phoenix Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 (edited) my hubby wanted a telescope for christmas last year, but the purse wouldnt stretch that far, so i thought this year i would get him one, argos had a fairly nice looking one for £60 - £70,however, they have sold out, so i looked deeper and shopped about a bit and realised that i'm in over my head its the jargon thats got me confused, can someone advise me.....................i have found one for £60 that is a telstar 700x76 reflector and the other one is a celestron 660 refracting telescope for just over £60, whats the diference between the two and which one is best thank you Edited December 16, 2008 by phoenix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 No advice at all but what a great present! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
border collie Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 All the best advice is to BUY NOTHING until joined and chatted with your local astronomy club. A good pair of binoculars can view just as much as most of the rubbish telescopes. We paid over 200 quid for one child a few years ago, and they STILL were no good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 ooh lordy telescopes are such a minefield and you need to talk to someone who knows thier stuff as its easy to spend hundreds of pounds on crap, when I brought my Hubbies scope I ended up getting advice from a telescope user group in America and brought a Meade ( mind you it was a Meade user group ) help however is closer to hand now and you could try these guys http://www.telescopeplanet.co.uk/ this looks good to me ( I do like Meade ) http://www.telescopeplanet.co.uk/ViewProdD...de=PON08E000019 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 (edited) I think Daddy Bear has a big telescope, so maybe if you PM Mommy Bear she will be able to ask his advice. Also, do a search for an astronomy forum where you will get better advice than you will on a dog rescue board ETA : have a looky here Edited December 16, 2008 by merledogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I think Daddy Bear has a big telescope, so maybe if you PM Mommy Bear she will be able to ask his advice. Daddy Bear has a HOOGE one and my Mark feels very small compared to DB ( Daddy Bear has a 10 inch reflector and Poor Mark only has a 4 1/2 inch reflector ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix Posted December 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 ooh lordy telescopes are such a minefield and you need to talk to someone who knows thier stuff as its easy to spend hundreds of pounds on crap, when I brought my Hubbies scope I ended up getting advice from a telescope user group in America and brought a Meade ( mind you it was a Meade user group ) help however is closer to hand now and you could try these guys http://www.telescopeplanet.co.uk/ this looks good to me ( I do like Meade ) http://www.telescopeplanet.co.uk/ViewProdD...de=PON08E000019 Thanks for the link i've just phoned these guys, very helpful indeed, and i bought a telescope...................not sure what. but i bought it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Thanks for the link i've just phoned these guys, very helpful indeed, and i bought a telescope...................not sure what. but i bought it fab, Just a thought do you have a compass ? might be worth picking up a cheapo one as it will help your hubbie when he is setting for the first time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy Bear Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Ooops - too late to advise!!! Was it a Meade you bought? DB is a big Meade fan. Is Hubby a complete beginner or does he have some experience (Down Girls) 'cos there is a lot of "stuff" DB and Mark could advise on as to where to start etc. HLGS - now you know size isn't everything Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix Posted December 16, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 Ooops - too late to advise!!! Was it a Meade you bought? DB is a big Meade fan. Is Hubby a complete beginner or does he have some experience (Down Girls) 'cos there is a lot of "stuff" DB and Mark could advise on as to where to start etc. HLGS - now you know size isn't everything errm i'm not sure, but it comes with a carry case yes, hubby is a complete beginner so i will need to get a compass for his first time, i assume i can get those most anywhere thanks for all your help fugees, i will probably be picking your brains in the very near future Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 HLGS - now you know size isn't everything yes yes I undertsand its what you do with it that counts errm i'm not sure, but it comes with a carry case : I think we may need a bit more to go on than that you can get some stargazing practice in without a telescope here http://www.therefuge.org.uk/forums/index.p...amp;hl=squirrel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix Posted December 17, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) ok i've had a look, its a TP 60mm Refractor Telescope 3 Eyepieces Viewfinder Barlow Lens Tripod Hard Carry Case it also comes with a accessory tray, Guide to the Night Sky - Sir Patrick Moore, and free delivery the guy on the phone said it was a good beginners one and it wasnt hooogly expensive either, so if its a hobby that dosnt fizzle out (as so many do ) then i will get him a proper one................ Edited December 17, 2008 by phoenix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mommy Bear Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 (edited) A Planisphere is a good thing to have http://www.amazon.co.uk/Philips-Planisphere It tells you what you can expect to see in the sky at any given date. Most book shops sell then. A subscription to Sky at Night would make a good birthday present. Lots of info and free CDs 'n stuff. Edited to amend link Oh B*M Still doesn't work and can't edit again but you get the idea - search Amazon Edited December 17, 2008 by Mommy Bear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
safneo Posted December 17, 2008 Report Share Posted December 17, 2008 I have bought this one for OH for Christmas. telescope It says it was a beginners one so as I too had no idea went for that one. I havent looked at it yet as its kind of difficult to hide the huge box it came in from OH so quickly opened it took paperwork out and wrapped it so he couldnt see what it was. We can have a fugee telescope setting up thread at Christmas Better make sure Mark and Daddy Bear keep their diaries free Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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