Total Newbe - advice needed (cross posted)

Matthew Corr wrote:

Hi guys Have been interested in astronomy for a while and have been considering buying my own
scope to see if the bug really bites. Obviously dont want to spend lots of money at this stage so
have been looking second hand. For example one chap is selling a 'Bresser Quasar 80mm refractor'
on one of the newsgroups, really looking at scopes for sub £100. My question is this: with these
cheaper scopes what will I actually be able to see? Will I get clear images of Venus, Jupiter and
Saturn with its rings for example, will I be able to pick out Jupiters moons. Will I be able to
see planets beyond Saturn? Dont want to be staring into deep space, just the brighter planets at
this stage. Also have seen on Ebay Luxon scopes (700mm and 900mm) for what appears a good price.
Really could do with some advice chaps...

Do you have a local astronomical society ?

Sometimes they have society scopes for loan to allow you to asses your needs. My local has a 3" Cat
and a 8" Dobson..... Might be of some help if they exist in your area....

Keep off the Luxon products, they are crap ! Dont buy a scope from a supermarket, only an astronomy
dealer who lnows what he's talking about. Have you thought of Binoculars ? A good pair of 12x50 will
give you good general views of the moon for a start.... larger sets will enable jupiter to be
resolved as a circle (OK, not much detail, but its good enough for some), and see phases of Venus...

For a proper scope you will pay anything from £200 upwards. I have an 8" Helios at £420 from S W
Optics which easily resolves the rings of Saturn, Jupiter and the four moons, and several nebulae,
and Ive only been at it 4 months.

HTH, good luck,

David H
Telford, Salop

"Matthew Corr" wrote in message ...
Hi guys

Have been interested in astronomy for a while and have been considering
buying my own scope to see if the bug really bites. Obviously dont want to
spend lots of money at this stage so have been looking second hand. For
example one chap is selling a 'Bresser Quasar 80mm refractor' on one of the
newsgroups, really looking at scopes for sub £100. My question is this: with
these cheaper scopes what will I actually be able to see? Will I get clear
images of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn with its rings for example, will I be
able to pick out Jupiters moons. Will I be able to see planets beyond
Saturn?

Dont want to be staring into deep space, just the brighter planets at this
stage. Also have seen on Ebay Luxon scopes (700mm and 900mm) for what
appears a good price. Really could do with some advice chaps...

Matthew, I don't have any further scope specific advice to add to
David and Robert's. However, do take a look a the SPA's discount list
- might be worth the £12 membership fee alone (plus all the other
stuff you get as a member
http://www.popastro.com/discnt.htm

Happy viewing
--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm

"Matthew Corr" wrote in message ...
Hi guys

Have been interested in astronomy for a while and have been considering
buying my own scope to see if the bug really bites. Obviously dont want to
spend lots of money at this stage so have been looking second hand. For
example one chap is selling a 'Bresser Quasar 80mm refractor' on one of the
newsgroups, really looking at scopes for sub £100. My question is this: with
these cheaper scopes what will I actually be able to see? Will I get clear
images of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn with its rings for example, will I be
able to pick out Jupiters moons. Will I be able to see planets beyond
Saturn?

Dont want to be staring into deep space, just the brighter planets at this
stage. Also have seen on Ebay Luxon scopes (700mm and 900mm) for what
appears a good price. Really could do with some advice chaps...

Matthew, I don't have any further scope specific advice to add to
David and Robert's. However, do take a look a the SPA's discount list
- might be worth the £12 membership fee alone (plus all the other
stuff you get as a member
http://www.popastro.com/discnt.htm

Happy viewing
--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm

Thanks for your help guys.

Any opinions on the second hand scope that I mentioned?

"SimonP" wrote in message
om...
"Matthew Corr" wrote in message
...
Hi guys

Have been interested in astronomy for a while and have been considering
buying my own scope to see if the bug really bites. Obviously dont want
to
spend lots of money at this stage so have been looking second hand. For
example one chap is selling a 'Bresser Quasar 80mm refractor' on one of
the
newsgroups, really looking at scopes for sub £100. My question is this:
with
these cheaper scopes what will I actually be able to see? Will I get
clear
images of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn with its rings for example, will I
be
able to pick out Jupiters moons. Will I be able to see planets beyond
Saturn?

Dont want to be staring into deep space, just the brighter planets at
this
stage. Also have seen on Ebay Luxon scopes (700mm and 900mm) for what
appears a good price. Really could do with some advice chaps...

Matthew, I don't have any further scope specific advice to add to
David and Robert's. However, do take a look a the SPA's discount list
- might be worth the £12 membership fee alone (plus all the other
stuff you get as a member
http://www.popastro.com/discnt.htm

Happy viewing
--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm

Thanks for your help guys.

Any opinions on the second hand scope that I mentioned?

"SimonP" wrote in message
om...
"Matthew Corr" wrote in message
...
Hi guys

Have been interested in astronomy for a while and have been considering
buying my own scope to see if the bug really bites. Obviously dont want
to
spend lots of money at this stage so have been looking second hand. For
example one chap is selling a 'Bresser Quasar 80mm refractor' on one of
the
newsgroups, really looking at scopes for sub £100. My question is this:
with
these cheaper scopes what will I actually be able to see? Will I get
clear
images of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn with its rings for example, will I
be
able to pick out Jupiters moons. Will I be able to see planets beyond
Saturn?

Dont want to be staring into deep space, just the brighter planets at
this
stage. Also have seen on Ebay Luxon scopes (700mm and 900mm) for what
appears a good price. Really could do with some advice chaps...

Matthew, I don't have any further scope specific advice to add to
David and Robert's. However, do take a look a the SPA's discount list
- might be worth the £12 membership fee alone (plus all the other
stuff you get as a member
http://www.popastro.com/discnt.htm

Happy viewing
--
Simon
51:31N 0:38W
http://www.cookie-pool.co.uk/Pool1.htm
http://www.maidenhead.astronomical.s...care4free.net/
http://www.popastro.com/home.htm