I know, I'm a geek(even though I only had geekish tendencies according to the geek test).
http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=31685&highlight=Geek

But I want to get a good telescope. Anyone have any leads?

Believe it or not, even this topic has been discussed here before (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18812&highlight=telescope)! The geekiness of RX8Club knows no bounds. :) Everybody starts discussing the sizes of their telescopes around page 3 or so. Enjoy!

Originally posted by Aratinga
Believe it or not, even this topic has been discussed here before (http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=18812&highlight=telescope)! The geekiness of RX8Club knows no bounds. :) Everybody starts discussing the sizes of their telescopes around page 3 or so. Enjoy! Thanks for the link...I think we are just about out of topics in the lounge :)

aratinga stole my thunder:(

I searched for telescope but didn't think to click on the Hubble thread. I don't think I can afford the Hubble. Any other leads are welcome though

I have a Meade EXT-125AT it is a very good little telescope -- optics, portablility, price, Autostar programming. Small enough to put in the trunk or carry on the airplane (I take it to my house in Arizona -- great viewing down there!). With the right lenses you can get good views of the planets and major attractions around the cosmos. I used to have a larger scope but they are just too big to carry around -- better to just go to a real observatory and look throught the big eye!

My daughter and I have a Meade 10" Dobsonian reflector. Dobsonians are good for inexpensive, deep space, observations. It was around $625.

If you're wanting to take photographs, you'll need something with a tracking system, which can be more expensive.

An SCT (Schmidt Cassegrain) telescope, provides the computer tracking necessary for photography, but can be really expensive. $3000 for the beginning of the "Good" ones.

Most star gazers would recommend beginners start with a dobsonian. There are many atronomy clubs throughout the US. See if there's any in your area. They gather frequently to star gaze and play with their red lensed flashlights. Additionally, there are many binoculars on the market suitable for star gazing.

Allstate, you're so awesome~ I love astronomy so usually this is up my alley, but I honestly dunno what kind of a telescope you're looking for. A reflector or a refractor? Looking to see way out to pluto or just far enough to mars? Want to see the nebulea? Want to take pics? Want to have a nav on it? Etc.. It all depends on what you're after. I'm not a wiz at telescopes at all, but I love the art. ^^ Astronomy.com has good stuff as well. Its a monthly magazine that has the updates on new telescopes as well. ^^

How's THAT for geekiness. :D

^^^ hey Kari you're even cooler than I thought. good answer too.

I'm partial to refractors. I had a small one when I was a kid and for me there's still just something "right" about looking through lenses. Less things to fuss with too (collimation, etc.) On the other hand one of these days I'd like to try making my own reflector from scratch.

I got the Meade ETX a few years ago. It's a good scope but if you want to see more details in sky objects then get the WIDEST scope you can afford.

Here's a good site for lots of info...

Sky & Telescope (http://www.skypub.com)

Originally posted by Kari
Allstate, you're so awesome~ I love astronomy so usually this is up my alley, but I honestly dunno what kind of a telescope you're looking for. A reflector or a refractor? Looking to see way out to pluto or just far enough to mars? Want to see the nebulea? Want to take pics? Want to have a nav on it? Etc.. It all depends on what you're after. I'm not a wiz at telescopes at all, but I love the art. ^^ Astronomy.com has good stuff as well. Its a monthly magazine that has the updates on new telescopes as well. ^^

How's THAT for geekiness. :D Sorry that I wasn't specific. I guess I should say that I am a beginner. I've always been fascinated with astronomy and I had a telescope when I was a growing up but it was just good for looking at the moon.

I'm looking for a new hobby and want to get into stargazing. As of right now...I am wanting to spend somewhere around 500-1000 bucks. I think this will get me something good enough to enjoy. Others have mentioned portability...as long as it can fit in the trunk of my 8 then it's portable enough. :)

The scopes that RX8husker and Raz mentioned are basically what I'm looking for. I am just beginning my research process (I research everything before I buy) and obviously want the most bang for my buck.

I'll also check out astronomy.com. Thanks Darth Kari!

Originally posted by Velocity-8
I got the Meade ETX a few years ago. It's a good scope but if you want to see more details in sky objects then get the WIDEST scope you can afford.

Here's a good site for lots of info...

Sky & Telescope (http://www.skypub.com) I'll check it out...thanks for the link

Allstate -- just as an example -- with the EX125 you can see the rings on Saturn , the great spot on Jupiter, exceptional detail in the Moon surface. The moons of Saturn and Jupiter and with the Autostar system and the right lens you can see a wide variety of deep space objects with good clarity -- and this is all from your backyard -- if you get out of the city lights even more fun is possible. You should be able to get a good scope, stand, autostar and basic lenses for around a grand. As with good cameras the really expensive pieces can be the lenses -- I picked up 6 lenses a few years ago at an astronomy shop that was closing down in Scottsdale AZ for 80% off list price -- that was the buy of the century.

Okay, here we go!!

...best bang for the buck is....

....the biggest Dobsonian that will fit in your RX-8 that you are comfortable with. Literally go to a scope store in your area and see what you think will fit. I suggest that the scope go in the passenger seat with the seat folded back with towels for protection.

The bigger the reflector, the more light gathering power; for every doubling the diameter of the mirror, you gain 4x the light gathering power (very important for deep sky, faint objects). Reflectors are way cheap now, compared to what they use to be.

Pick up either "Sky & Telescope" or "Astronomy" magazine, but do it right away since they are a month ahead of what some of your observation might be.

I also suggest getting "The Stars" by H.A. Rey (the guy who drew "curious George". This is from the 50's but the only really good book for learning constellation patterns the "easy" way.

Have fun!

....and oh yeah, find out when the Texas star party is; that will blow your mind...and perhaps even help you more decide what you really want. Well, there will be some huge "light buckets" there (30" diameter) that will impress you at what ever they are looking at, if you can stand the wait in line. It will make you want one.

Originally posted by Nubo
^^^ hey Kari you're even cooler than I thought. good answer too.

I'm partial to refractors. I had a small one when I was a kid and for me there's still just something "right" about looking through lenses. Less things to fuss with too (collimation, etc.) On the other hand one of these days I'd like to try making my own reflector from scratch.

I personally like refractors the best as well. I grew up looking through our cheap reflector that my dad bought and put together. You could only view the moon and its crators slightly, but not much more than that. It was still fun. :)

Allstate: Welcome to the club! Stargazing is definitely a relaxing hobby. You learn quite a bit as well. I'd suggest getting a seasonal sky chart, just to get you started on what you're looking at and for. ^^ Make sure to use a flashlight with a red filter, that way the light won't distort your vision when viewing the stars. :) And definitely consider joining a stargazing party with other amateur astronomers in the area. There are a few big events that occur in different states. :)

I enjoy Astronomy as well, I have the Meade ETX125-AT with autostar nav and gps as Husker stated its portable and it does a very good job plus it is affordable I did not have to take a loan out to buy it. To help me out in learning the stars I have a computer program that interfaces with my autostar its called Deepsky I can use it to control my telescope, the gps synchronizes my location and the software connected to the autostar lets me browse the night sky I also have a digital camera adaptor that allows me to see through the telescope lens and displays the video real time on my laptop, I can capture pictures it makes it a lot of fun ecspecially for my kids. The best thing that I would recommend is a very strong and sturdy tri-pod it can make all the difference in your viewing experience. I am attaching some links that will help you out. Oh yeah and get yourself a dew shield as well, trust me the less you have to clean the lens the longer your scope will last.

http://www.meade.com/catalog/etx/etx_mak.html
http://www.deepsky2000.com/
http://www.digitalastronomy.com/html/telescope_alignment_coupon_pac.asp
http://www.scopetronics.com/