune.

Was looking at the Celestron 127EQ but from what I understand is you can't take photos with it.

Edit: I'd like to be able to see planets like mars, jupiter, and saturn with some good quality.

I know they're poor telescopes, astronomically-speaking, but a Celestron travel scope, or one like it, might be a good option.

The eyepiece provides an upright image (so aiming it is intuitive) and is set at a 45 degree angle, which might be easier to use on a table or tray.

It's light, has a tripod mount (which can be secured or stabilized in several ways) and can be operated with one hand - both aiming and focusing.

Again, not a premium scope, optically, but it might be what you're looking for. I've used one and enjoyed the experience.

Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TI9Y2M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I probably could have spent more time researching one, but it had good reviews, travels easily, isn't too complicated to set up and it's a great price. I decided I'd rather start here and work my way up to something more advanced later on than buy one now that's too advanced for me and more expensive.

Plus it has 70mm in the name, and I saw Interstellar on IMAX 70mm so the Murphy in me told me it was fate. :)

I would say the best way to start in observing is to buy a simple Dobsonian telescope and a couple of Star catalogues. What you're looking for is the ability to gather a lot of light, not necesarilly magnification. Something like this will reveal many, many things:

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310480268&sr=8-1

Once you learn, and find you really enjoy it, then you might look at more expensive scopes or astrophotography. But the first fun...and it is fun, is to simply use your own eyes and hands to control a simple scope that gathers a lot of light. Good luck. If you have other questions please write me.

Stretch your budget or you will likely end up disappointed.

If $200 is your max. AWB OneSky

If you can stretch a bit Skywatcher 6" Dobsonian or if you're willing to second hand, an 8" inch dobsonian can be had for around $200-$250.

These will get you the best views of Jupiter and Saturn you can get for the money. But check your expectations. Through an 8 inch dob with a planetary eyepiece(which is usually bought separately) under dark mountain skies you can roughly expect visual results like this:

Jupiter

Saturn

Under light polluted town skies, the views will be approximately the same size but fuzzier and with much less detail.

It's never really a good choice to get a scope that tries to deliver both terrestrial and astronomical viewing. The only way to get an astronomical scope to see terrestrial images right side up and not mirrored or angled is to use a refractor or cassegrain scope with an Erect Image Diagonal inserted before the eyepiece. Unfortunately to get a quality refractor or cassegrain with as much visual bang for the buck as a Newtonian reflector you have to spend considerably more money.

Erect image diagonals don't work on Newtonians

So in short, it's often more affordable and definitely more satisfying to get one scope for astronomy and then something else like a birding monocular or a good pair of binoculars for terrestrial viewing.

Hope that helps.

I actually went with the StarBlast. I also bought a couple of lenses and a Barlow, and a sun and moon filter (which, in total costs more than the scope itself, but should be translatable, when I decide to scale my project).

Honestly, dropping a couple of hondo on a scope doesn't mean that much to me, but I know me (I got into yoyo's, then the next thing I know I spent $2000 on freaking yoyo's), so I have to mind myself in that regard, and not go too crazy.

I hope that we'll be able to talk in the future, because I'll be wanting something more later on. I just needed something right now, as my girlfriend (who is amazing and has written over 250 papers...not on astronomy, btw) wants to go out this weekend to a hike to view with some people (thus my need).

I took Astronomy I and II in college, and loved it, so I'm stoked that she's into it. I am an engineer and have a degree in mathematics, so bring on the nerdy, baby. :)

Edit: Edited.

Here is a finished version consisting of my favorite images of the objects within the solar system I have taken an image of. Sorry Pluto! Maybe one day I will get around to adding you! :)

Thanks for looking!

If you feel like looking at some of my other images or following me on social media, here is a shameless plug to my Instagram

__
Equipment:

• Meade LX80 8" ACF
  
  
• Nexstar 8SE (no longer own this, sold when I got the LX80)
  
  
• ZWO ASI120MC
  
  
  Acquisition varied per target. Essentially the idea for these images is to take video in order to make the final image. I use a program known as PIPP to stabilize the video and discard frames that have no target within the field of view. Following this I use Auto Stakkert 2 to stack the best frames with the best atmospheric disturbance which gives you the most clarity as well as the least amount of noise. Lastly, I use a program known Registax 6 to sharpen and perform some other manipulations to the output of the Auto Stakkert image. All of these programs are available for free online.

I don't know if it's improved lately or not, but Tasco used to not have the greatest reputation. This sort of small refractor in particular is generally considered very poor.

I don't own one personably, but I've read generally favorable reviews of the Celestron Firstscope. It's less expensive, likely to be better quality, and much more portable. It's probably a good idea to also pick up the accessory kit for that.

Whatever you end up getting, it's probably not worth spending too much on unless you know you'll really like using a telescope. A cheap beginner scope will give you an idea of whether or not you like telescopes, and if you do, what sort of things in particular you like. Then you'll be ready to buy a better, more specialized scope.

PLEASE listen to the AutoModerator bot post. Those of us who spend a lot of time on here answering these kinds of questions ALL agree with it (which is why it posts what it does).

None of those that you list are worth the money. They are all low-quality scopes that will do more to discourage you than support your interest.

Your price-point is a tricky one. $300 USD would be a little better. But there's still some good options. The SkyWatcher Heritage 130P is your best bet around that price point. If you can push a little further, though, even better would be the Orion XT6 Dobsonian. I cannot recommend ANY motorized/GoTo telescopes for even twice that price (though some people may disagree).

I don't know your budget but this is a great telescope for a 9 year old and you wont be disappointed. It's durable and a really good scope that will last a long time. Maybe get a barlow lens because it doesn't come with one but it's the best bang for the buck. You will be taking this puppy out and orion has a great customer service. Here is the link

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/tags-on-product/B0000XMSNO

Well keep in mind with speakers like screens it's a long term investment. I think they retail for $350/pair but Amazon has had the black ones for $199 for a while now. I can almost guarantee you won't find a better speaker out there for $100 each.

I'm using a small class T pre-amp to drive them. The Topping Tp22 is pretty great, zero distortion and small footprint. It doesn't have a ton of wattage but if you don't want to blow your eardrums out it should be plenty powerful. My Genesis Model 1 is probably my quietest system and when I want to rock out to some Lightening Force and crank it I get it up to about the halfway position on the knob. You can see my setup in this pic. (ignore the center speaker, it's a holdover while I finish changing my setup over to my new TV)

It's a very capable scope for the price, better than any refractor you could get for that money.

Edit because I'm being modded down: *at the price* it is the best telescope to buy (unless buying used). Yes, it would be better to save up and buy the Orion SkyScanner for 100 GBP (more than twice the price) or even better to get the SkyWatcher Heritage 130p u/phpdevster named for 162 GBP ... but that is almost 4 times the price. Good for OP if they have (and want to spend) that kind of money, but in the 45-50GBP price range the Firstscope *is* a good scope.

My sister is 7 and pretty into learning so I got her things to try and keep that spirit alive. I bought her this telescope and a childrens book about celestial bodies. I also bought this for a girl about Isla's age for Christmas. I got to play with it in the store and it feels pretty awesome and never dries up.

Edit: Adela might be interested in the other things I got for my sister which were a Crayola crayon/marker maker, Bill Nye science books and this DohVinci thing

Hey, great idea introducing your cousin to astronomy! His first views through a telescope may be times he remembers for the rest of his life. :)

You may want to try Amazon's International Shipping section. It has a lot of well priced scopes!

https://www.amazon.com/International-Shipping-Direct/b/ref=as_li_ss_tl?node=230659011&linkCode=sl2&tag=amazon123405-20&linkId=b739aa289b437281a7069081d2ffef8b

Here is my pick for your budget:
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1526851326&sr=8-3&keywords=telescope&th=1

That scope is good enough to see details on the planets (jupiter's clouds, saturn's rings) and a lot of the brighter deep space objects (nebulas, clusters, galaxies). If you go out to the country, you'll be able to see a lot of fainter objects, perhaps up to around magnitude 10.

Hope it works out!

Not entirely sure but I think i've heard her mention the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT before, which costs $400. I'm looking to get something similar, I will have about $500 saved up by june and then i'll do some more research to what type of equipment would be best to observe the moon and anywhere in between while I can hookup my camera to it.

Edit: I just checked, this appearantly was filmed with a standard camera, probably a good dslr with a nice zoom lens!

Astronomers without Borders have some amazing telescopes and least expensive
Don't go for a high end one , just pick a beginners


https://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=4&zenid=bbpmck0h912ddr7e1qifog4hc4


Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1NVqzbW67QQ09

Gskyer Telescope, AZ70400 German Technology Astronomy Telescope, Travel Refractor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DBK1GIK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_oPVqzbHVZ19R7

Don't worry about the books for now, once you trigger interest he will do his own research on the web.

Feel free to reach me if you need any help.

All the best

I need to replace the Lepai 2020 that I've been using at the office for monitoring demos and as an amp for my Fiio X1/tablet.

I lucked out when I grabbed the Lepai and got a REALLY quiet one. Now I need another for a project and they appear to be out of production, so I figure it's a good excuse to upgrade my office system.

What I need:
A sub $100, compact, digital amp similar to the Lepai in size. I need 2 inputs, preferably at least one set RCA and a front-mounted power switch.

Headphone out would be nice, but isn't required. Banana plug friendly is nice, but not required. I don't need an EQ on the amp as long as it's relatively flat (for the money).

My problem is that while I enjoy making music, I'm definitely not an audiophile. I've been looking at the
Topping TP22 and the SA-60, neither have a headphone out but do seem to tick all the other boxes. Are there any other models I should be looking at, or are these pretty much where it's at in the~$100 range?

Get an 8" classic dobsonian from any major manufacturer. I'd recommend this one.

A few reasons:

• You can start seeing many DSOs at 6"-8", although you'll be mostly restricted to the Messier list. Most of the 12th magnitude or higher galaxies will be out of reach except in extremely dark skies, but there's a ton of other objects to see at 8".
  
  
• A classic dob (no electronics) is fun, and teaches you how to star hop. Finding an object is as much of the hobby as viewing it, and digital setting circles or GOTO functionality ruins half of the hobby. You can do the automated stuff later when you're more familiar with the sky.
  
  
• 8" is about the point where aperture-to-value peaks for most manufacturers, and it's a very manageable size. (Can easily fit into the back seat of a car.)
  
  More questions can be directed to the "beginners" guides over at the side-bar, under "Looking for your first telescope?". A lot of us are biased toward dobs because of the value and ease of use. If you want to go for a tripod refractor, that's fine, but in my opinion you won't get much out of them other than planets, the moon, and some star clusters or globulars. Aperture is cheap for dobs.
  
  If an 8" dob is out of reach in price, get a mini-dob or a good pair of binoculars. Don't get a Walmart telescope, those are garbage.

I started with this one. A celestron 130slt. I know people don’t like the computerized ones but in my opinion, for an amateur, it’s really great. Amazon has a warehouse deal for $320 right now. It’s a great telescope for beginners. I even took some pictures of the moon and stars. You can see the rings separated from Saturn but you cannot tell that there are two rings if that makes sense.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNNQ/

Is she interested in using the telescope visually too? or mostly just for photography?

A "complete package" scope at that price that would be pretty decent for visual and also decent for lunar/planetary/very bright DSOs is the Celestron NexStar 4se plus a T-adaptor and T-ring for her Nikon. Total: under $500

One that would require a bit more work and luck to find used stuff, but might be worth it if she wants to continue with the hobby: Used Celestron AVX or Orion Sirius mount, some kind of power option, cheap 80mm refractor like the Orion Short Tube, T-ring for Nikon. Total: Maybe $600 if you get lucky

You don't need very much magnification at all, as they're visible with the naked eye. But if you want a really clear, detailed image, you want to collect a lot of light, so the diameter of the telescope is what really matters. The bigger the better. This one is a pretty good bang for your buck, especially if you also get this to go with it.

The problem is that there are no scopes available on the market that would fit all of your points!

• You can get a 8" dobsonian for half the budget, but that means no goto and no photography and is a bit bulky to transport.
  
• Celestron NexStar 8 fits two points: size and transportability, but is over budget and is not suitable for any serious astrophotography (moon and brighter objects ok).
  
• Celestron EdgeHD 8 AVX fits the size, transportability and is suitable for AP, but is typically waaaay over budget.
  
• Celestron CPC 800 XLT -- a compromise between AZ and EQ mounting, can be mounted on a wedge for astrophotography. Also over budget.
  
• A simpler design from Meade should also be capable of being mounted on a wedge for AP.
  
  However, now that you've seen the examples, you can look for them on craigslist. Keep in mind, that the listed telescopes is just a tip of the iceberg, but it's a start and we can help you refine your choice from there.
  
  Or, you can get a mount and a smaller scope for AP separately -- it is not that aperture-dependent, all you need is a sturdy enough mount and you can do AP with just a camera, or a smaller, but higher quality telescope. Many of the astrophotographers I know go with a combination choice: a nice big 10-12" dobsonian for visual observations and 80-100mm (semi)APO refractor or 127-200mm newtonian on computerized EQ mount for astrophotography. Typically it will end up better and cheaper than having a one huge scope for everything.
  
  In the end, imagine a triangle with Aperture (visual), AP and Budget on each of the vertices. You can only have at most two at the same time.

OK so a basic 2 channel amplifier would work, amazon has quite a few. I have this one and love it. https://www.amazon.com/Topping-TP22-TK2050-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B005VR1VQE/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1484862119&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=toppingt+t22

These speakers are a really good buy and popular among budget audiophiles.
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1484862170&sr=1-1&keywords=mb42x

Yes I'm located in the U.K and cool thanks for this advice :) I've done some looking around and I was thinking about the http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0000XMSNO/ref=pd_aw_sbs_2?pi=SY115&simLd=1 Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 because I'm just not sure.. But I will definitely take what you have said into consideration and look at everything you have linked.. :) thank you reddit stranger

Hi,

I am Irish, so would be buying from either Amazon UK or one of the Euro sites.

The old telescopes I had were the kids style refactors, I dont have expectations of the telescope tracking to object being spot on, but anywhere in the ball park is fine, I can use charts for the rest.

I live in a pretty dark area and holiday in the International Dark Reserve so lucky with the lack of light pollution.

As for what I expect to see, Planets with some detail ? making out Saturn's rings or Jupiter's moons would be great of course. Some deep field objects.

I thought the pics one of the reviewers took here were class

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0007UQNNQ/ref=pe_2443651_89585181_em_ti

Haven't used that one, but it's 5.1 inch, so that's plenty big enough to see Saturn. Good eyepieces are key, though, to getting a good image. I had a cheap Meade 4 inch and it did okay. The model you link to included 1.25" eyepieces, so that's a good start. I haven't been into that stuff in years, though, so I don't know what else is available on the market.

EDIT: This one might be a better choice: http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope-Beginner/dp/B003ZDEUS2

this was my first scope, http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-130-Computerized-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNNQ/ref=pd_ts_zbs_p_10693141_3/188-2997468-6997211?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=right-5&pf_rd_r=1RKJ9NYZ56K083VFJHY2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=236989901&pf_rd_i=524138

You can see all the planets, and even the Galilean moons clearly, and the shots of the moon are awesome. Good for the Great Orion Nebulae as wel.

Leaving aside all the "read the sticky" responses, one thing I'd recommend is, if you see one that interests you on Amazon, check prices at a few other places like the manufacturer's website, other vendors, and any photography/etc stores in your neck of the woods. Prices can vary, often in breathtakingly silly ways.

Depending on your location it can be worth looking at used stuff on Kijiji as well; every now and then I'll see people local offloading one telescope or another for whatever reason at "you're kidding, right?" prices.

Past that, if you're mainly interested in lunar/planetary observation from an urban environment, you've got some pretty forgiving targets - if you had a 16" Dobsonian with high-grade eyepieces it wouldn't hurt your viewing of the moon by any stretch, but you definitely wouldn't need that kind of gear.

If you can find a local astronomy club or planetarium, they would have much better telescopes to look through. A moderate sized amateur telescope is way out of the price range you are talking about, but it's the kind of thing lots of astronomy club members have

If you decide you want one of your own, a tabletop one is better than one of those long refractors with a spindly tripod. The best optics in the world don't help you if the stand it is on wobbles around. "table-top" doesn't mean you have to use a table, anything stable and reasonably flat will work - stack of concrete blocks, tree stump, etc. To see much of anything, you need to get away from city lights, few trees to block the view, and preferably dry stable air.

A bigger telescope can overcome light pollution from a nearby city, but you won't be getting a bigger telescope with your desired budget. One on the rooftop of a planetarium or university building can be much bigger if it doesn't have to be portable.

It takes time for your eyes to fully adapt to dark conditions - be patient.

If you feel like reading on your own, over at /r/astrophotography we have a pretty comprehensive Wiki geared toward helping you figure out which scope works for you. Keep in mind though it's with imaging in mind and not just basic observing.

Orion is a quality manufacturer, their gear is used pretty widely across the board with amateurs and enthusiasts for observation and astrophotography.

The first thing you need to do is have real expectations, all the cool space shots you see are always done with long exposures, usually stacked. This means that your camera sensor is opened up to accept a a lot of photons over a longer period of time, the resulting image ends up in way more detail and contrast than you would get with just viewing through the eyepiece. If you scroll down toward the bottom of this you'll see some comparisons of what you can expect to see.

If you don't plan on imaging, you essentially want the largest aperture scope you can afford, this will be a reflector like the one you linked. However I would look for a Dobsonian mount instead of a equatorial (tripod mount). You can get an 8" Reflector for just about $400. But this is a big footprint scope, heavier and not totally easy to tote around frequently. This is kind of a catch-22 because the way you will get the most out of this scope is to bring it to the darkest area possible, up into the mountains like you mentioned would be ideal.

A couple good examples would be either M31 (Andromeda) or M42 (Orion Nebula) both large and fairly distinct objects, M42 is actually the closest Nebula to us and that's one of the reasons it's so widely photographed and viewed. Andromeda with a 8' Reflector at a dark site would yield you something like this. On the other hand, an image from user /u/kindark with a less powerful scope but multiple stacked exposures was able to produce this. The former is more what you can expect to actually see.

Biggest issue you are going to have is for children to have any good luck, they will need to be able to find stuff to look at. With that said, I would bundle any telescope checkout with a copy of "Turn Right at Orion" as well as a red headlamp. I would also consider having parents sign some sort of release form that if the scope comes back damage you can go after them for the cost.

You might do better with a GoTo telescope. These make it easy to find stuff to look at if you get them positioned properly. I am not sure of you budget, depending on that I would go with this

http://www.telescope.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=102026&utm_source=google&utm_medium=comparisonshopping&utm_campaign=US-googlemerchant&gclid=Cj0KEQiA1b7CBRDjmIPL4u-Zy6gBEiQAsJhTMHDaTbPhQ5-buq2SReWnyk_Mz2gYSK67XVWMkvSpdgMaAvPv8P8HAQ

I would also reach out to your local astronomical society to see if they would help. Here is a example of what the New Hampshire Astronomical society does.

http://www.nhastro.com/ltp.php

The telescope they use is this one

https://www.amazon.com/Orion-10015-StarBlast-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D12U1IK

I would actually not recommend the one you have listed. The larger scope will allow users to see more objects as well as a tripod will be harder to control shaking then a tabletop mount.

Thanks for posting back. Is this the telescope that you were talking about?
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6

Anything you can tell me about it would be helpful. My dad has wanted a telescope for years and I really want to find the perfect one. Thanks!

That is some awesome advice. Other people are recommending a dob as well. Do you know any thing about this one?

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-XT8-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1369432158&sr=1-1&keywords=orion+skyquest+xt8

Also, for $30 more they have this option which to me sounds like it might be worth it?

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope-Beginner/dp/B003ZDEUS2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1369432158&sr=1-2&keywords=orion+skyquest+xt8

Or do you recommend any dobs?

I am pretty new to this, but my old roommate had a setup and I just couldn't get over how much better the sound can be so I went searching and I found two turntables that I am buying. One is a Scott PS 49A and the other is a Kenwood that I can't recall the model of.

My question is more of a setup. I was looking at some devices and I am looking to keep it realatively budget friendly ($150 or less for preamp and amplifier). My parents are providing me some old speakers so no cost there and I was looking to, buy this preamp and this mini amplifier.

Are there any receivers for $150 or so with a built in phono preamp that can also power some passive speakers?

Firstly, I don't recommend getting a telescope in that price range with photography in mind. You will be sorely disappointed-- to begin getting respectable photographs, it requires several thousand in equipment. There's nothing stopping you from just holding your phone up to the eyepiece and snapping a photo, but the results aren't going to be anything spectacular unless you're willing to spend exorbitant amounts of money.

That being said, the Orion Dobsonians are fantastic telescopes available at that price point. With your budget, you could get the Orion XT8 for $390 and still have some money left over for a Sun filter. It would get you amazing views of the Moon and planets (along with some nebulae and galaxies depending on light pollution).

Thank you, you're very helpful!

So as far as I understand this is a good deal for visual work only and not for astrophotography, because it has an Alt-Az mount and not a GEM.

So what is a solution you would recommend, for up to $1000?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MLHMAS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 -- I bought this one a few years ago, looks like it's about $115 presently. Very basic scope, very basic mount, but the second thing I ever saw through it (after the moon) was Jupiter and its moons, and you can see them pretty well.

Alt-Az mount is way cheaper than an equatorial mount, but it means you'll have a harder time tracking objects across the sky. And you'll be surprised at how fast they move when you're looking at them under high magnification. So your investment should also consider how old your kids are and whether they're going to be able to track with the scope themselves.

Ok I read through some articles. Kind of complicated! Thanks a lot for your help.

Do you have thoughts on this one? It's $20 more for the barlow, is there a difference in barlows or should I get the one that comes in a bundle?

The other one that looks interesting is [this computerized one.] (http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top#Ask) This might be slightly out of our price range when you throw in accessories.

• Le Creuset. Just one example - they have lots of nice gifts.
  
  
  
• Ice cream maker with recipe book and two stoneware bowls.
  
  
  
• Maybe they have a dark sky and enjoy stargazing? If so, a telescope
  
  
• In a rural area, they probably don't have access to high end grocery stores. A gourmet gift basket could be nice: Dean and Deluca; Harry & David; Vosges

The problem with binos is that you'll never be able to hold them steady enough to study things. You'll need a tripod and mount.

Nevertheless, enjoyable viewing can be had with a good set.

Here's what I'm working.

Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 $75
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-SkyMaster-Binoculars-Tripod-Adapter/dp/B00008Y0VN/

70-Inch Pistol Grip Tripod with Bag $55
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-70-Inch-Pistol-Grip-Tripod/dp/B01LQX0P8Q

Total Cost ~$140 shipped

This is slightly more costly than most decent starter scopes.

Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope ~$133
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY

If money is of little object, get a basic scope and the binoculars I stated earlier. You'll enjoy having both capabilities and it will help you hunt down objects. Also fun for people who come with you to have something to do while you work the scope.

I will say that binoculars get uncomfortable if you're not laying down, or sitting naturally and even then it can get tiresome on the eyes and neck. Nothing beats a telescope imho. You can learn the sky and develop good habits just the same.

This does look like a nice telescope, I'm considering saving up for it do I need to buy a lens in addition to the telescope?
I was looking at this one on amazon and it looks like it is frequently bought with a short focus. Thanks for the advice! https://www.amazon.com/Meade-Instruments-LightBridge-Telescope-203003/dp/B01C5TG53Y/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485902688&sr=8-2&keywords=lightbridge+min

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10014-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B0000XMSNO

I got this one for my kids this Christmas, Pretty reasonable price and I can clearly make out the Cloud bands on Jupiter and the 4 Galilean moons. I guess I will find out about being able to see the spot and the shadows later this month. If I knew then what I know now I would have kicked in the extra $$ for the XT6... http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1420267036&sr=1-1&keywords=XT6

This was a great resource for me in trying to sort out how to best spend my money.

http://www.rocketroberts.com/astro/firstscopes.htm

No it's definitely alright! I appreciate that you are being completely honest. I can spend up to $100. So, that SkyScanner 100 is good? I see it for $100:

https://www.amazon.com/Orion-10012-SkyScanner-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BIIU

Tell them to get a better telescope. :P

It's just funny how photos in expensive, glamorous places like this always feature such dirt cheap telescopes.

There aren't a lot of good scopes in that range. Perhaps the Meade lightbridge mini 114, but I'm not sure if that's the best option. If you can stretch your budget a little, the lightbridge mini 130 wouldn't be a bad deal. For planetary views, every bit of aperture helps.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01C5TG53Y

XT8

https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_3?crid=D6DJI7P4OQ1D&keywords=xt8+telescope&qid=1575050736&sprefix=xt8+tel%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-3

Here's the XT8 plus (come's with better focuser and some extra things.

https://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B07KWKKN5C/ref=sr_1_4?crid=D6DJI7P4OQ1D&keywords=xt8+telescope&qid=1575050736&sprefix=xt8+tel%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-4

This is the Apertura AD8. It's pretty much the most recommended if you can afford it. It's the right size between being able to handle/portability (it's still huge though) and being able to see things. It's the one I wound up getting for my son/me. It comes with all the bells and whistles except some upgraded eyepieces, which you should get with any telescope you buy. I didn't want to put myself in the position of every time I pull out my telescope I would think "What if I had gotten the AD8..."

https://www.highpointscientific.com/apertura-ad8-8inch-dobsonian-telescope-ad8

If you get the 6" in a light-polluted area, you'll wonder "What would this look like under some really dark skies??" If you get the 6" in a really dark sky area, you'll wonder "what would this look like with an 8"??"

This Orion has great reviews. I have a Skywatcher myself, which is slightly more expensive. Of course you can also go the second hand route, just have to take a good look at the state of the primary and secondary mirrors.

1. I don't expect you to gift me this, I'm just linking it because its the telescope that's been on my wish list. feel free to share yours after so I can compare :D
   
   
2. I'm going to guess you'll have $8.15 left over

Also an owner of the the XT8 dob. It is my first telescope and has been great fun so far. Setup and calibration was easy too. You can also get it with a beginners barlow kit.

Possible con: It weighs around 40 lbs, so if you want a really portable scope it may not be your best option.

Thanks again!

Zhumell z8: You mean below ones? I am ready to splurge more, if its worth it.
https://www.telescopesplus.com/products/zhumell-z8-deluxe-dobsonian-reflector-telescope

https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002UPSPX2/

Skywatcher 6" dobsonian :
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11600-Traditional-Dobsonian-6-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3D22

As of now I am looking either at the
Orion 27193 XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
or Zhumell z8 if that good

Binoculars : any recommendations.

I'd get a telescope. Just a 2 min Amazon search shows that you can get decent stuff in that price range, for example: https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21035-70mm-Travel-Scope/dp/B001TI9Y2M

Note that this is just the first shopping result I have found, I am sure that on reddit (e.g. /r/telescopes/ ) will be people who can recommend you the best one.

If you want something small, chances are you won't find anything with all the extras you're looking for. u/explosivo563 had a good point with the art preamp with USB in, I had forgotten about that one. For a good small amp something like the smsl sa50 or 60, or the Topping Tp22 for a small step up would be perfect. The downside to these style amps is you don't have the bass and treble adjust, but honestly I don't think it's that necessary anyway.

Personally I'd get a dobsonian; more bang for your buck, but equatorial tracking can be pretty expensive with them. Without modifications though, you could get a sweet 8" scope for not very much.

It depends on how good the smart phone is, how much you want to do, if the camera has apps. Sony is introducing a 22MP CMOS camera chip for smart phones. This could be close to using a DSLR as the telescope camera.

http://www.stuff.tv/news/sonys-new-camera-sensor-will-make-your-smartphone-snaps-sparkle-videos-stable

That telescope is really low end, so it might be good for nature shots, the examples on the Amazon review page shows really blurry Moon shots, recognizable Jupiter.

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y

https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW

Comes highly recommended as one of the best affordable stater telescopes. I can throw my own personal experience behind that.

I'll check out James Web, thanks.

Tbh that looks like a really good beginner scope. It's not meant to be an investment, it's meant to help you determine if stargazing is right for you.

You could also look at:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-AZ-DS-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY

Portability might be a factor for you, I know it is for me...so always read the reviews carefully!