telescope tripod mounts
Sunday, August 29th, 2010
How would you rate this telescope?
I am relatively new to telescopes. Could someone please tell me how decent or crappy of a telescope this is. And could someone tell me what all the numbers and measurments mean. Thanks
Tasco
MAGNIFICATION: 350x
TELESCOPE TYPE: Refractor
MOUNT: Alt-azimuth
EYE PIECES: (1.25″) H25mm (25x), H12.5mm (50x), SR4mm (175x)
FINDERSCOPE: 5 x 20mm
FINISH: Metallic Turquoise
TRIPOD: Aluminum OBJECTIVE LENS DIAMETER: 50mm
FOCAL RATIO: F/13
BARLOW: 2x
WEIGHT: 8 lbs.
ACCESSORIES INCLUDED: Diagonal, Moon Filter
I think that you may be disappointed with that telescope. You will be able to see the 4 large moons of Jupiter with it and be able to resolve the Pleiades cluster and the nebula in Orion. Not a great deal more. The minimum size that I would recommend for astromonical observation would be a 6 inch Dobson or Neutonian. Celestron manufactures scopes of that size. I believe Mead does also. All of my scopes are Celestron.
Celestron also makes a 3 inch Neutonian for beginners for a about $110 including shipping. It comes with 2 eye pieces. The second link is a good source for this particular scope.
A Dobson gives you the greatest appature for the least cost. I have never used one so I can not with any authority tell you how easy they are to use. But the the 3rd link is to the Dobsons. Do not think of getting one larger than 8 inches. They are massive beyond that size.
One thing that you need to be aware of. You must use the telescope in a dark location to see the fainter objects such as galaxies and nebula and star clusters. You will not be able to see these object from a light poluted sky.
You will be able to see Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus with no problem from your back yard.
Celestron CGEM-800 Telescope Unboxing