Buying a Telescope- Newbie

zentan · Post by **zentan** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 8:53 pm

hi all,

thanks for all the advice!

i guess Weixing is correct, i better try out and know what to expect before i get disappointment after investing a few hundred bucks...

thanks Chris for the articles, i'll read them up soon enough... in no hurry anyway -)

thanks to Meng Lee too, saw ur link and hey, its around my budget..(somewhat haha). i'll pm u for some of the photos.... thanks

aquillae · Post by **aquillae** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 9:13 pm

hi Zentan, I have the 90mm makcass too (red Orion Apex) and i love this scope, it's really good and portable.

for image example:
I took Mars image (during 2003 opposition) using this scope :
http://www.astrojeff.com/images/Mars090103_Apex90mm.jpg

pretty good seeing condition, and of course Mars was really close

.

asterixsg · Post by **asterixsg** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:40 pm

I think after I buy my first telescope, I can write a thesis on this topic. hehehe.

ok, jokes apart. seriously, i am going to write a note on how to choose a telescope when you are a total total newbie.

zentan · Post by **zentan** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 1:49 am

aquillae,
woot, thanks for that mars image. cool stuffs.

asterixsg,
seriously serious? can't wait for it... meanwhile i jus have to read ard more ... -)

Meng Lee · Post by **Meng Lee** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:30 am

The best book in my opinion to read about this stuff is "the backyard astronomer" revised edition by Alan Dyer and terence dickinson.

hommel · Post by **hommel** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:30 am

I think the book that started it all for me is "The Light-Hearted Astronomer" by Ken Fulton. In this book, he is strongly in favor of a refractor scope. A good and light refreshing read.

Post by **Airconvent** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:34 am

Zentan,
If you had to buy only 1 single book to learn about practical astronomy, then "The Backyard Astronomer" recommended by Meng Lee is the one. Packed with full reference material in easy to read and easy to search format, its truly the best!
BTW, are you the same zentan from Clubsnap?

Meng Lee · Post by **Meng Lee** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 12:35 pm

Check out the book's website

http://www.backyardastronomy.com/

for some chapters. This is really a book that you can read it many many times regardless if you are a beginner or advanced astronomer.

baskarram · Post by **baskarram** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 3:59 pm

Hi All,

Checked the Science Centre timings.
It is open on Friday between 8 and 10pm for telescope viewing.
there will be a minimal charge i feel (not sure, but around 10 bucks which shld be more than the worth.)
Be there atleast 15mins earlier.
Anybody joining?

Regards,
Baskar

jermng · Post by **jermng** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 4:17 pm

I think the Observatory (telescope viewing) is free and open to the public on Friday 8-10pm.