newbie here interested in getting a telescope

[eddyady]

Hi i m totally newbie here wanting to get a telescope long time ago. I am staying in the west. Recently visited sc. center, quite like the Celestron Astro Master 114 AZ reflector telescope. I don't know well about this set, but it looks cool enough for me. cost ~ $400. I have a few qn. in mind:
1) either refractor or reflector telescope, how do you maintain the lenses / mirrors. You know for camera we could keep them in dry box / dessicator, but the telescope is so big, how ???
2) can someone tell me any website that i can order online so that i can get cheaper price?
3) is Astro Master 114AZ good enough for beginner? if u ask me what i want to see, for sure the first thing i want to see is the moon, but i also like to see other planets and deep sky galaxy
4) Anyone wanting to let go telescope, please let me know, thanks.

[Sam Lee]

Welcome to Singastro

Yes, we do keep our telescopes in dehumidifiers, which is why we especially needs to big long ones. Try to keep that in mind when getting a refractor especially, cos they are normally slim tube and long. You wouldn't want to end up with the dehumidifier costing more than your telescope.

Perhaps join in 1 or 2 of the sessions posted here and you can see for yourself the various different scopes and their performance in relation.

Regards,
Sam

[weixing]

Hi,
Welcome to SingAstro!!

1) either refractor or reflector telescope, how do you maintain the lenses / mirrors. You know for camera we could keep them in dry box / dessicator, but the telescope is so big, how ???

Some of them buy those super big dry cabinet and some of them use their store room as a dry room (install a dehumidifier in the room). But for me, I don't. I'm also a Newtonian(reflector) user and I don't have space and $$ for the above, so I just use it regularly or at least take out to air the scope once a week. Usually, I store my scope in my big back pack.

2) can someone tell me any website that i can order online so that i can get cheaper price?

There are a lots of online website for selling telescope, but usually they don't ship to Singapore directly because they are not allow to as Celestron had a Singapore dealer (Astro Science)... but you can always try. Also, due to shipping cost, you might not save much for this scope and you won't have any local warranty (might not need it anyway if the scope arrive in good condition). Below are few online website (you can search for more on the internet):
1) http://www.buytelescopes.com/
2) http://www.optcorp.com/
3) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/

3) is Astro Master 114AZ good enough for beginner? if u ask me what i want to see, for sure the first thing i want to see is the moon, but i also like to see other planets and deep sky galaxy

To see galaxy well, you need dark sky which Singapore don't have. Also, galaxy/nebula in scope don't look like those colourful photo... don't expect to see them as clearly as in those photo and don't expect to see them in colours. Most galaxy through most scope look like a small, faint patch of smudge... that why they are call the "faint fuzzy".

4) Anyone wanting to let go telescope, please let me know, thanks.

Check the Buy and Sell section or post a WTB ad there.

By the way, I don't recommend to get the Astro Master 114AZ as it use a correcting lens in the focuser to extend the focal length... that why it's can have a short tube with long focal length. Usually, this type of Newtonian don't perform as good as the pure Newtonian. Also, the AZ mount come with it doesn't look good for Astronomy use where you need to move very small movement smoothly and accurately.

Have a nice day.

[eddyady]

Welcome to Singastro

Yes, we do keep our telescopes in dehumidifiers, which is why we especially needs to big long ones. Try to keep that in mind when getting a refractor especially, cos they are normally slim tube and long. You wouldn't want to end up with the dehumidifier costing more than your telescope.

Perhaps join in 1 or 2 of the sessions posted here and you can see for yourself the various different scopes and their performance in relation.

Regards,
Sam

i might need to come out another budget for dehumidifiers then. BTW, what do u meant "joining the sessions"? u mean kind of gathering?

[eddyady]

By the way, I don't recommend to get the Astro Master 114AZ as it use a correcting lens in the focuser to extend the focal length... that why it's can have a short tube with long focal length. Usually, this type of Newtonian don't perform as good as the pure Newtonian. Also, the AZ mount come with it doesn't look good for Astronomy use where you need to move very small movement smoothly and accurately.

Have a nice day.

Thanks for guidance and websites. So using correcting lens in the focuser to extend the focal length is no good. And normally long focal length is good? Can you tell me how can i know that it is using correcting lens and it is not a pure Newtonian? I look at the spec. but got no clue.

Could u recommend a better substitute than Astro Master 114AZ? Thanks again.

[weixing]

Hi,

And normally long focal length is good?

Err... No, it's depend on what you want to see.

Can you tell me how can i know that it is using correcting lens and it is not a pure Newtonian?

Usually, a long focal length Newtonian in a short tube or it said that it can give an erect (or correct) image views without other external optical accessory are hints of this type of telescope. The best is to download the manual from the manufacturer site to confirm as it's usually state in the manual.

Could u recommend a better substitute than Astro Master 114AZ?

That's depend on your budget and requirements (what you want to see, portability & etc). You can check out the Orion website as they got quite a numbers of low cost, but very decent scopes: http://www.telescope.com

Anyway, I would suggest you read up more about telescope before you decide what you need. The below are 2 links on the subject:
1) http://www.skyandtelescope.com/letsgo/t ... stargazing
2) http://www.celestron.com/c2/support3/in ... id=0&nav=0

Have a nice day.

PS: there are quite a few very "ON" members in the west side... you can join them during their observation sessions and look through their scope to get an idea what to expect.

[rlow]

Could u recommend a better substitute than Astro Master 114AZ?

The Orion Starblast 114mm f/4 is probably a better substitute, imho. This is available for about the same price at that shop. However you need good eyepieces to get good edge performance. You can take a look thru mine if you like.

i might need to come out another budget for dehumidifiers then.

Depending on how you use, maintain and store a telescope, a dehumidifier may not be needed, as in Weixing's case.

[eddyady]

Could u recommend a better substitute than Astro Master 114AZ?

The Orion Starblast 114mm f/4 is probably a better substitute, imho. This is available for about the same price at that shop. However you need good eyepieces to get good edge performance. You can take a look thru mine if you like.

I look thru the website, is it the model StarBlast 4.5EQ Reflector that you are referring to? You have the similar set ? I would like to view very much if u dont mind.