Getting into amateur astronomy

[Jarochai Alabaster]

So the bf and I have been discussing telescopes, and decided to pick one up before a trip to Colorado in about two months. We have a relatively low price range as far as telescopes go ($300-$400 ideally), mostly because this is intended to be an introductory scope to see if the hobby genuinely interests us, as well as our decision to purchase on relatively short notice. I've done a small amount of homework on scopes, and am familiar with the difference between refractors, reflectors, catadioptrics, dobsonians, etc. as well as the value of aperture size and focal length.

Right now, I'm leaning towards Celestron's Astromaster 114EQ Reflector telescope. The reviews seem mostly positive (Other than those who apparently couldn't figure out how to assemble or collimate it), and the site is selling it as part of a bundle with an eyepiece/filter set and motordrive. I'd also be picking up a collimator, carrying case, and cleaning kit. All told, the price tag is around $330.

For the price range, it seems to be a decent deal. In my searches, however, I've found conversations suggesting much better scopes for only marginally more cost, but the links have all been dead or simply lead to the front page of a manufacturer, and there's no indication of which scope anyone was talking about. Omaha has an astronomical society, but they only meet once a month and during my usual working hours, otherwise I'd meet up with them for some firsthand advice and a chance to look through their scopes. In the meantime, I post around the interwebs asking for suggestions.

So, does anyone here have experience with telescopes? We definitely need something portable. We're not at all interested in GoTo (Partly for the cost, partly because it takes the fun out of finding shit on your own). I like the compact style of reflectors, and would definitely prefer to stay away from long refractors. Does the 114EQ look like a decent deal for a first-timer scope, or are there better options for the same/near price?

P.S. If we get into this, I could totally see myself getting a 12-16" dobsonian. Some of the backyard photos I've seen taken through telescopes of that size are breathtaking. Yes, please!

P.P.S. We're planning to pick up a solar filter and throw a Venus Transit party next year.

[Taxious]

I don't know shit about telescopes other than fiddling with the one my parents have, but I <3 astronomy. I think you may like this. Also, trip to CO!? If you are around Denver and feel like meeting a fellow gay branter let me know!

[Jarochai Alabaster]

Ok, interactive sky survey is badass. Thanks! As for the trip to CO, it's mostly a family thing. The bf and I will be renting a van with his mom (Possibly both parents, not sure if his dad's coming), and we'll be staying in a cabin in Essex Park with other members of the extended family. I really don't think we'll be able to swing any kind of visit. If it was just me and Jake I could probably talk him into it, but not with half the family, including kids.

[Taxious]

Yeah no worries, just thought it'd be cool if it worked out. (and it's Estes Park btw)

[Jarochai Alabaster]

Oh I fail then lol. Yeah I haven't been there yet, and couldn't remember the name for certain. Jake and much of his family go every year though, and he says the sky is breathtaking out there without all the light pollution. Since I don't get out of Omaha much I've only seen an unpolluted sky once or twice, so I'm really excited!

[Taxious]

You are definitely in for a treat then! Hopefully it's not cloudy as fuck (like it has been the last 1.5 weeks) when you get here. The sky is usually one of the best things about CO.

[Jarochai Alabaster]

Gratuitous necro bump.

So last summer we got the Newtonian I mentioned above. It was neat at first, but pretty limited. Also turns out it was defective, so we wound up returning it. At the time finances became tight, so we held off on replacing it and went with a refund instead, as we would have wanted an upgrade we couldn't afford just yet. Now that things are a little more relaxed, we finally picked up a new scope - Zhumell's Z10 Dobsonian, and a few accessories.

We've had it a couple weeks now, used it half a dozen times, and we absolutely love it. With the smaller Newtonian, I could barely make out Saturn's rings. With the Dobsonian, we can clearly see the space between the rings and the planet itself, as well as at least 2 moons on one occasion. We've checked out Jupiter (The first night, we saw 3 moons. The second, we saw 4), the Orion nebula, Pleiades cluster, Mars, Venus, and some random globular cluster (M5, we think, but we can't be sure as I stumbled on it in the scope and we couldn't find it unaided. It was in the general vicinity of M5 though).

While in Colorado last summer we found the Andromeda galaxy with a pair of binoculars, and could just barely make it out unaided. We definitely can't see it unaided from our neighborhood, but I'm confident if we can find it in the scope it'll be quite the sight. As mentioned above, the upcoming Venus transit in on our "to watch" list. I happen to have thursday off, so I'll be getting up early with the bf to set up the scope in anticipation of Mercury (We have a brief window right now where we can see our 5 nearest planets in a single day...only Mercury is in the morning). I'm also hopeful (Though not holding my breath) that we may be able to see Neptune, provided we can find it "blind" and properly distinguish it from nearby stars.

All in all, this has been an incredibly buy. We barely even know what's up there to look for, but we've got our sky maps and smart phone apps for that shit!

[Taxious]

Wow, you used the word "we" in that last post 28 times.

[Jarochai Alabaster]

That would be because this was a joint purchase/mutual gift (Combined anniversary and both birthdays), and neither of us has used the thing without the other. I also like to be as precise as I can with language.

[Harlowe]

I'm jealous of your equipment....yeah and your telescope too.

Have you tried taking pictures yet? Some of the shots our friends have gotten are amazing.

[Jarochai Alabaster]

No photography yet. For decent pics that will require a camera adapter and a decent quality camera (Neither of which we currently have). Also, as I understand it a dobsonian mount isn't the best for astrophotography, since it doesn't have the ability to follow its target for long or multiple exposures (And this is what you really want to bring out the detail in stellar objects).

I want to get a good quality GoTo scope eventually, which will be pricey. But that will probably be the scope we take meaningful pictures with. We may snap a shot or two with the current scope, but probably won't get anything that looks all that grand.

Re: Mercury. I checked the sky for it this morning when I got up for work (5:30am, also checked again at 6 and 6:30 - after that it was far too bright) and didn't see so much as a speck to the east. Unfortunately, we live west of Omaha, so we've got a good chunk of light pollution to the east of us, and I may have to try and find Mercury blind. That's going to be annoying. On the upside, Uranus and Neptune are both in the general vicinity of Mercury as well, so I may have a slim chance at stumbling on either of them in the process.