Celestron Telescope
Celestron Telescope
Meade NGC-70TCR Telescope or Celestron® StarSeeker™ 80mm GoTo Refractor Telescope?
I am buying my 12 year old son a telescope for Christmas.
It seems that the telescopes that automatically point to celestial objects would be the best option... or am I wrong, and why?
Do they work? Why do they offer telescopes without this feature?
The two I am looking at are the:
Meade NGC-70TCR Telescope for $200
http://shopping.discovery.com/product-57684.html
or the Celestron® StarSeeker™ 80mm GoTo Refractor Telescope for $329.
http://www.telescope.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=257599&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=0&iSubCat=0&iProductID=257599
Both have the star finder computer on board and look cool.
Any thoughts/recommendations?
Thank you!
Amateur astronomers are divided on the merits of go-to (automatic pointing) telescopes. Some of the disadvantages are:
• To get go-to, you either have to pay more or settle for less telescope for the money.
• There's a set-up process that you have to learn and perform so the telescope can find things.
• The telescope's database often includes objects that are too dim to see under many conditions.
• The less expensive ones, especially if not carefully set up, can be more like go-near than go-to.
• If you always depend on go-to, you'll be lost when the batteries die.
The alternative is to find things using star charts and a finder scope. The disadvantage of this is that you have to learn to find your way around the sky, and it can sometimes take a long time to find things.
Which is better comes down to a matter of personal preference, and it's hard to predict which way your son would prefer. If he learns by doing and likes to figure things out for himself, a manual telescope and a good beginner's book such as "Turn Left at Orion" may be better than a go-to scope.
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Celestron Hard Waterproof Case for CGE Mount / Pier and NexStar 8i. List Price: $54.95 Sale Price: $329.00  |
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302070 Features: -Hard waterproof case for telescopes. -Made of Ultra High Impact structural copolymer that makes it extremely strong and durable. -Color: Black. -Hard waterproof for CGE mount / pier and NexStar 8SE and 8i . -Unbreakable, watertight, dustproof, chemical resistant and corrosion proof. -Exclusive 0.25'' (6.4 mm) neoprene o-ring and ABS latches seal perfectly. -Includes an automatic purge valve for quick equalization after changes in atmospheric pressure. -Case is lined with die cut high-density foam for custom fitting. -Large handles and is equipped with wheels, for easy transportation. -For storing CGE mount and pier, must be used with foam that comes in original CGE mount packaging. -Dimensions: 32'' H x 13'' W x 21'' D. |
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Astronomy for Beginners Expansion Card List Price: $27.95 Sale Price: Too low to display |
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FEATURES Topics include:: 1 Objects in the sky: 2 Astronomical distances: 3 Star hopping: 4 Astro trivia: 5 |
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Celestron Nexstar Plossl Series 10MM Ocular List Price: $72.00 Sale Price: $49.99 |
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Pl?ssl eyepieces are a very popular 4-element design that provides excellent image quality and good eye relief. In Sky and Telescope review, Celestron's Pl?ssl eyepieces were rated the top ranking, and found to outperform many similar, but more expensive eyepieces. Celestron offers these premium eyepieces at affordable prices, yet they are among the best-designed and corrected eyepieces available. They are multi-coated (not just fully coated) for enhanced contrast and all are threaded to accept Celestron colored eyepiece filters. Now with rubber grips for easier handling, these Pl?ssl eyepieces have been improved even further. Plus, soft rubber eyecups create a more comfortable viewing experience while blocking out auxiliary light and providing increased contrast.PRODUCT FEATURES:Focal Length - 10.0 mm Ocular;Eye Relief - 7 mm;Apparent Field - 52?. |
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