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salawayun t1_j6y2rcd wrote

Based on what I read in r/astrophotography, the cheapest one that they recommend for the purpose you mentioned is the Orion SkyScanner 100mm.

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atomicsnarl t1_j6yieow wrote

Before you spend the money on a decent starter telescope, pop over to Wally World, or maybe a sporting supply store and get a set of cheap (~25$) binoculars - pocket size or maybe a bit larger. It's a step up from naked eye viewing (and there's tons you can do with that) and will give you a good idea of what a full up scope can do for you. No sense spending more money than you have to, to get your foot in the door. Get a taste for how it works, and then you can make better choices.

Some resources to help you look at stuff:

Sky and Telescope

The Sky Live

Earth Sky

Sunrise/Sunset Calendars

Enjoy!

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UKSpaceChris t1_j6ywpvp wrote

r/telescopes sticky post has a fantastic guide

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Varsect t1_j6z4hl4 wrote

r/telescopes and r/astrophotography are your friends.

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UglyOldMan709 t1_j6z6zkz wrote

Replying to atomicsnarl (#1,706,759)

This is excellent advice. A pair of 10x50 binoculars will enable you to view the moon, nearby planets, star clusters, etc. and will be much more satisfying to use than an inexpensive telescope. Learn the sky and then select a scope. Get you some binoculars and look at stuff.

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EdDantes007 t1_j6zv571 wrote

If you can pick up a Webb telescope you can get some great shots outside the visible light spectrum.

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darrellbear t1_j6zw1mq wrote

Dobsonian telescopes will give you the most bang for your buck. I'd say a 6 inch aperture at a minimum for an adult. An 8 inch will get you years down the road. The sky's the limit from there. DO NOT BUY A DEPARTMENT STORE TELESCOPE, they're junk. Orion Dobs are well regarded:

https://www.telescope.com/

A caution: like so much nowadays, telescope prices have risen a lot. You should get an extra eyepiece or two of various focal lengths, that's how you change magnification. You can also get a Barlow lens, which multiplies focal length by 2X or 3X. Telescopes and astronomy are a vast subject, barely scratching the surface here.

One of the best things you can do--find your local astronomy club, go to a meeting. They often have public star parties, attend some. The members are happy to show off their equipment and to answer questions. Learn about different types of scopes, it will help you make an informed decision when it's time to buy.

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space-ModTeam t1_j714y75 wrote

Hello u/Successful_Ad3337, your submission "Telescope choices" has been removed from r/space because:

It looks like you are looking for recommendations on buying a telescope. Check out the beginner guide on r/telescopes for advice depending on your budget.

Please read the rules in the sidebar and check r/space for duplicate submissions before posting. If you have any questions about this removal please message the r/space moderators. Thank you.

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