I am looking to purchase my first astronomy

[jasonschielke]

telescope. My budget is $1000 USD. Any suggestions?

[jim m]

any one you like thats alot of money, have fun

[foxy]

look for one under $1000.00 us and dont use it for perving neighbours windows 50 blocks away

[Dave O]

You should do fine with $1K. I'd recommend a Schmitt-Cassegrain reflector. I don't think $1K will get you into a fancy GPS go-to scope, but you should be able to get into the 6" (Maybe 8") aperture range. You'll be disappointed with anything smaller than 4.5". For your budget, you'll have to decide what's more important, optics or bells and whistles. I say go for optics, as large as possible, with coatings to improve light transmission.































You'll most definitely want an "Equatorial" mount with setting circles and a clock drive. Then all you need is some practice and a set of star charts with celestial coordinates (Designations). For shopping ideas, try Orion Telescopes at [Registered users can see links. ]































If you could wait another year, save another $1K, you'd be pleasantly surprised at what you'll be looking at. I spent $3K+ on my first scope back in 1993, before the advent of go-to hardware. It's still solid as a rock. I can find lots of stuff faster than the fancy GPS units, and there aren't as many things that can go wrong with a simpler scope. Just be ready for a bit of learning curve while you get used to doing the polar alignment and using your charts and setting circles.

[ghlo08]

WHY A 6"F/15 REFRACTOR

Why a 6-inch F/15 Refractor? From my years of experience as an astronomer who has used a variety of telescopes of different types along with using very rare large apertures of 8-12 inches. I have found the 6 inch F/15 refracting telescope is the optimum design for lunar, planetary, and solar observing. The telescope’s size makes it the best instrument in my opinion for advanced observers to use and simple enough for elementary observers to use for their viewing. An observer can master the telescope system with relatively few instructions, and yet the system is large enough to provide optimum viewing in city astmospheric conditions. Furthermore for more advanced observing the 6" F/15 refractor with it’s accessories provides opportunities for photographic and spectroscopic work as well. Observatories and educational institutions usually have found the 6-inch F/15 refractor to be the finest instrument for lunar, planetary, and solar observing. For those wanting to build a 6" F/15 refracting telescope system for their observing should obtain a copy of "Telescope Making44" and read the article entitled "Constructing a Large Brass Refractor" by Larry Myers. Telescope Making was a publication of Kalmbach Publishing Company (Astronomy Magazine)