Right scope for the right priceFeb 20 '01 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line If cost is a factor, buy a used scope with a good long focal length and as large an aperture as you can afford.
Not long ago after much deliberation I purchased a Celestron C-8 (Pacifica model). This is the older large Orange Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) with a fork mount the size of an SUV spare tire and a somewhat cheesy metal tripod. Well, let me tell you this was one of the best purchases I have made for my family in a long time. Before I go into the details of the telescope, let me say a little something about how I came to my decision and where I made my purchase. Decisions…decisions…decisions… Although we live in Dallas where the sky’s are overwhelmed with city lights, occasionally we get a crystal clear night and what a view! Recently our family moved to the “burbs” a small but growing community called Frisco about 20 minutes north of Dallas. The nighttime sky is as dark and clear as I have ever seen in the Dallas area. Every night we sit out on the patio and enjoy the view. My kids and I decided it as time to purchase a telescope. I priced telescopes all over the net. I wanted something strong enough to accommodate good views of the planets, some deep sky objects and of course the moon. New telescope like the Mead ETX series seemed like a good deal ($600. - $1000.) However, I tested out a Mead ETX 90 at a party one night, the goto capabilities were really cool but the views seemed a little dim and distant. I also considered a Dob style telescope telescope. The price/focal length is excellent but the footprint (many are bigger than my 5’3” body) which is somewhat of an issue as I have limited closet space. Where and what I decided. So the decision is made to go with a SCT model, I wanted some of the cool goto features but found that the cost is very high for those features on scopes of 8 inches or more. So the decision began to take shape, don’t spend a fortune for what is essentially a toy, don’t get anything so large that I need a 3rd bay in my garage, and don’t get anything to small or cheap that it makes observing tedious and painful. The answer, a 2000mm SCT! I decided that a used OTA in good condition was my best bet. I followed several auctions on Ebay and finally found a scope that was the right size from a seller that was geographically close (this is very important). I ended up paying about $500 for a late 1970s model Celestron C-8. I read several reviews on this scope and many users like it better than the newer scope that Celestron makes. This is not a small telescope and it is not light either! Finding someone selling this equipment close by became important because of the scopes age. An old scope in good shape is worth every penny, but an old scope in bad shape could cost a fortune to repair. So I met with the seller and inspected the instrument. For my $500 I received the telescope (and storage trunk), the fork mount with AC power cord, a TeleRad star finder, and a celestron star diagonal. Everything was in great shape, and I was ready to go! So we get everything home and set-up the scope. I already had several eyepieces; 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 17mm, and a 20mm. I won’t go into the details of the eyepieces only to say I will be adding a wide view 40mm in the near future. My kids, wife and neighbors love this scope. One night a few weeks ago I was out on the patio observing Jupiter and Saturn. My wife came out and when I showed here Saturn through the 7mm eyepiece she swore I had somehow placed an object in the line of sight to fool her. The views are so sharp, Saturn’s rings are so obviously divided by the famous Cassini division, Jupiter Great Red Spot shows its swirls of red clouds (they look Grey without a filter). All in all this is the best scope for my money. I am working on learning some astrophotography techniques so I can take pictures of the incredible things my children and I are seeing. If you are looking for your first “real” telescope and you are not ready to spend thousands consider this scope. Don’t buy a cheap-o Wal-Mart special, you will get frustrated and give up on a very educational and rewarding family hobby. The Celestron C-8 can be found at bargain prices on the Net and offers a “big bang” view (Sorry for the pun, I could resist).  |
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