Okay, it's time for me to put my money where my thoughts are. I'm in the market for my first telescope. I don't want a "first telescope" however. I want the best bang for the buck. That's why I put my question here.
What's the best bang for the buck?
What do you have?
BTW, while price is important, performance and satisfaction are far more important. I have a wonderful wife who has told me, "Get what you want. As long as it doesn't break us, get what you want."
Boy, do I love my wife. :)
Advice?
Hi,
I wouldn't bother, most astronomy is done by bots these days.
Through my work, I got them to buy a Mead 8 and a half inch reflector and I was given a celstron 9 inch and a bit with GPS because of my enthusiasm. i also got my company to buy a starlab planetarium.
I am a teacher by the way.
I now do astronomical evenings (for free) where folk come along, I give them a talk in the skylab planetarium about they are about to see, history etc and then we go and look .
Two weeks ago i had over 80 people attend.
Last week i was invited to a 'crank' meeting of people studying 'health through the vibration of the planets' - doesn't matter that i don't believe a bit of it, they were entharalled by the night.
There is a big demand for astonomy.
It is my intention, if my retirement pot is not big enough, to get a starlab and a telescope of my own, and do kids birthday parties.
Folk are fed up with Ronald McDonald, conjurers for the parties and want educational.
Believe me there is money to be made in selling science.
Why did i say don't bother?
There are only about 4 things worth viewing and you will only use the telescope two/three times year.
Better to buy a sky scout from Celestron.
you sit in a chair with your bottle of wine (not included) in the desert and you think "whats that" point it and it tells you all about it.
Want a tour of the heavens?
It takes you through all the important bits and guides you to them.
This is number one.
P.S. Jupiter is beautiful at present.
pps at the 'cranks meeting a 25 year old lady actually asked me if i would take her into the desert one night cos she wanted to see andromeda. Astronomy is a good pick up line especially when you realsie I am over 60. BTW i said no cos my wife would not understand - but I was wrong, the lady really wanted the science.
