Anyone ever own a telescope?

Raiderhater · 11-03-2005, 07:28 PM

I've had for as long as I can remember, I don't even know who gave it to me, or for what occasion. I haven't used in the thing for several years, I would from time to time think about it, but had no idea where it was. I finally found it this last week and have it set up now scanning the heavens. It's not a big or real nice one, but still fun to play around with.

Anybody else ever had fun with one of these as a kid, or even now as an adult?

**CosmicPal** · 11-03-2005, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raiderhader

It's not a big or real nice one, but still fun to play around with.

I bet you say that to all the girls.

JBucc · 11-03-2005, 07:30 PM

I have a crappy one and when I look at stuff I just get a big blob of light. I'd like to get one that tracks stuff for you though that would be pretty neat.

mikey23545 · 11-03-2005, 07:34 PM

Had one when I was around 13 or 14, I guess.

I lived down by Cape Canaveral, and it was around the time of the Apollo missions, so I was already into space and space flight, big time...Me and my little bro spent quite a few nights outside checking out the moon's craters, Jupiter's moons, and Saturn's rings. We both thought we'd be walking on those distant planets someday...

I wish my dreams were still as big as the open skies...

Raiderhater · 11-03-2005, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

I bet you say that to all the girls.

Yeah, but they never seem to buy into it.

**Skip Towne** · 11-03-2005, 07:44 PM

The cops came and took mine when the neighbor girls complained.

Hog Rider · 11-03-2005, 07:45 PM

I got one for watching Hale Bopp. That was cool.

The best it's for is the moon and planets (not really that great) and the Andromeda galaxy - which is really something to see in full swirl.

Raiderhater · 11-03-2005, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JBucc

I have a crappy one and when I look at stuff I just get a big blob of light. I'd like to get one that tracks stuff for you though that would be pretty neat.

Pretty much the way mine is. The only thing that it has ever really been good for is viewing the moon, which sadly is not yet viewable over my part of the country.

Raiderhater · 11-03-2005, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey23545

Had one when I was around 13 or 14, I guess.

I lived down by Cape Canaveral, and it was around the time of the Apollo missions, so I was already into space and space flight, big time...Me and my little bro spent quite a few nights outside checking out the moon's craters, Jupiter's moons, and Saturn's rings. We both thought we'd be walking on those distant planets someday...

I wish my dreams were still as big as the open skies...

I really need to set my sights on a better telescope...

**Skip Towne** · 11-03-2005, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raiderhader

I really need to set my sights on a better telescope...

I wonder what a fair to good one costs?

siberian khatru · 11-03-2005, 08:04 PM

Had a couple of Sears models in the 1970s; craters of the moon were nice, not much else was visible. I tried to see the comet Kohoutek (sp) in 1974. Anyone remember that stinker?

In the 1980s, a friend's father had a nice Celestron model. One night we set it up in his back yard and were able to see the rings of Saturn. THAT was cool.

I'd like to own another one (I think my boys would enjoy it, too), but from what I gather if you can't spend a few hundred dollars on a really good telescope, don't bother spending $200 on a mediocre one. And I don't know if I'm willing to commit my interest to a $700 or $900 telescope.

Raiderhater · 11-03-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

I wonder what a fair to good one costs?

According to Mr. Khatru, close to a grand.

Raiderhater · 11-03-2005, 08:17 PM

http://www.telescopes.com/

jspchief · 11-03-2005, 08:20 PM

You found your telescope about 1 1/2 weeks too late.

Mars just reached the closest point to Earth that it will reach for the next 14 years. It was visible with the naked eye, but I imagine it would have been awesome through a telescope.

siberian khatru · 11-03-2005, 08:30 PM

http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html

"Let me repeat that one again: Do NOT buy a telescope from your local depart-
ment store, toy store, or from a television commercial. Most scopes found
at the Nature/Science stores at your local mall also fall under this category.
These telescopes are little more than toys and will likely kill your budding
enthusiasm. Buy from a retailer who specializes in serious amateur telescopes.
Some of the better ones are linked off my "links" page. As a general rule, avoid
any telescope that costs less than $300. Please do not e-mail me with something
you have found in a dept store."

11-03-2005, 07:28 PM
Raiderhater **** the Raiders Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: A Webb of chaos Casino cash: $2202021	Anyone ever own a telescope? I've had for as long as I can remember, I don't even know who gave it to me, or for what occasion. I haven't used in the thing for several years, I would from time to time think about it, but had no idea where it was. I finally found it this last week and have it set up now scanning the heavens. It's not a big or real nice one, but still fun to play around with. Anybody else ever had fun with one of these as a kid, or even now as an adult?
Posts: 28,241

11-03-2005, 07:30 PM	#3
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	I have a crappy one and when I look at stuff I just get a big blob of light. I'd like to get one that tracks stuff for you though that would be pretty neat.
Posts: 12,016

11-03-2005, 07:34 PM	#4
mikey23545 MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10015321	Had one when I was around 13 or 14, I guess. I lived down by Cape Canaveral, and it was around the time of the Apollo missions, so I was already into space and space flight, big time...Me and my little bro spent quite a few nights outside checking out the moon's craters, Jupiter's moons, and Saturn's rings. We both thought we'd be walking on those distant planets someday... I wish my dreams were still as big as the open skies...
Posts: 12,314

11-03-2005, 07:44 PM	#6
Skip Towne Supporter Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: T-Town Casino cash: $10004900	The cops came and took mine when the neighbor girls complained.
Posts: 69,689

11-03-2005, 07:45 PM	#7
Hog Rider Former Illinoisian Join Date: May 2001 Location: South-Middle Tennessee Casino cash: $4755610	I got one for watching Hale Bopp. That was cool. The best it's for is the moon and planets (not really that great) and the Andromeda galaxy - which is really something to see in full swirl.
Posts: 1,070

11-03-2005, 08:04 PM	#11
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $2584950	Had a couple of Sears models in the 1970s; craters of the moon were nice, not much else was visible. I tried to see the comet Kohoutek (sp) in 1974. Anyone remember that stinker? In the 1980s, a friend's father had a nice Celestron model. One night we set it up in his back yard and were able to see the rings of Saturn. THAT was cool. I'd like to own another one (I think my boys would enjoy it, too), but from what I gather if you can't spend a few hundred dollars on a really good telescope, don't bother spending $200 on a mediocre one. And I don't know if I'm willing to commit my interest to a $700 or $900 telescope.
Posts: 69,129

11-03-2005, 08:17 PM	#13
Raiderhater **** the Raiders Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: A Webb of chaos Casino cash: $2202021	http://www.telescopes.com/ __________________ "Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, and disregard of all the rules." -- George Orwell, Shooting an Elephant
Posts: 28,241

11-03-2005, 08:20 PM	#14
jspchief BAMF Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Your Face Casino cash: $9998710	You found your telescope about 1 1/2 weeks too late. Mars just reached the closest point to Earth that it will reach for the next 14 years. It was visible with the naked eye, but I imagine it would have been awesome through a telescope. __________________ Courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all.
Posts: 27,207

11-03-2005, 08:30 PM	#15
siberian khatru 21st Century Schizoid Fan Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Gates of Delirium Casino cash: $2584950	http://www.scopereviews.com/begin.html "Let me repeat that one again: Do NOT buy a telescope from your local depart- ment store, toy store, or from a television commercial. Most scopes found at the Nature/Science stores at your local mall also fall under this category. These telescopes are little more than toys and will likely kill your budding enthusiasm. Buy from a retailer who specializes in serious amateur telescopes. Some of the better ones are linked off my "links" page. As a general rule, avoid any telescope that costs less than $300. Please do not e-mail me with something you have found in a dept store."
Posts: 69,129