Goto Telescope for Astronomy Beginner?

[Ross M]

Firstly, im completely new to all of this. My dad and i are thnking of buying a star gazing telescope (if thats the right terminology).

ive done a bit of research and i think a northstar telescope might be a good one to start on. like this -> [Registered users can see links. ] do you think this would be suitable for first timers?

This telescope has a motorised mount which will point in the direction of many presaved objects but i was wandering does it not need to know where abouts it is on the planet to know where something will be relative to it (if that makes any sense)

I was also wandering if you can type co-ordinates into this to get it to point in the irection that you want. if it does, is there a website where you can get co-ordinates of interesting events such as a something passing the earth, which i t would be able to have stored because its moving.

i hope all that actually made some sense.

waiting eagerly for replies, ross.

[philip d]

This is a bit of a small scope for seeing and questionable on optics, but would be a fun scope with its goto...

You would do a lot better with example an Orion Intelliscope Dob as will locate things with using a read-out but most important the optics would be far superior...

You can get the it without the computer and add it later, a nice starter scope...
Orion SkyQuest XT6 IntelliScope Telescope[Registered users can see links. ]

[philip d]

The cheapest scopes suggested are the Dob design reflectors, most without the Goto, but have nice optics for the price, ...

6 inch reflector is about minimum size to see things, and the 8 inch very popular, sizes above this tend to quickly become heavy...

Price will be only 1/3 more than the too small one your looking at, just over $200, used may find them well below $200, but stay with popular brand names as Meade, Celestron, and Orion, ...In your area perhaps Skywatcher more available....

[Ross M]

Thanks for all the help guys! the only problem is that i live in northern ireland and the price, for example, of the scope i pointed out is �450 which is about $900.

[admin]

Before you buy anything go to a local star party and try lookig though a few scopes and the the most important part is to ask the owners of those scopes what they like and don't like. Trust me you will find the best scope for you and your dad is the one you already tried. Good luck. OH YEA, have you thought at all about binoculors. Celestron 100mm is the best bet. you can focus either eye, nice feature. You'll need a tripod and i'd get the orion made one with the arm.