Expert: Tom Whiting - 3/24/2008

Question
QUESTION: This a simple question, and perhaps not terribly interesting, but I'm trying to determine the value of a telescope.  It's a   jason model 313 with a wooden tripod, made in Japan, and maybe 20-30 years old (not sure).  I apologize if this is not an appropriate question, but if you have any idea, I'd like to know.  Thank you.

ANSWER: Hi Monica,
Unfortunately these rickity 60 mm (about a 2.3 inch lens up front)
are good for the moon and reading neighbor's license plates down
the block, and that's about it.  That's why you see these pretty,
long white tube, (It's focal length is 910 mm, for an f-ratio
of 15.6!) inexpensive scopes in many yard sales and garage sales,
typically for under $25.
They are just that...inexpensive. Why? Because they just don't work
real well, and even when they do, they are a pain to work with.
Plus, there's an easy alternative with a lot less work, for the same
price, or perhaps just a little more....it's called Walmart or K-mart 10 x 50 mm Bushnell binoculars.
With 50 mm binoculars, the image is erect (it's inverted in a
telescope), has a wide field of view of over 3 degrees (telescopes
inherently have less than a 1/2 degree field of view), easy to
carry (telescopes require set up time), and the image in right
in front of your nose (telescopes typically you're looking at a
right angle to where the scope is pointing.) And there isn't a whole
lot of difference between 2  50 mm lenses in the binoculars, and
one 60 mm lens in the inexpensive telescope.  They both have about
the same light gathering power, which is what really counts for
optical equipment.

Plus, we haven't even covered whether or not its still in collimation
(lenses are perfectly aligned) or what kind of eyepieces it uses.
Oh, and BTW, if it has those solar filters that screw into an
eyepiece, throw them out, as they are illegal now. They get too
hot and crack when used for solar (sun) viewing, and are very dangerous, so they have been outlawed for any telescopes!
I know, because I had one, a long time ago, crack on me...fortunately
no one was looking thru the scope at the sun at that time.

If you do purchase it, assuming you are the buyer, make sure you
get a return guarantee after you try it on the night sky, or birds,
or whatever your useage.

If you are the seller, now you know about what it is worth.
{Or more appropriately, what it "isn't" worth.}
Anyone who is going into astronomy, no matter what your age, knows that you have to spend at least, about $400-$500 dollars for a good, workable, useable, telescope. (As a minimum cost)! Before that, just get a pair of 10 x 50 Bushnell or Walmart...binoculars
to use on the night sky.  Avoid, like the plague, those pretty long
white tube....we call them local "department store"...telescopes.
They just don't work for serious observing of the night sky.
Hope this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I have the telescope and was wondering how much to sell it for, since it's just gathering dust.  Thank you for you answer.  The only thing I wanted to mention is that this telescope does not have a long, white tube, but rather is metal.  Does that make any difference?

Answer
Hi Monica,
No. Silver, white, doesn't matter; here is your scope for $45
used, but probably a newer model, at
http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/pho/616092115.html

Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie PA


FOLLOW UP:
Thanks for the nice comments!  Yes, the typical astronomer going
into the hobby today wants at least a 6 inch diameter glass, be
it a mirror at the bottom (reflector telescope) or a lens at
the top (a refractor telescope) as a bare minimum, and they cost
right around $500 for entry level.  Actually a lot of our newer
club members start with an 8 or even a 10 inch scope (diameter,
scopes are always rated by diameter of the glass).
Astronomers have been trying for years to get those cheap department
store scopes, the Jasons, the Tasco's...(we call them Trash-co's)
less than 4 inches in diameter, off the market as they are a farce.
But the free trade laws always stop us, so all we can do is educate
the public to the phrase, buyer beware!
So if you're really interested in our great hobby, the proper steps
to take are listed on our club website at
http://www.velocity.net/~bwhiting
and punch on "Tom Whiting's Sound Advice to the Novice"

Hope this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA