What is a good telescope for planet gazing?

Question

For checking out other planets, moon, stars?

Something under $50 would be affordable, thanks.

Answer 1

You are NOT going to get a good telescope under $50 dollars, it's just not done.  A crappy telescope at Walmart costs $120, imagine how much a good telescope costs!  

What you can do is buy a great pair of binoculars.  Believe it or not, they're terrific for planet gazing.  Whenever I feel like looking at a few planets, I just take out a good pair and get lost in the sky.

If you do want a telescope though, cheap and effective, your best bet is a refractor.  It's not as great as a reflector, but it will get you looking at the solar system.  The best telescopes I've used come from Orion, a great company, reliable stuff.

Answer 2

You will not be able to get a decent telescope for $50 or under.  Orion has one that starts at about $160 but that is about the least expensive that you will be able to find unless you buy a toy scope at a discount store which is junk with poor optics and all plastic.  Even used scopes go for more than $50 and you dont want to get one of those unless you know exactly what you are getting and who owned it before you.  

There are several different kinds of telescopes and all of them have some excellent features. Refractors and Reflectors, plus Schmidt-Cassegrain, APO refractors and more. There are also several mounts to chose from and the mounts are just as important as the scope is. All of the different scopes and mounts have some features that some people like and do not like.

There is no one scope that is "better" than another except for the junk scopes out there which are all just a waste of money. Never, ever buy from Walmart, Costco, Target, or any other discount store like that. Junk scopes are flooded into the market from those stores. You will be buying nothing but bad optics and plastic.

______________________________________...

http://oriontelescopes.com/

Orion is the very best for value and for customer service too. I have 2 of their scopes and I will only buy from them from now on.

The Orion site has some excellent diagrams and explanations of all types of scopes and mounts.

Things to consider are size--can the user lift and transport the scope to the viewing site easily? If not, then it will gather dust in a closet. Can the viewer reach all the k***s and buttons? I have a long tube large manual refractor and it is very dificult for me to reach the k***s when I am pointed to Zenith. I am not a tall person.

Take your time in making your decision.

I would like to suggest that you join a local astronomy club or astronomical society BEFORE you spend your money on a scope. There are many different kinds of scopes and what is perfect for one person is not perfect for another. Everyone has their own set of eyeballs and no two are the same. If you join a club, you can attend a few of their star parties and try out members scopes to see what works best for YOU, before you buy a scope. The members can also help you when you get your scope and show you how to get the most out of your new scope as well as to help teach you where the treasures in the sky are located. Hint: they will be especially helpful if you take cookies to star parties. Most clubs have loaner scopes and extensive libraries that you can gather more information from too.

Some people will suggest that you purchase binnoculars. Not a bad idea but dont buy anything less than 10x50 and you must have a tripod too or you will not be happy with your astronomical views because they will be too shakey from your movements. Personally, I prefer a scope to binos because if binoculars are not aligned properly at the factory, then you get double images and distortions that cant be fixed.

But when you buy go Orion and you wont be disappointed. Don't try to learn everything all at once or you will be overwhelmed and discouraged. Patience is the key to Astronomy.

You will also need a good star chart program.

http://www.stellarium.org/

This is great freeware that you can download. Just tell it where you are and it will tell you what you see.

I wish you all the best. Enjoy

Edit:  Many clubs have loaner scopes that they loan to members free of charge that can hold you over until you can save enough to get a good scope.

Answer 3

Nothing could be had for that price in any telescope format. What you want for that price is an inexpensive 15 x 70 binocular. If you cannot find one for around this price then buy a 10 x 50. These will make for many enjoyable nights under the stars, and you can make use of them in the daytime for terrestrial viewing too.

Answer 4

you should try Newton's telescope. It's old but very useful.

Answer 5

As others have said, no chance to buy a usable scope for under $50.  A $50 pair of binoculars is marginal, too.  If you choose binoculars, I would not recommend more than 10x ... anything higher is very difficult to hold steady enough for good views.  You'll also want a star atlas to know what you're looking at.

I would suggest that you spend your money to join a local astronomy club.  (Find a club on the web and attend a meeting.  My club costs only $15/year ...)  I'm sure that members host skygazing sessions which will let you look thru a lot of scopes before you buy a scope.

My club actually has several scopes that members can borrow for free ... for months at a time.  By getting to know nearby amateur astronomers, and demonstrating that you're committed to the hobby, I bet that someone would help you get a starter scope (if the club doesn't have loaners.)  Many astronomers have scopes they would loan or give to enthusiastic beginners.