Expert: Tom Whiting - 6/15/2008

Question
dear sir, i belong to Pakistan where is the technology is so costly as compare to the foreign countries. now i want to purchase a telescope to see the moon, other planets and the Galaxy and other things in deep sky. now my question is what should be the power of the telescope of which prove helpful for me to support me in my aims and how many cost will be occurred for this order to be submitted. please send my your opinion

Answer
Hi Yasir,
Telescopes should never be purchased by power.  We already know
that the maximum effective magnification for a excellent-figured mirror (or lens)...is about 50 power per inch (or per 25 mm) of aperture.
So if you have a 6" glass (150 mm) your maximum magnification is about 300 power.  Any power higher than that is called "empty magnification"...that is, you are magnifying the optical defects
just as much as the object being imaged, so it just gets bigger,
but fuzzier.
Also, like a microscope, every increase in power you lose 3 things,
light, detail, and field of view....the image is dimmer, not as
distinct, and the area of sky being viewed shrinks dramatically
with increase in power.  In fact, most amateur astronomers use
their lowest power eyepiece 90% of the time, to maximize the
other 3 items, by the sacrifice of only one item...magnification!

You mentioned planets/moon, and deep sky objects as your primary
interest.  Unfortunately, one type of scope is good on lunar/planets
(refractors with long focal lengths)
and a different type of scope is good for deep sky objects.
(large reflectors with short focal lengths).
Another type is good for comet hunting, another is best for
variable stars, etc.  In other words, scopes are like airplanes:
all airplanes fly, but you don't send a bomber to do a fighter's
job, so you have to decide specifically what your main interest
will be, then get a scope that maximizes your primary interest.
That's why we say in our hobby that equipment comes last, not first;
knowledge comes first, so read and learn all you can about it
before you get a scope.
Plus, can you point your finger to Saturn, the Andromeda Galaxy,
the Lagoon Nebula, Mars, the double star Albireo, etc...all naked
eye objects?  If not, then a scope is useless to you right now....
you first have to learn the naked eye night sky, so make your first
scope an inexpensive pair of binoculars and a good star chart.
Learn the night sky first, find other amateurs and learn the sky
together, then after you know where some of the objects are, by then
you'll know where your main interest is in, and what type of scope
that you want.

As far as cost, I just know that in the USA a reliable 6 inch telescope costs about $400 USD, but I have no idea what that would cost someone who is not living in the USA. Every country has different rules on taxes, shipping, import duties, etc.
Hope this helps,
Clear Skies,
Tom Whiting
Erie, PA USA