Wife, after years of wanting one, has decided to get a telescope. Being able to see Jupiter with the naked eye and missing out on seeing it with a telescope this past week pushed her over the edge to wanting one. Any recommendations for a beginner telescope? Thanks guys!
what is your budget?
do you want "goto" (motorized) or manual
advantage with goto is. once it is calibrated, you GENERALLY (depending on the quality) can just tell it, point to jupiter and it will point at jupiter and then track it across the sky and all you have to worry about is focusing and deciding what lens to use/changing eyepiece out to enhance the view (the smaller the number the higher the magnification.)
prices start at about 450 for a cheap good small goto telescope and go UP
manual telescopes start with relative trash at under 100 bucks and go UP
manual anything say 150 or higher should be decent enough.
eye pieces can be cheap or good or great. prices start at about 20 each the price climbs depending on the quality 600+ each can get really good ~50-82degree eyepieces for around 75-120 each.... note eyepieces if well cared for...generally can be sold for almost what you bought it for, even 10 or so years later....
Amazon product ASIN B000GUFOBO
or
Amazon product ASIN B0007UQNNQ
are decent beginner scopes- has goto etc..
then the eyepieces...
i would suggest
Amazon product ASIN B0007UQNV8
to start. 90 bucks but a zoom, can use the 24 mm size to "find it", then zoom in to 8mm for a larger view.
orion makes good eyepieces or explore scientific
astronomics.com
telescope.com
or just use amazon
to find your accessories...
advantage of goto though, find what is out at the time and you can find lots of things to locate. m52, galaxies nebulas etc..... not JUST planets.