Telescopes -- Need Help!
 

Anyone know anything about telescopes ... good ones, bad ones, etc.

I know nothing and want to give one a present this year.

I know a little. whos it for (how old), how big of an astronomy buff are they? and how much are you looking to spend?

I just know that they are objects and don't appreciate presents

He'll be 30, not an astronomy buff, a couple grand.

http://www.telescopes.net/celestron_nexstar_11_gps.html

On sale at 2799 USD - fucking superb - mine for my xmas present for working hard this year.

I bought my wife one of those hubble telescopes... damn thing didn't work.

If hes not seriously into astronomy then spending a few grand wont be necessary for a fabulous view of the sky. I would say a nice dobsonian mount 12" mirror would work nicely. They are large but made very light and are not too hard to move around.

I had an 8 inch and I could see 5 of jupiters moons clearly as well as the great red storm easily, polar ice caps on mars, and much more. A good 12" dobsonian will run you under $1000.00 and you would be amazed at the view. Invest a couple of hundred on various lenses and some filters and you will have a great gift for anyone, young or old.

Check out the orion dobsonian page for some great scopes.

http://www.telescope.com/jump.jsp?it...EGORY&itemID=9

Yeah - but its the GPS - align it - then press a button and it tracks to the object (of a database of 40,000).

This is what non-buffs need - the ease of tracking - (im a non-buff).

On an astro telescope - it can be a bit hard to locate an object due to the narrow field of view.

Just two cents.

The dobsonians are capable of GPS tracking as well for about half the price.

Intelliscope 12"

Either way you go is a nice package however. Mr Chips suggestion is a nice scope as well.

I didnt know that - I may have to look into them now and dump the idea of the nexstar.

And for an extra inch ..... nuff said :)

Thanks guys : )