Telescope for Astronomy Complete beginner

Skyline

Skyline

Emmet Brickowski
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I need to find a new hobby.
I’ve always been interested in Astronomy. What a good start for a complete novice how much would I need to pay to start off? A telescope where you could make out the rings jupiter, reasonable detailed on the moon etc.
Lets start off with a £100-150 budget. What would you recommend for a complete beginner and maybe link me the telescope you recommend :)
 
Let me know if you see rings round Jupiter............. ;) Assume you meant Saturn..............
Look at the Skywatcher alt-az range. Simple to use (the alt-az means there's no polar alignment required), they have driven mounts with go-to. Only problem is new they're out of your price range. You'd need to be looking at second hand, if you could get one. Then you'll need a power pack, and to make it sing some decent eyepieces. For your budget you could probably find something undriven without go-to, but if you're a beginner you'll end up tearing your hair out trying to find things. Okay, the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, even Mars are easy but you will want to go further.
I have the Skywatcher Star Discovery with a 150mm scope for visual stuff and it's very good. Easy to use and very portable, which makes you want to use it. Currently just under £500 from First Light Optics, and they have stock right now. There are also smaller scopes on a similar mount, but you don't want to go too small. Some scopes and mounts have limited or no availability right now. I have cash burning a hole in my pocket for a solar scope. Can't get one - there just aren't any, anywhere.
 
Best start with a decent pair of binoculars, 10x40 or so.

Mounted on a tripod especially you can see a surprising amount, with a wide field of view and bright, clear image.
 
I bought my boy one of these a few years ago - https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-skyhawk-114-reflector-telescope.html

It's okay but the novelty soon wears off when it's such a bulky thing to set up & so frustrating trying to find things to look at aside from the moon.

I can't even remember the last time he even mentioned it let alone used it. Now his Move Shoot Move star tracker gets much more use....
 
Jannyfox said:
Let me know if you see rings round Jupiter............. ;) Assume you meant Saturn..............
Look at the Skywatcher alt-az range. Simple to use (the alt-az means there's no polar alignment required), they have driven mounts with go-to. Only problem is new they're out of your price range. You'd need to be looking at second hand, if you could get one. Then you'll need a power pack, and to make it sing some decent eyepieces. For your budget you could probably find something undriven without go-to, but if you're a beginner you'll end up tearing your hair out trying to find things. Okay, the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, even Mars are easy but you will want to go further.
I have the Skywatcher Star Discovery with a 150mm scope for visual stuff and it's very good. Easy to use and very portable, which makes you want to use it. Currently just under £500 from First Light Optics, and they have stock right now. There are also smaller scopes on a similar mount, but you don't want to go too small. Some scopes and mounts have limited or no availability right now. I have cash burning a hole in my pocket for a solar scope. Can't get one - there just aren't any, anywhere.
Click to expand...
I told you I was a novice :LOL:
 
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Cartus said:
Best start with a decent pair of binoculars, 10x40 or so.

Mounted on a tripod especially you can see a surprising amount, with a wide field of view and bright, clear image.
Click to expand...
I do have some somewhere. I could have a look to see if they’re any good
 
LeeRatters said:
I bought my boy one of these a few years ago - https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-skyhawk-114-reflector-telescope.html

It's okay but the novelty soon wears off when it's such a bulky thing to set up & so frustrating trying to find things to look at aside from the moon.

I can't even remember the last time he even mentioned it let alone used it. Now his Move Shoot Move star tracker gets much more use....
Click to expand...
That’s what’s bothering me. I spend a few hundred then realise it’s not for me. That why I thought I’d start off cheap to see f it’s my kinda thing
 
Skyline said:
Perfect. In my price range. YouTube review time
Click to expand...
Had a thought about Teleskop express. Fantastic company to deal with, really fast delivery when I dealt with them. But that was pre brexit so check on your tax/import duty liability etc before committing. Rother Valley is another great company to deal with.
 
Jannyfox said:
Let me know if you see rings round Jupiter............. ;) Assume you meant Saturn..............
Look at the Skywatcher alt-az range. Simple to use (the alt-az means there's no polar alignment required), they have driven mounts with go-to. Only problem is new they're out of your price range. You'd need to be looking at second hand, if you could get one. Then you'll need a power pack, and to make it sing some decent eyepieces. For your budget you could probably find something undriven without go-to, but if you're a beginner you'll end up tearing your hair out trying to find things. Okay, the Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, even Mars are easy but you will want to go further.
I have the Skywatcher Star Discovery with a 150mm scope for visual stuff and it's very good. Easy to use and very portable, which makes you want to use it. Currently just under £500 from First Light Optics, and they have stock right now. There are also smaller scopes on a similar mount, but you don't want to go too small. Some scopes and mounts have limited or no availability right now. I have cash burning a hole in my pocket for a solar scope. Can't get one - there just aren't any, anywhere.
Click to expand...
Would you spend more to get better for a starter?
I’m a bit like someone starting out in photography and giving them a top of the range camera, sticking it in manual and saying, off you go. I really don’t know what’s what in the telescope world.
 
When I first started out this sight was helpful
stargazerslounge.com

Stargazers Lounge

stargazerslounge.com stargazerslounge.com
Re the £150 budget ? Hum , I think you need to up that quite a bit
£150 in realty means you get a scope that cost £50 + makers profit + distributors profit + shop sellers profit and + import and VAT

Best look for a good used item , Lots on this site


Good luck , Oh and have a look at the ampunt of cloud free nights we have ?
 
Further to what Allen said above, for a starter scope avoid anything with electronics (motorised/tracking), most of your money goes on that and it leaves less for the optics.
 
Steep said:
Further to what Allen said above, for a starter scope avoid anything with electronics (motorised/tracking), most of your money goes on that and it leaves less for the optics.
Click to expand...

However............a beginner who doesn't know how to find things and has to keep constantly nudging the scope is likely to get frustrated and lose interest. Went through all that myself back when tracking was super expensive and go to didn't exist and if I hadn't had prior knowledge and a passion I would have given up.
A big equatorially mounted scope with no drive is alike a top of the range pro camera stuck on manual
A small(ish) scope on a simple alt az mount with go to is a starter kit
It's not a cheap hobby
@Skyline do you have a local astromony society?
 
Jannyfox said:
However............a beginner who doesn't know how to find things and has to keep constantly nudging the scope is likely to get frustrated and lose interest. Went through all that myself back when tracking was super expensive and go to didn't exist and if I hadn't had prior knowledge and a passion I would have given up.
A big equatorially mounted scope with no drive is alike a top of the range pro camera stuck on manual
A small(ish) scope on a simple alt az mount with go to is a starter kit
It's not a cheap hobby
@Skyline do you have a local astromony society?
Click to expand...
I have no idea. I can ask around though
 
I don't have a telescope, but did buy a pair of these around 20 years ago. You can clearly see the moons of Jupiter and the Orion nebula on a good night and they are good wildlife bins.

Praktica Binoculars PRA081 Black | Viking Direct UK

Praktica Binoculars PRA081 Black Fully loaded with features essential for days out in the field, the Praktica Falcon 12 x 50mm Binoculars offer multipurpose optics at an economical price. Built with a coating system optimised specifically for contrast and focus, these 12x50mm binoculars maximise...
www.viking-direct.co.uk www.viking-direct.co.uk
 
LeeRatters said:
I bought my boy one of these a few years ago - https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/skywatcher-skyhawk-114-reflector-telescope.html

It's okay but the novelty soon wears off when it's such a bulky thing to set up & so frustrating trying to find things to look at aside from the moon.

I can't even remember the last time he even mentioned it let alone used it. Now his Move Shoot Move star tracker gets much more use....
Click to expand...
The novelty wore off for me when I got sick of the endless buggeration factor caused by the weather :banghead:
 
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