How do i know what is a good telescope?

[bubbles4920]

i need to buy my father-in-law a telescope for his 65th birthday by 1st august. any ideas which websites, shops i could try. dont really want to spend more than �150 but will i get a decent one for that? what spec should i be looking for? thanks peeps!!!!

[boobesque]

there a loads of different types of telescope. reflector, refractor, dobsonian etc. it depends on how experienced your stepfather is at astronomy. considering you are buying him a telescope i must asume he doesnt already have one and that he is new to it. in that case a smallish refractor would be best in my opinion. the size and magnification would realy depend on what he is wanting to see. planets or galaxies? star clusters or the moon?

[jake-the-peg]

Boobesque is right it does rather depend.

If he only wants it for astronomy though I'd probably go for a reflector because you get a bigger aperture for you money which means more light which means a brighter image and more distant objects.

If he wants to see things on land (or sea) then a small refractor because it's easier to use this way, you'll need a barlow lens to make the image the right way round. (that's not important in astronomy)

Have a look here:
http://www.dhinds.co.uk/pages/browse_More_DHIN DS.php/Telescopes/2/6

In the first instance the second one down would be good, the first or third in the second instance.

I am assuming it's not for birdwatching because these are totally differen.t

[bubbles4920]

thanks so much for all your help. could you please clarify something for me, is a telescope to look at planets etc different to one through which you can look at landscape, countryside etc? in laws live in countryside and mother in law just said he was on about buying one, guess it would be for landscape but not 100% sure!

[shaun_04]

yes, ones looking at landscape are called Spotting Scopes, and have a lower magnification.

My best advice would be to go somewhere like Jessops if there's a store near you, and ask them, as the staff are usually well-wised-up on this sort of thing.

I received some Jessops binoculars a few christmasses ago, they're of very good quality.

[jake-the-peg]

Astronomical telescopes are indeed qute high magnification and can be rather heavy to keep them stable compared to bird watchers ones which are lightweight.

The Astronom,ical ones I highlighted also have what are called equitorial mounts so they track stars as they go around the sky.

Also as I say astronomical ones tend to invert the image.

This is the RSPB's page on selecting a telescope
http://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/birdwatching/sele cttelescope/index.asp

[baileys]

get yourself a reflecting telescope,much better imagary,might cost a bit more than your budget though

[Toureman]

Look for spotter scopes on ebay, they are the type you want.

[usdaforce]

In my honest opinion , if hes new to astronomy , he would be better to get a really good pair of binoculars and learn his way around the heavens ,your budget isnt in all honesty going to get you a great deal on any kind of telescope to study the planets in any great detail, a good size to work with is 7 x 50 , or 10 x 50 max , the viewing pleasure will far superceed any telescope for the same kind of money, and if after awhile hes still keen mybe take it one step further and join an astronomy club most have reasonably sized scopes for studying planets , and membership probably costs a fraction of the cost of the equipment you will get to use

[usdaforce]

ive used this shop before and can recommend their advice and expertise.www.telescopes-binoculars.co.uk