Thread: Telescopes?

Want to get friends a house warming gift of a telescope for boat watching and the views of the Olympics from their huge deck.

Anyone have recommendations of type and magnification? Weather proof might be a good idea? I'd guess nothing more than the most casual of star gazing useage.

Get them a Meade 16" LX200-ACF

Only $17k?

Will that fit in the trunk of the Bentley or should I get my butler to arrange for a delivery truck?

there's not many good optics made to withstand the climate of the PNW. so they can't keep it outside on their big-ass deck. I've had a Zhumell for years and it's survived several moves and camping trips, came with different terrestrial and celestial lenses you can swap out as well as moon and sun filters. Now I just use a really nice spotting scope for travel and checking out scenery as they're a little more rugged.

One word...Hubble

Look into big IS binocs that are weather sealed...

Sounds like you'll want a spotting scope.
http://www.celestron.com/c2/category.php?CatID=30
http://www.meade.com/APO/index.html


If they want to do more stargazing, a motorized mount will be the way to go.
(Always have liked the Celestron C5+, but overkill for deck use.


Or, you could get these -
http://www.bigbinoculars.com/mission.htm

Sounds like a spotting scope would be your best bet. They are the most versatile, weather proof (but I would leave it outside for long), come with fixed focal or zoom optics, portable, inversion corrected, et cetera. If you want a true telescope go with a refractor vs. reflector (they are better for daytime use.) I don't think I have seen any that are very weather proof.

What they said.

Exact same situation- parents bought a house near the sound so we bought them a spotting scope. Local stores sucked so I went with a Celestron Ultima 80 from opticsplanet.net. Don't forget a tripod.

It works great for boat/sound gazing. It has enough zoom to see the missed shots of guys playing basketball on the cruise ships that steam by each Sunday afternoon. Works perfectly fine for lay person star gazing too.

http://www.gunblast.com/SWFA_Super_Sniper.htm