I would just kill myself and get it over with!

Sorry, that was my jerk knee reaction. I would have to look into Chinese Refractors I guess. From some of the reviews I have seen there are some real good ones to be had. I seem to like used equipment as I have only purchased one Brand New Telescope in the last 20 years, WO 80mm Florite, The red anodized one. Great Scope!

 

Under $1k and for ALL ETERNITY!!! Are you nutz!!!

Jeez. I guess a Vixen 81S Apo. Why? BECAUSE YOU LIMITED ME TO $1k!

But really...

1. Needs to be a refractor because mirrors are just, well, mirrors. Besides, mirrored telescopes are no fun for daytime observing.

2. Small so convenient for daytime use like birding, bugging, solar.

3. Apo so no color issues.

4. 80mm while small is perfect for Lunar, Doubles, Open Clusters, Wide Fields, Showcase DSO, Interesting enough for planets. So lots of targets.

5. The Vixen since the longer f/7.7 focal ratio is a lot easier on EPs and makes a little 80mm look more classic.

This is probably not fair, but can the finder scope be my 152mm Apo?

 

With only $1000, I would still have my Mayflower 815 and my Edmund 4" f/15, with cash left over for some vintage accessories... I could live with that. Old scopes = new bargains!

 

He said NEW!! LOL

 

My most used scopes currently are my Celestron 4" f10 refractor riding on an AVX mount and the Orion XT10g. If it could only be one though, it would have to be my trusty orange tube C8 that I bought new in 1978 for $799.00. Once cooled it performs flawlessly either at F10 or 6.3

 

I always say some things:

- Portable is what you can carry. A Mak90 can easy to transport using a car or complicated using a motorcycle. A large Dobsonian can be transported using a van or impossible using a compact car. I do not think is a good ideal you choosing a telescope combining purchase price versus portability.

- Are you an observer of bright spots, a lover of stars or someone with high standards about to be more concerned with defects than with stars? The 1k limit can allow a large telescope for the observer bright spots or be insufficient for the exigent people.

- Follow the sideral movement is something important? Goto systems are fundamental? 1k can buy both a large Dobsonian with manual action as a Mak / Sch spotting with simple arm.-

- Looking only of the optic tube versus size, usually the cheapest options are achromatic refractors until 90-100mm and newtonians beyond 150mm. Cassegrains will always be more expensive than small refractors or medium-large newtonians of the same size. The kind of mount is significant about telelescope price.

- Are there any personal preference to be considered? No technical arguments and cost analysis versus benefits is usual when there is a personal desire.

Being limit of 1k or higher values no matter the choice of a single telescope. There are more factors than just the budget available for purchase.

I am speaking only of the optical tube and mount. Imagine if we combine other factors. There is no exact answer to this situation. There are some options that will be most influenced by personal experience than by an "exact answer".

 

a G-11, That adds $3k to the cost

 

I think the OP's original criteria (even including the mount) is a very valid and worthwhile topic as it will help identify a scope that a beginner or even an intermediate level observer would most likely have as a budget to purchase the best all around scope he could find (especially if the observer is married!).

 

Only $1000 to play with and it has to be new? I would buy new parts and build a 6" f/8 Newtonian OTA. I actually just did this and now have an excellent scope that is relatively portable, gives great views of the planets and is large enough for satisfying deep sky work. I think the classic 6" f/8 Newt is a neglected design whose capabilities are under appreciated. Excellent quality 6" f/8's are somewhat rare these days, which is why I ended up building mine. I could happily live with just this scope.

 

Scott, there's a lot to be said for a 6" f/8 Newtonian. Here's a picture of a bare bones, home-made one taken circa 1970 at the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference when it was still held at Riverside, California City College. The owner was Tommy Cragg, seen here with outstretched arms during an animated conversation with Ed Johnston. Tommy was conducting his daily sunspot count for the AAVSO. This is the only telescope he ever owned, although he had access to many large ones at Mt. Wilson Observatory and, later, Siding Spring Observatory in NSW, Australia. Notice his very cool Rambler.

 

With only $1k to work with, I'd have to say a Celestron 102GT ota on a Celestron AVX Mount.

-Steve

 

It is great to see different choices when it comes to telescope design, verses portability, verses aperture, verses an extremely low budget when compared to most peoples actual astronomy budgets. LOL

Edwardo, I saw some very valid points about many types of telescopes. (or be insufficient for the exigent people.) Had to look that one up!

Scott, I could not agree more. My 65 Cave is 8" F8 she's my other sweety! I actualy have less than $1k in her, but like 70 hours of restoration. I guess that's why most all my scopes are classics

OOO my god Lewis what a great photo, 1970!! I was 11.. Tommy Craggs PortoScope. Must have had an uncoated mirror for solar use.... cool

 

ADVANCED VX 6" NEWTONIAN TELESCOPE $899. Not only is the OTA "decent" as a first scope but the overriding reason is for the mount. It is the perfect goto mount that uses a vixen saddle. As you get more into the hobby, you only need to upgrade your OTA, buy an inexpensive vixen dovetail, and you still have goto capabilities. It does a good job at AP as long as you stay under an 8" SCT. You can go up to just over 30 pounds with a larger OTA for visual usage only. The Goto is a proven Celestron standard and all Planetarium programs and Apps support it.

 

That's an easy one, it'd have to be a 10-12" Dob, depending on what you could get for under $1,000. I currently own an example of most types of scopes, 4 refractors from 60mm to 120mm, an 8" Dob, 5" Mak, and 9.25" SCT, and, all in all, I like aperture and, being in this game for about 35 years, I can do fine with a manual mount and star-hopping. Heck, it wasn't until around 2000 that I even had an equatorial mount. My first "big" scope, a homemade, 6" f/10 Newtonian didn't even have a mount. I love my goto CG5, but manual works fine for me, too.

 

OK...after much more thought, with $1,000 as the limit for a scope that will give me a lifetime of enjoyment, one of three routes...

1. Nikon 8x40 Action Extreme Binoculars ($115) + Sky-Watcher 100mm Pro-ED f/9 Apo ($649)

2. Nikon 8x40 Action Extreme Binoculars ($115) + Orion SkyQuest XT8i IntelliScope Dobsonian ($659)

3. Nikon 8x40 Action Extreme Binoculars ($115) + AT72ED 72mm f/6 ED doublet Apo ($399) + Orion SkyQuest XT8 PLUS Dobsonian ($520)

Option #1 is a no-hassle option as there are no thermal acclimation issues with refractors. So it is always ready to go. Plus you get the pristine character only a fully unobstructed view can convey. Down side is limited aperture is not really appropriate for faint DSO, but can matter little given all the other stuff up there so plenty to keep one busy.

Option #2 is much more capable, but the cost is management of the multiple gremlins that come with Newtonians like coma from the mirror, thermal management so will not always give you great star points, keeping the mirror clean and dust free over time, bigger and heavier to manage, etc. Definitely more capable, but like everything when you get something, you lose something. If you don't need the automation then could get a larger 10" and stay in budget, but of course than compounds the thermal management and coma issues. Having had both, I prefer the 8" and never felt compromised on capability.

Option #3 is the best of all worlds as you get good binoculars with around an 8 degree TFOV, a small Apo for quick looks, doubles, and even daytime use, and then the 8" basic Dob for deeper investigations. Probably the best of all worlds. And if you are ok buying used, then would replace the little Apo with the Celestron Onyx 80mm f/6.25 Apo as this is a real gem, better color correction, and usually around $325 on the used market (no longer made). It is IMO a best-buy for 80mm Apos.

So as you can see, my "eternity" scope is not a single item, but a system of scopes. The reason is that the universe exists in multiple levels from macro to micro, so one instrument can never do it all so you get shortchanged by choosing a single tool. So the binoculars are critical as they present the universe to you more holistically allowing you to really take in the grandeur...and also hunt down targets. The mid level is served by the small Apo providing more depth and the ability to get pristine star points for splitting doubles and all with ease and comfort. Finally to go deep you get the 8" Dob which will get you into many globulars, tight doubles, planetary nebula, and a smattering of galaxies.

 

I'd go with a Skywatcher 150mm Mak for $690, and with the $310 left over, I'd get an ST-80 as my finderscope.

And in case you think that's cheating, my current setup is a Nexstar 127 5-inch Mak with an ST-80 strapped to it, and I do use it as a finder at 3.9 degrees FOV and 12.5x with a 32mm Plossl.