Should a beginner like me get this telescope?

[lonestar]

Hi I'm a beginner and it'll be great if you guys can spare me some advice on this,

I'm intending to purchase a 114mm Newtonian from Perseid as shown in http://www.perseid.com.my/sk1149eq1-best-buy.html

- Diameter/Aperture: 114mm
- Focal Length: 114mm
- Aluminized and overcoated mirrors
- 5x24 finderscope
- price 795RM

However I realised that it needs collimating and is harder to maintain than a refractor. Besides, will the light pollution in Singapore make the sky too bright to use a 114mm telescope since I'll spend most of my time stargazing at my balcony in a HDB flat? Are there any great deals beside this?

Will greatly appreciate your advice
Thank you =)

[Meng Lee]

learn to collimate a newtonian, it goes a long way:

http://www.andysshotglass.com/Collimating.html

2 comments:
1) Tripod is simply too shaky
2) Optics of the scope are good but because the aperture is too small, you can hardly can see many deep sky objects from singapore

[lonestar]

Thanks for your help! The video is much more comprehensive than books! Sorry to bother you but should I stick with the 114mm set or get a second hand one with larger aperture? Quite sad to say that the 114mm is probably the most I could afford as my budget is ard 500 SGD

[Meng Lee]

i suggest you get a good pair of bino and nice tripod for the bino and a good set of star charts and some travelling expenses with the 500.

Learn how to find deep sky objects properly with starhopping technique under the dark sky. Once you learnt how to find objects, then you will be able to utilse any telescope to the fullest.

[MooEy]

dun worry too much about collimating. u could prolly get away with a rough collimation.

also, solid tube newtonians usually hold up collimation far better than truss tubes, so u may not have to do it often if u dun bump it ard too much.

of course, you can always pick up a gd laser collimator sometime later and u will find collimating a breeze.

for the price, i can't be complaining much. after all, wat can a mere 400 bucks get for you in this hobby? the ota seems pretty decent and could last u a long time. can always slowly upgrade the accessories along the way when ur budget comes.

howevere, there's one thing u should note. it's pretty long a tube and the counterweights may not be that light. have u considered how u are going to bring this thing out? at least on your own?

~MooEy~

[weixing]

Hi,

However I realised that it needs collimating

Other scope type may also need collimation... not just Newtonian. Collimation for Newtonian is quite easy once you know how to do it and usually require only a simple collimator to do it.

and is harder to maintain than a refractor.

I don't think maintenance for Newtonian is harder than other type of scope. In fact, you can take everything apart for maintenance if require and assemble everything back quite easily... more easy than other type of scope. Also, Newtonian is the only type of scope that you can repair and upgrade yourself.

will the light pollution in Singapore make the sky too bright to use a 114mm telescope since I'll spend most of my time stargazing at my balcony in a HDB flat?

The light pollution will of course affect the view... just don't expect picture like image.

Have a nice day.

[acc]

Hi Lonestar I would also suggest you look through the buy n sell forums to see if there are any used scopes on sale. They will generally represent better value for money.

[VinSnr]

Hi Lonestar I would also suggest you look through the buy n sell forums to see if there are any used scopes on sale. They will generally represent better value for money.

Bro, how is the M110? How come no comments one?

[lonestar]

Thanks Meng Lee, MooEy, weixing, acc and VinSnr! Have a much better idea now after your explanation! Think I'll stick with the 114mm Newtonian =)
Do agree with MooEy about getting a gd laser collimator and the counterweights, and yup the whole assembly weights ard 10kg. Carrying it around would be like PT lol.
Will keep a constant lookout for good deals at the buy and sell forums too.
Thanks for your help! =)

[Meng Lee]

if you want something lighter, more powerful scope at around the same price, simpler than equatorial mount to use, you can look at:

http://www.skywatchertelescope.net/swti ... class2=106

Perseid should be able to bring in the above scope also.