Always wanted to be a backyard astronomer but afraid of the cost or size of telescopes?
A great way to start is with a table top mini telescope. A modified dobsonian mount will not cost very much.
When shopping for telescopes, don't be fooled by magnification factors. The real difference between scopes is the aperture and mount types. A larger aperture has more light gathering ability, so you can see fainter objects (like nebulae). Higher magnifications can even make your viewing experience troublesome. Too much shaking and being hard to find the item to center in on it can discourage a neophyte astronomer from continuing.
The simpler a mount is, the cheaper it can be. The scope linked to above has a very simple mount. Computerization of mounts can be intriguing, but be sure you want to continue before shelling out that much money.
Another great alternative for getting started in astronomy is a good binocular. I use my Pentax 10x42 binocs more than I do my telescope. Learning to brace yourself well will enhance your viewing pleasure. Check out this price! (click here)
Summer seems to be when many newcomers start thinking about backyard astronomy. It's comfortable at night, and we maybe are taking a vacation away from the city lights. It is a great time to start. Did you know, tho, that some of the best astronomy viewing is in the Winter? Cooler sky temps equal clearer vision. So, get started now. Get used to your equipment. We'll talk some more about Winter viewing in a future post.
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