Re: Telescope esentials

Terry Lisansky (lisansky@UDel.Edu)
Thu, 10 Dec 1998 03:00:09 -0500 (EST)

Hey Terry,
	Don't do it!  That's my advice, now here's why.  These telescopes
are cheaply built with poor optics, poor finder scopes, poor mounts, poor
eyepieces, and poor tripods.  I hope I haven't offended anyones telescope,
but I have seen many people, who don't know better, become frustrated with
these awfull scopes.  If you only have a couple hundred dollars to spend,
you can do a lot better by buying a good pair of binoculars instead.  If
you really want a telescope, find a local astronomy club and ask around.
Sometimes they have "star parties" where you can look through various
makes and models of scopes and get a better feel for what you want.  You
will probably find you'll need about $500 dollars for an entry level scope
that's not a toy like the scopes you mentioned.  I guarantee you will be
dissapointed with these small refractors.  The view through these toys are
shakey, fuzzy, and dim and will ruin astronomy for you.  Meade makes fine
scopes, but stay away from the one you mentioned.  Tasco makes junk, pure
and simple.  Good luck.......Terry

Terry Lisansky					http://udel.edu/~lisansky
		Give me a fast ship........
			For I intend to go in harms way.


On Wed, 9 Dec 1998, radar wrote:

> Hi Folks,
> 
> Just asking for an opinion.  I appologize if this message should not be
> posted here.  Any replies, please direct them back to my own email address.
> 
> I am researching to purchase my first telescope.  I have decided on the
> side.  I am going to get a 90mm Refractor.  I have looked at what looks like
> to be the two leading manufacturers (Meade and Tasco).  Can anyone offer up
> any opinions as to which one to go with?  Any other comments to help me with
> my decision?
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Terry
> 
>