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Fascinated with astronomy, but where do I start?
I love reading about astronomy on line, and looking at pictures. I think I am ready to do my own stargazing.
I would like to be able to see some nebulas and things like that. Can that type of space phenomenon be seen by a home telescope, or only by observatory type telescopes?
Also, how much might a good, but to too expensive telescope cost?
Thanks so much!!!
Answer:
Visit http://www.skytonight.com/ and check to see if there's an astronomy club in your area. A club will give you a chance to observe with amateur astronomers and see what kind of equipment they're using. There's also quite a bit of other information available at that site. Another good online resource is the forums at http://www.cloudynights.com/ . Among other things, there's a sketching forum where you can get an idea of how much you can see through an amateur telescope.
As for cost, you can spend as much or as little as you like. A good beginner's scope is a 6" Dobsonian, which you can get for under $300. An 8" scope is even better, and starts at maybe $100 more. Orion and Zhumell are good brands for low-cost scopes; here's a page of Orion's offerings: http://www.telescope.com/jump.jsp?itemID=329&itemType=CATEGORY&path=1%2C3&KickerID=860&KICKER
. Orion has some decent starter scopes under $200, but keep in mind that the smaller the aperture, the less you can see.
You'll also want to budget some money for a planisphere, star chart, perhaps a book like Nightwatch or Turn Left at Orion, and a dim red flashlight to read them by.
Enjoy.
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