any decent telescopes to start with??

I was on Amazon.com and I see like dozens of scopes for sale. Is there a
decent starter telescope in the $100 range?? I got 3 kids, don't want to
spend too much but like a scope with decent clarity. I own a 3 inch
refractor but it is 30 years old and need to be replaced.

FWIW....
I wouldn't (and don't) buy ANY scope unless its $500 USD, or more....
there is just too much "JUNK" out there to take any less chance than
that! Hey, how much is Ham radio equipment...descent motorcycle,
descent boat or airplane...how about coin collecting, especially
gold coins? How about Golf? Fishing....what's a graphite rod cost?
Hunting...what's a good 30-30 cost with telescopic sight, bullets,
license, clothing, etc etc???....Any hobby or activity sets you back at
least 500 bucks USD, if you want worthwhile and reliable equipment.
(except maybe running or jogging). Telescopes are no different....in
fact, they are more critical, because the laws of optics ditate that
optical surfaces have to be ground and figured to at least 1/4
wavelength of light, or else you may as throw your money down the toilet.

FWIW,
Clear Skies,
Tom W.





snow wrote:
I was on Amazon.com and I see like dozens of scopes for sale. Is there a
decent starter telescope in the $100 range?? I got 3 kids, don't want to
spend too much but like a scope with decent clarity. I own a 3 inch
refractor but it is 30 years old and need to be replaced.

FWIW....
I wouldn't (and don't) buy ANY scope unless its $500 USD, or more....
there is just too much "JUNK" out there to take any less chance than
that! Hey, how much is Ham radio equipment...descent motorcycle,
descent boat or airplane...how about coin collecting, especially
gold coins? How about Golf? Fishing....what's a graphite rod cost?
Hunting...what's a good 30-30 cost with telescopic sight, bullets,
license, clothing, etc etc???....Any hobby or activity sets you back at
least 500 bucks USD, if you want worthwhile and reliable equipment.
(except maybe running or jogging). Telescopes are no different....in
fact, they are more critical, because the laws of optics ditate that
optical surfaces have to be ground and figured to at least 1/4
wavelength of light, or else you may as throw your money down the toilet.

FWIW,
Clear Skies,
Tom W.





snow wrote:
I was on Amazon.com and I see like dozens of scopes for sale. Is there a
decent starter telescope in the $100 range?? I got 3 kids, don't want to
spend too much but like a scope with decent clarity. I own a 3 inch
refractor but it is 30 years old and need to be replaced.

Tom,

Should be able to get a Dob for less than $500 (may be some good used
ones on the market if folks react to Intelliscope PR). Even the lowly
XT4.5 (still available without the digital thing) would be good starter
at $199. Some with bigger scopes still use that as a grab-and-go.

Phil

bwhiting wrote:
FWIW....
I wouldn't (and don't) buy ANY scope unless its $500 USD, or more....
there is just too much "JUNK" out there to take any less chance than
that! Hey, how much is Ham radio equipment...descent motorcycle,
descent boat or airplane...how about coin collecting, especially
gold coins? How about Golf? Fishing....what's a graphite rod cost?
Hunting...what's a good 30-30 cost with telescopic sight, bullets,
license, clothing, etc etc???....Any hobby or activity sets you back at
least 500 bucks USD, if you want worthwhile and reliable equipment.
(except maybe running or jogging). Telescopes are no different....in
fact, they are more critical, because the laws of optics ditate that
optical surfaces have to be ground and figured to at least 1/4
wavelength of light, or else you may as throw your money down the toilet.

FWIW,
Clear Skies,
Tom W.





snow wrote:

I was on Amazon.com and I see like dozens of scopes for sale. Is there a
decent starter telescope in the $100 range?? I got 3 kids, don't want to
spend too much but like a scope with decent clarity. I own a 3 inch
refractor but it is 30 years old and need to be replaced.

Tom,

Should be able to get a Dob for less than $500 (may be some good used
ones on the market if folks react to Intelliscope PR). Even the lowly
XT4.5 (still available without the digital thing) would be good starter
at $199. Some with bigger scopes still use that as a grab-and-go.

Phil

bwhiting wrote:
FWIW....
I wouldn't (and don't) buy ANY scope unless its $500 USD, or more....
there is just too much "JUNK" out there to take any less chance than
that! Hey, how much is Ham radio equipment...descent motorcycle,
descent boat or airplane...how about coin collecting, especially
gold coins? How about Golf? Fishing....what's a graphite rod cost?
Hunting...what's a good 30-30 cost with telescopic sight, bullets,
license, clothing, etc etc???....Any hobby or activity sets you back at
least 500 bucks USD, if you want worthwhile and reliable equipment.
(except maybe running or jogging). Telescopes are no different....in
fact, they are more critical, because the laws of optics ditate that
optical surfaces have to be ground and figured to at least 1/4
wavelength of light, or else you may as throw your money down the toilet.

FWIW,
Clear Skies,
Tom W.





snow wrote:

I was on Amazon.com and I see like dozens of scopes for sale. Is there a
decent starter telescope in the $100 range?? I got 3 kids, don't want to
spend too much but like a scope with decent clarity. I own a 3 inch
refractor but it is 30 years old and need to be replaced.

"bwhiting" wrote in message
...
FWIW....
I wouldn't (and don't) buy ANY scope unless its $500 USD, or more....

..... cut the guy some slack.....

"bwhiting" wrote in message
...
FWIW....
I wouldn't (and don't) buy ANY scope unless its $500 USD, or more....

..... cut the guy some slack.....

Costco (membership fee is $45) is selling the Celestron 114GT for around
$199 or even less later this month (with a coupon) . This is a 4.5''
reflector but should be a good starter scope.

"Phil Wheeler" wrote in message
...
Tom,

Should be able to get a Dob for less than $500 (may be some good used
ones on the market if folks react to Intelliscope PR). Even the lowly
XT4.5 (still available without the digital thing) would be good starter
at $199. Some with bigger scopes still use that as a grab-and-go.

Phil

bwhiting wrote:
FWIW....
I wouldn't (and don't) buy ANY scope unless its $500 USD, or more....
there is just too much "JUNK" out there to take any less chance than
that! Hey, how much is Ham radio equipment...descent motorcycle,
descent boat or airplane...how about coin collecting, especially
gold coins? How about Golf? Fishing....what's a graphite rod cost?
Hunting...what's a good 30-30 cost with telescopic sight, bullets,
license, clothing, etc etc???....Any hobby or activity sets you back at
least 500 bucks USD, if you want worthwhile and reliable equipment.
(except maybe running or jogging). Telescopes are no different....in
fact, they are more critical, because the laws of optics ditate that
optical surfaces have to be ground and figured to at least 1/4
wavelength of light, or else you may as throw your money down the
toilet.

FWIW,
Clear Skies,
Tom W.





snow wrote:

I was on Amazon.com and I see like dozens of scopes for sale. Is there
a
decent starter telescope in the $100 range?? I got 3 kids, don't want
to
spend too much but like a scope with decent clarity. I own a 3 inch
refractor but it is 30 years old and need to be replaced.

Costco (membership fee is $45) is selling the Celestron 114GT for around
$199 or even less later this month (with a coupon) . This is a 4.5''
reflector but should be a good starter scope.

"Phil Wheeler" wrote in message
...
Tom,

Should be able to get a Dob for less than $500 (may be some good used
ones on the market if folks react to Intelliscope PR). Even the lowly
XT4.5 (still available without the digital thing) would be good starter
at $199. Some with bigger scopes still use that as a grab-and-go.

Phil

bwhiting wrote:
FWIW....
I wouldn't (and don't) buy ANY scope unless its $500 USD, or more....
there is just too much "JUNK" out there to take any less chance than
that! Hey, how much is Ham radio equipment...descent motorcycle,
descent boat or airplane...how about coin collecting, especially
gold coins? How about Golf? Fishing....what's a graphite rod cost?
Hunting...what's a good 30-30 cost with telescopic sight, bullets,
license, clothing, etc etc???....Any hobby or activity sets you back at
least 500 bucks USD, if you want worthwhile and reliable equipment.
(except maybe running or jogging). Telescopes are no different....in
fact, they are more critical, because the laws of optics ditate that
optical surfaces have to be ground and figured to at least 1/4
wavelength of light, or else you may as throw your money down the
toilet.

FWIW,
Clear Skies,
Tom W.





snow wrote:

I was on Amazon.com and I see like dozens of scopes for sale. Is there
a
decent starter telescope in the $100 range?? I got 3 kids, don't want
to
spend too much but like a scope with decent clarity. I own a 3 inch
refractor but it is 30 years old and need to be replaced.

Phil,
Even back in 1950's we were told that the minimum useful size for
amateur astronomy was a 6 inch glass (which, BTW, is what I started
with, a 6).
(Anything less being virtually useless unless all you want is the moon
and upside-down license plates 1/2 mile distant).... Today, its probably
more like an 8 inch glass with
all the light pollution....I still think the $500 dollar lower
limit....when you count a telrad, and an extra eyepiece or two,
copy of Norton's or Cambridge atlas, is still pretty firm, or at least
a good ballpark figure to follow......unless of course, you want junk.
Just my opinion.
Clear Skies,
Tom W.



Phil Wheeler wrote:

Tom,

Should be able to get a Dob for less than $500 (may be some good used
ones on the market if folks react to Intelliscope PR). Even the lowly
XT4.5 (still available without the digital thing) would be good starter
at $199. Some with bigger scopes still use that as a grab-and-go.

Phil

bwhiting wrote:

FWIW....
I wouldn't (and don't) buy ANY scope unless its $500 USD, or more....
there is just too much "JUNK" out there to take any less chance than
that! Hey, how much is Ham radio equipment...descent motorcycle,
descent boat or airplane...how about coin collecting, especially
gold coins? How about Golf? Fishing....what's a graphite rod cost?
Hunting...what's a good 30-30 cost with telescopic sight, bullets,
license, clothing, etc etc???....Any hobby or activity sets you back
at least 500 bucks USD, if you want worthwhile and reliable equipment.
(except maybe running or jogging). Telescopes are no different....in
fact, they are more critical, because the laws of optics ditate that
optical surfaces have to be ground and figured to at least 1/4
wavelength of light, or else you may as throw your money down the toilet.

FWIW,
Clear Skies,
Tom W.





snow wrote:

I was on Amazon.com and I see like dozens of scopes for sale. Is there a
decent starter telescope in the $100 range?? I got 3 kids, don't want to
spend too much but like a scope with decent clarity. I own a 3 inch
refractor but it is 30 years old and need to be replaced.