Telescope advice
 

I have an app on my I pad that identifies stars . This has started an intrest in star gazing . What would be a good telescope to get where I could see the planets ie Jupiter's stripes Saturn's rings ? And about how much should I pay for this? Craig's list is an option.

I am no expert but have done some research on the topic and own an older model Celestron. If I were buying today, I would probably get the Celestron CPC 800 XLT. By reviews it is very portable, easy to use, good quality and priced <2k$ new. The hobbyist telescope market is in poor financial shape and it seems that Celestron remains in the best shape.

Steve

I too have an older Celestron (C80, circa 1986) that has served me well. I'd love to upgrade but I really need more space to do that. This scope has however served me well for moon and planetary observations, and some deep space objects. The CPC 800XLT that SHV mentioned should be a very nice entry level scope in the Catadioptric arena, for a decent price.

What can you see with it Pete? And how much detail

I have only two eyepieces-26mm and 7.5mm which gives me about 35X and 120X magnification, respectively. I use the 26mm most often, and it gives great detail for the moon, and not bad for planetary observation. You can easily see the rings of Saturn, and nice views of Jupiter. You can easily see the 4 largest moons of Jupiter (unless of course one is hidden by the planet).

Being a refractor with an 80mm objective lens it isn't a top end scope in terms of light grasp (very deep space viewing) but you just can't beat a good refractor for sharp, clear images.

If you have the room, and want a larger refractor with more light grasp, then a larger diameter is the ticket. I've considered the Celestron C6-RGT, a 150mm achromatic refractor that has had good reviews and is a bargain. However some owners have recommended upgrading the focuser on this model. (Everything has its price and I guess they put a fairly cheap focuser on it to keep cost down). I think you can get this scope for about $1200 or so.

If you are really serious and want the ultimate in a refractor scope, then an apochromatic (triplet) model would be in order. But plan on spending a lot more...

Rather than write a lengthy post I'll suggest you take a look at some telescope buying guides if you haven't already. A Google search returned Telescope Buying Guide Part 1: What You Must Know First and Telescope Buying Guide for New Astronomers Either of these should give you a good idea of the different types, sizes and features of telescopes.
My interest in astronomy began when I was about 7 years old. My first telescope was a small refractor. I had some fun with it but was often frustrated that I couldn't find things in the sky (because of a small field of view?). Quite a few years later I got a slightly larger and nicer refractor which was easier to use. I exhausted it's viewing capabilities in couple years though because I became interested in viewing deep space objects. A few years ago I got a 135mm Dobsonian, which I'm still using. I've reached it's limits though. My next telescope is probably going to be an Apertura AD10.
So, the lessons from my history:
1. The cheaper telescopes may frustrate you, but you'll find out if you are interested enough to continue advancing in astronomy.
2. Once you've seen some of the basics in the night sky, you'll find out what type of telescope will suit you're viewing needs (Some people just view the moon, some like viewing planets and double stars, others hunt for deep space objects).

Doug,
Small and simple is better than big and complex for your first telescope. Even a 3" instrument will give you beautiful views of the planets, the moon, and some galaxies and nebulae. There are lots of big telescopes that don't get used much because they are heavy and hard to set up in the dark.

Craigslist is your friend. I did a search of CL in Detroit:
Meade ETX-90 $275 - a great choice for a first scope. Very portable. You will be able to clearly see Saturn's rings and the spaces between some of them, and the bands on Jupiter. The moon will be awesome. These are about $400 new.

Moving up the chain, there is a Meade Starfinder 6" scope for make offer. Much larger, better image quality, but much heavier and more difficult to transport.

Tom

Thanks everybody for the advice

Tom,
I got sidetracked with my fathers health but finally went and bought the ETX90 AC
he lowered the price to $250 and we have had nothing but clouds :sigh:

Doug,
That's great news. An excellent first scope at a price you can recoup if you find you don't like it. I can't remember from the posting, but what eyepieces did it come with?

When the clouds part......Jupiter and Venus are up in the evening sky and quite visible. The moon is waxing and so will be very visible as it moves away from the sun. Early mornings you'll find Saturn up in the East.

Tom