When I was young, I remember buying myself a small cheap refractor telescope and looking at the moon, the rings of saturn, jupiter and even the orion nebula. I'm contemplating buying a telescope just to look at these objects again, as well an allowing my son to get to grips with the fact we're really just on a lump of rock rushing/spinning through space...
Although I suspect the telescope wouldn't be used much, I'm willing to buy one to periodically view the night sky. So, I'm hoping for some advice from any astronomers here on a few questions?
Light polution
Where I lived when I was a kid it was in a fairly lit up area (near a main road and not far from a motorway/town - a mile or less), but none-the-less, in our back garden I could see Jupiter fairly well etc. Where I now live, there's probably slightly less light pollution, so I would hope to see the bands across Jupiter, its moons, and a fairly well defined smudge for the Orion nebula for example. Is that expecting too much? Will I be able to see that sort of detail from peoples experience with a low end (£150) telescope?
Is there any sort of simple rule of thumb for this? eg: If you can see X with the naked eye, then generally you're wasting your time with a telescope!
Portable
About 5 mins walk from my house are nice quiet fields. And it would be nice if the telescope could be walked and setup easily there.
Photography
I might be interested in attaching my D90 SLR, and taking some photos. I understand there's a couple of issues regarding how to attach/mount a camera to a telescope (eg: requiring a T-adapter & barlow) but wonder if this would also mean a motor might be required?
Would I be right in saying with a camera you can take numerous photos (eg: 20 photos each 1 second apart) and then using an application you can process them into a single more accurate/detailed photo? eg: Photographing Jupiter?
Keeping in view and Motors
I recall when I was a kid, on high magnification chasing Jupiter across my field of view... I assume these days with a modern telescope you just turn a dial to rotate/move the telescope in the equatorial plane to follow objects across the sky easily?
And I assume those telescopes with motors, they just do this movement for you? ie: Turn the dial at a slow constant rate?
Goto
Out of interest, I know some telescopes have "goto" computer control. Is this worth worrying about for the extra money? I assume this complicates the setting up/alignment of the telescope?
Model
Assuming I will be able to see enough objects well enough to justify a puchase, I'd be happy to spend around £100-200.
Any suggestions for something fitting the above requirements? eg:-
Skywatcher Skyhawk 1145P - 114mm - Approx £125
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ-MD - 130mm motorised - Approx £150 (Although I've read some possible negatives about the tripod)
...and remember attaching an SLR and portability would be nice if possible?
Thanks in advance for any advice/help or personal experience(s).
Although I suspect the telescope wouldn't be used much, I'm willing to buy one to periodically view the night sky. So, I'm hoping for some advice from any astronomers here on a few questions?
Light polution
Where I lived when I was a kid it was in a fairly lit up area (near a main road and not far from a motorway/town - a mile or less), but none-the-less, in our back garden I could see Jupiter fairly well etc. Where I now live, there's probably slightly less light pollution, so I would hope to see the bands across Jupiter, its moons, and a fairly well defined smudge for the Orion nebula for example. Is that expecting too much? Will I be able to see that sort of detail from peoples experience with a low end (£150) telescope?
Is there any sort of simple rule of thumb for this? eg: If you can see X with the naked eye, then generally you're wasting your time with a telescope!
Portable
About 5 mins walk from my house are nice quiet fields. And it would be nice if the telescope could be walked and setup easily there.
Photography
I might be interested in attaching my D90 SLR, and taking some photos. I understand there's a couple of issues regarding how to attach/mount a camera to a telescope (eg: requiring a T-adapter & barlow) but wonder if this would also mean a motor might be required?
Would I be right in saying with a camera you can take numerous photos (eg: 20 photos each 1 second apart) and then using an application you can process them into a single more accurate/detailed photo? eg: Photographing Jupiter?
Keeping in view and Motors
I recall when I was a kid, on high magnification chasing Jupiter across my field of view... I assume these days with a modern telescope you just turn a dial to rotate/move the telescope in the equatorial plane to follow objects across the sky easily?
And I assume those telescopes with motors, they just do this movement for you? ie: Turn the dial at a slow constant rate?
Goto
Out of interest, I know some telescopes have "goto" computer control. Is this worth worrying about for the extra money? I assume this complicates the setting up/alignment of the telescope?
Model
Assuming I will be able to see enough objects well enough to justify a puchase, I'd be happy to spend around £100-200.
Any suggestions for something fitting the above requirements? eg:-
Skywatcher Skyhawk 1145P - 114mm - Approx £125
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ-MD - 130mm motorised - Approx £150 (Although I've read some possible negatives about the tripod)
...and remember attaching an SLR and portability would be nice if possible?
Thanks in advance for any advice/help or personal experience(s).
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