Used Telescopes
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011used telescopes
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 Bushnell Jason 5185 910mm Telescope  US $124.99
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 Celestron Axiom LX 31mm 2 inch Eyepiece for Telescope US $157.50
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 ROKINON TELESCOPE 91060 US $105.00
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 Meade ETX 80AT BB Backpack Telescope US $158.50
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 Tripod dolly Medium JMI Telescope Universal Wheeley Bar with 5 wheels US $150.00
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 Emerson telescope US $35.00
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 Vintage Children Toy Spy Glass Pirate Telescope US $8.99
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 Meade EXT 90 Telescope US $202.50
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Should you Buy a Reflector or a Refractor Telescope? - Guidelines and Advice
There are a lot of factors to consider before you buy a telescope. And these factors range from price, to performance desires, to your skill level and your lifestyle. I will go over these factors and help you find the instrument that is right for you.
A Quick look at scopes for beginners
Before I get into the specific performance and prices of telescopes I want to give you a quick rule of thumb about three different types. If you are very much a beginner and are just looking for a telescope to get started with you probably should consider getting a refractor in the 60mm to 70 mm range. This is the perfect entry-level scope. If you are pretty sure you are going to spend a fair amount of time with telescopes and you want to get an entry level priced one that has superior performance you should consider getting a dobsonian in the eight to ten inch range. If you know a bit about astronomy, or already have a scope, and are pretty sure it will be a life-long pursuit I recommend you consider getting a Schmidt-Cassegrain scope which is a high quality compound style instrument (It is a compound of both reflector and refractor).
Style of Astronomy you want to pursue
Reflectors and refractors have very different performance under the night sky and this performance could be a factor in what type of instrument you buy. Generally, if you are going to do observing of the moon and the planets and you want the absolute best performance you should consider getting a refractor. This type of scope has the absolute best performance in this area. If you want to do a lot of deep space exploration by finding and viewing galaxies, nebulae, and other deep space objects you should go with a reflector telescope. This is because the most important thing about deep space objects is light gathering ability, and on a dollar per dollar basis a reflector gives you a substantial advantage over the refractor. You can get an eight-inch reflector for a few hundred dollars but an eight-inch refractor would cost you several thousand dollars.
Lifestyle and ease of Use
There are some other considerations that should go into your choice of scope. Are you a backpacker or camper? Do you travel a lot? If this is the case then the weight, portability, and ease of use are important considerations. Two good fits for this lifestyle would be an inexpensive four-inch reflector telescope or if you are able to spend more a Schmidt-Cassegrain in the six to eight-inch range. Both types of scopes are very portable (suitcase sized) and well suited for travel.
Should you buy a used telescope?
This is more a matter of personal preference and I can’t tell you whether a new one or a used one is right for you. But I can say that for the most part, if a scope is well cared-for it can remain practically perfect for decades. I can recommend that you don’t buy a used one if you can’t get a good hands-on look at it first. If you don’t know much about scopes you should try to find someone that does who can go with you to assess the condition and value of the one you are considering. If you are a savvy shopper, as is with most anything, you can find a fantastic value and get an instrument for less than half its retail value.
The Telescope Buyers Dilemma
One question that gets asked a lot is “What if I get a low end scope now and find out I love the hobby?” Then I have to go out and spend more on a bigger and better instrument. The money on the first telescope is pretty much wasted right? There is a small amount of truth to this but you have to consider that with your first telescope you are going to be getting a small one and just be dabbling into the hobby. If at some point in the future you spend more money and get a larger telescope you will find that your first telescope is very useful. Some nights you won’t be dragging a hundred pounds of telescope out the door and spending a half-hour to set it up. You will just want to do some light observing and the first scope will be perfect. That first, and smaller instrument, will also be a perfect gift for a child or younger sibling. I pretty handily solved this dilemma when I mounted my first refractor right onto the tube of my second, much larger, reflector telescope. It served well as a spotter scope. As a bare minimum, if you take care of your first scope you will be able to re-sell it and recoup some of your costs. But because the different sizes and types of scopes all have benefits they always useful and people who are bitten by the bug of astronomy rarely sell their telescopes. They are usually sold by people who have lost interest in the hobby.
The hobby of amateur astronomy is a wonderful hobby that can give you a lifetime of rewarding observation and photo taking. And finding the right instrument can be a bit of a challenge but with a little thought to price, lifestyle and future observing aspirations you can find one that is perfect for you.
About the Author
The author has been an amateur astronomer for decades. Learn more about telescopes and astronomy by visiting his website at:
The Telescope Nerd
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Radio Telescopes $70.1 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles A list of radio telescopes that are or have been used for radio astronomy. It includes both single dishes and interferometric arrays. They are listed by region, then by name; unnamed telescopes are in reverse size order at the end of the lists. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 96 Publication Date: 2010/12/24 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.23 inches |
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Real Astronomy with Small Telescopes $29.95 Demonstrates the use of an 80mm refractor and shows how it can be used as a real scientific instrument. Following step-by-step instructions, this book provides users with many activities and projects suitable for an 80mm refractor or 90mm reflector or Maksutov. |
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Unusual Telescopes by Manly, Peter L. [Paperback] $87.62 In this book, Peter Manly surveys more than 150 unusual telescope designs. These are telescopes built by amateur and professional astronomers to suit some special need. There is, for instance, an inflatable telescope and one with a liquid mirror. Every so often a neglected design comes back into fashion: the largest telescopes now under construction use the altazimuth design that was ignored for over a century, and liquid mirror telescopes can be used for zenithal astronomy. The author shows why a particular engineering approach makes each telescope unique and explains the rationale behind the design. The effects on telescope performance are discussed where possible. This is not just a collection of weird and wonderful devices that proved to be false starts; the author also discusses the first instrument to measure star diameters and the first useful radio telescope. This book is a resource and stimulus for anyone who likes to build astronomical telescopes or is interested in the history of telescopemaking. Author: Manly, Peter L. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 240 Publication Date: 1995/04/27 Language: English Dimensions: 8.98 x 6.05 x 0.51 inches |
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Two Telescopes $19.99 Two Telescopes - Premium Poster |
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Solar Telescopes $70.1 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Groundbased professional observatory telescopes at optical wavelengths in a chronological list. Solar telescopes often have multiple focal lengths, and use various combination of mirrors (such as coelostats), lenses, and tubes for instruments including spectrographs, cameras, or coronographs. There are many types of instruments that have been designed to observe Earths Sun, but in the 20 century Solar towers were common. Author: Miller, Frederic P./ Vandome, Agnes F./ McBrewster, John Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 88 Publication Date: 2010/12/24 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.21 inches |
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Workshop of the Telescopes $17.99 Track Listing: (DISC 1:), (DISC 2:), 1. Cities on Flame With Rock and Roll, 1. Don't Fear the Reaper, 2. This Ain't the Summer of Love, 2. Transmaniacon MC, 3. Before the Kiss, A Redcap, 3. E.T.I. (Extra Terrestrial Intelligence), 4. Godzilla, 4. Stairway to the Stars, 5. Buck's Boogie, 5. Goin' Through the Motions, 6. Golden Age of Leather, 6. Workshop of the Telescopes - (previously unreleased), 7. Kick Out the Jams, 7. Red and the Black, The - (previously unreleased), 8. 7 Screaming Diz-Busters, 8. We Gotta Get Out of This Place, 9. Career of Evil, 9. In Thee, 10. Flaming Telepaths, 10. Marshall Plan, The, 11. Astronomy, 11. Veteran of the Psychic Wars, 12. Burnin' For You, 12. Subhuman, 13. Dominance and Submission, 13. Harvester of Eyes, 14. M.E. 262, 14. Take Me Away, 15. Born to Be Wild - (studio version), 15. Shooting Shark, 16. Dancin' in the Ruins, 17. Perfect Water |
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Telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory $39.99 Greg Dale Telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory - Photographic Print |
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Silhouette of Radio Telescopes, New Mexico $24.99 Jeff Friedman Silhouette of Radio Telescopes, New Mexico - Photographic Print |
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Celestial Objects for Modern Telescopes $43 In addition to the more standard techniques, this unique guide introduces the latest modern resources available to today's astronomer, including personal computers, the Internet, and computerized telescopes. It offers detailed practical advice for observing the Sun, Moon, planets, and 200 stars and deep-sky objects with modest-sized telescopes under suburban conditions. |
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Thermal Design and Thermal Behaviour of Radio Telescopes and their Enclosures $159 Thermal Design and Thermal Behaviour of Radio Telescopes and their Enclosures |
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Infrared Telescopes $10.79 No Synopsis Available |
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The Smell of Telescopes $44.85 No Synopsis Available |
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Unusual Telescopes $53.63 No Synopsis Available |
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Guitars and Telescopes $29.24 No Synopsis Available |
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Telescopes and Observatories $26.28 No Synopsis Available |
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Care of Astronomical Telescopes and Accessories $59.95 This is complete guide for anyone who wants to understand more than just the basics of astronomical telescopes and accessories, and how to maintain them in the peak of condition. The latest on safely adjusting, cleaning, and maintaining your equipment is combined with thoroughly updated methods from the old masters. |
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The Science and Art of Using Telescopes $34.95 Explains how to select equipment that is at the 'next level', and describes how to use more advanced telescopes and accessories. This book includes a section on imaging and equipment that range from regular digital cameras, through web cams, to specialized chilled-chip CCD cameras. |
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Focusing Telescopes in Nuclear Astrophysics $189 Focusing gamma-ray telescopes, this work provides an overview of the scientific potential and technical challenges of this nascent tool for nuclear astrophysics. It also presents an overview of detectors matching the ambitious objectives of gamma ray optics, and facilities for operating such systems on the ground and in space. |
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Radio Telescopes on a Landscape, New Mexico, USA $129.99 Panoramic Images Radio Telescopes on a Landscape, New Mexico, USA - Wall Decal |
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Jesuit Missionaries in Siam Impress the King with Their Telescopes $49.99 Jesuit Missionaries in Siam Impress the King with Their Telescopes - Giclee Print |
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Observatory Telescopes on the Summit of Mauna Kea at Sunset $39.99 Mike Theiss Observatory Telescopes on the Summit of Mauna Kea at Sunset - Photographic Print |
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Integrated Modeling of Telescopes $199 Ground- or space-based telescopes are becoming increasingly more complex and construction budgets are typically in the billion dollar range. Facing costs of this magnitude, availability of engineering tools for prediction of performance and design optimization is imperative. Establishment of simulation models combining different technical disciplines such as Structural Dynamics, Control Engineering, Optics and Thermal Engineering is indispensable. Such models are normally called Integrated Models because they involve many different disciplines. The models will play an increasingly larger role for design of future interdisciplinary optical systems in space or on ground. This book concentrates on integrated modeling of optical and radio telescopes but the techniques presented will be applicable to a large variety of systems. Hence, this book will be of interest to optical and radio telescope designers, designers of spacecrafts that include optical systems, and to designers of various complex defense systems. The book may also find use as a textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses within the field.Adaptive Optics is an exciting and relatively new field, originally dedicated to correction for blurring when imaging through the atmosphere. Although this objective is still of high importance, the concept of Adaptive Optics has recently evolved further. Today, the objective is not only to correct for atmospheric turbulence effects but also for a range of static and dynamical telescope aberrations. The notion of adaptive optics has expanded to the field of Wavefront Control, correcting for a variety of system aberrations. Wavefront control systems maintain form and position of optical elements with high precision under static and dynamical load. In many ways, such systems replace the steel structures of traditional optical systems, thereby providing much lighter systems with a performance not possible before. "Integrated Modeling" is the foremost tool for studies of Wavefront Control for telescopes and complex optics and is therefore now of high importance. Springer has recently published two books on telescopes, "Reflecting Telescope Optics" by R. Wilson, and "The Design and Construction of Large Optical Telescopes" by P. Bely.Noting that a new (and expensive) generation of Extremely Large Telescopes with apertures in the 30-100 m range is on the way, the present book on integrated modeling is a good match to the existing books and an appropriate specialization and continuation of some subjects dealt with in those books. |
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Observing the Sun with Coronado Telescopes $39.95 The Sun provides amateur astronomers with one of the few opportunities for daytime astronomy. In order to see the major features of our nearest star, special telescopes that have a very narrow visible bandwidth are essential. The bandwidth has to be as narrow as 1 A- 10-10 m (1 Angstrom) and centred on the absorption line of neutral hydrogen. This makes many major features of the Suna (TM)s chromosphere visible to the observer. Such narrow-band "Fabry-Perot etalon filters" are high technology, and until the introduction of the Coronado range of solar telescopes, were too expensive for amateur use. The entry-level Coronado telescope, the PST (Personal Solar Telescope) costs under $500. Solar prominences (vast columns of plasma, best seen at the edge of the solar disk), filaments, flares, sunspots, plage and active regions are all visible and can be imaged to produce spectacular solar photographs. Philip Pugh has assembled a team of contributors who show just how much solar work can be done with Coronado telescopes, and explain how to get the best from these marvellous instruments. |
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How Do Scientists Explore Space? (Paperback) $18.5 Looks at the methods used to explore space, including telescopes, satellites, probes, and robots. |
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Scaleless veiltail, celestial, and old style scaleless telescopes $34.99 National Geographic Society Scaleless veiltail, celestial, and old style scaleless telescopes - Giclee Print |
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Scaleless Veiltail, Celestial, and Old Style Scaleless Telescopes $39.99 Hashime Murayama Scaleless Veiltail, Celestial, and Old Style Scaleless Telescopes - Photographic Print |
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Meade Aluminum Hard Carry Case for Meade ETX-80 Telescopes $79.99 Meade Aluminum Hard Carry Case for Meade ETX-80 Telescopes - 07385 |
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Instruments D'Optique Noel, Series of 21 Plates of Telescopes and Microscopes $49.99 Instruments D'Optique Noel, Series of 21 Plates of Telescopes and Microscopes - Giclee Print |
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The Used $74 The Used |