Expert: Paul Wagner - 8/11/2005

Question
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Followup To
Question -
Hello out there,

I am looking for a gift idea for my father.  I was thinking maybe a telescope, somewhere in the $500 range.  He lives in Canada in the winter where it is very dark at night and the stars are brilliant.  $500 doesn't seem like much though, so, do you think it's even worth getting one in that price range?  He only has slight interest in space/ stars, and it seems the only thing worth really looking at in that price range is probably the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn, am I right?  He does have a lot of guests up there that he could entertain occasionally with a telescope.  Also, the 2 cheaper models I've used both had broken dials - the ones you use to follow the planets as they move quickly, which is done by computers on more expensive models.  
So what do you think?  If you think it might be a good idea, what brand would you get and where would you get it?

Thanks!
Answer -
Hi Jeff:

This is a good question--and the answer depends on the kind of guy your father is.  If he is someone who likes to fiddle around with things, then the answer is simple.  There are some terrific scopes that will show him far more than just the moon and planets.   These simple "dobsonian" scopes offer nice big mirrors to capture a lot of light and very simple mountings that will require him to learn his way around the skies a bit.  Make sure you include a star atlas with the scope, to help him get started. You should be able to buy something about 8 inch aperture for under $500.

Check out this website for what I think are the best deals:

http://www.telescope.com/jump.jsp?itemType=CATEGORY&itemID=8

On the other hand, if he is REALLY handy, you could get hi a kit and encourage him to make his own!

If he is more the powersteering, automatic transmission, cruise control kind of guy, then your options are more limited. You can get an 80mm refractor, or a 105mm reflector with GOTO technology.  That means that once he gets it lined up right, he can just push buttons and see what is up in the sky.  The disadvantage is that 80mm is a lot smaller than 8 inches.  And when you figure that light gathering power is the SQUARE of the aperture....you begin to see that an 8 inch scopes gathers about 30 times more light.  That's a big difference!

Paul Wagner

Hi Paul,
If I decide to buy an already put-together scope, for $500 I was thinking I could get an 8 inch aperture Orion, Discovery, or Antares Newtonian reflector telescope, with Dobsonian mount.
Question:
you stated: "if he is REALLY handy, you could get him a kit and encourage him to make his own!"
I think he is pretty handy, and this might be a good idea, since he's retired and has time.  If I get him a kit would it be cheaper/ would he end up getting a significantly better telescope with less money?  If so, where might you recommend I get him a kit, and what's the best I could do for about $500?  

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Jeff:

Check out this site to see what is involved:

http://sfsidewalkastronomers.org/telescopes/building/

The information by Ray Cash is particularly good...

And here is a link to a nice quality 10 inch scope kit that sells for under $500. That's a serious telescope!

Paul Wagner