My question is: has anyone built one themselves? I am not a woodworker by any stretch of the definition but I do have a lot of tools and DIY experience and feel like it wouldn't be that difficult and would save me some money. At the bare minimum, I know with full confidence I could build a LYBAR stool.

In the summer of 2021, I purchased my first telescope, new, from a major brand telescope company.  I probably spent from about January until June 2021 looking at various online bits about what telescopes offer the best (fill in your subject here).  I thought I knew what I wanted from a telescope and what I wanted to observe.  I made my purchases and waited for my new, shiny galaxy gazing cannon to arrive.  In the past two years I have upgraded or replaced:  the focuser, the spotter scope from 40mm to 50mm with a diagonal; the tripod equatorial style mount replaced with a Dobsonian; added a laser spotter and a cooling fan.  See what all my research did for me?  I didn’t know what I didn’t know about what I really did need (or want).

Are you new to astronomy?  Trying to figure out what you want or need to start or further your journey into observing the heavens?  Wanting to add a specialized component to your astronomy tool kit?  Are you working with a limited budget?  Buy used! Unlike automobiles, telescopes can remain in like-new condition for years if properly cared for. You can pick up a quality second-hand scope for much less than its original price.  With the money you saved purchasing, you can modify the telescope to your personal needs.

Experienced backyard astronomers routinely purchase used telescopes and telescope equipment. Over the years, most everyone involved in astronomy has picked up a treasure trove of used astronomical equipment.  (Read to the bottom for a few examples) Here are a few guidelines for beginners purchasing a second-hand telescope.

1. Consult more experienced astronomers.

For the individual who doesn’t know a refractor from a reflector, this is absolutely essential … contact a local astronomy club.  Many members have a different telescope (or scopes) that meet what they want to observe and how they want to observe.  Ask the questions, they will be glad to serve as your telescope-buying mentor.  Just remember, your wants and needs may not align with your mentors, so any advice offered needs to be considered as just that, advice.  You’re the one who will be using the telescope.  Get what you want.  Never feel pressured into getting a specific scope or component.

2. Decide how much you want to spend.

We all have a budget.  A good price range is between $100 and $300. In general, anything going for under $100 can be “questionable” with iffy optics and wobbly mounts.  I have personally purchased two different telescopes online on the cheap, I paid $28.00 for one and $44.00 for the other (shipped)!  One is used exclusively for lunar observing and the other for solar observing. I build a solar filter that neatly attaches and offers some amazing views of sunspots.  Both have some limitations, but work well for what I use them for.  I actually saw a twin of these telescopes for sale online, new, $270.00 plus shipping.

Often, a used telescope has been well treated and upgraded to some degree for the previous users needs.  No telling what the previous owners needs were, but with time and experience, you will know what questions to ask and what to look for before purchasing a used telescope.  On the other hand, telescopes exceeding $500 are typically more complex.  Such as catadioptric telescopes (look that term up) and larger-aperture refractors and reflectors.  These telescopes might be too much for the novice to handle. 

3. Know the type of telescope you want. That last sentence is much easier said than done. Step one…. Start learning! 

The ideal beginner’s telescope is easy to set up and take down, transportable to remote locations, user-friendly, and suitable for viewing a variety of celestial objects. In other words, an instrument you’ll use again and again. Look for a 70, 80 or 90mm refractor or a 6- or 8-inch reflector.  I wouldn’t recommend a refactor smaller than 70mm, as a nice pair of binoculars would offer a similar (or better) viewing experience.  The smallest reflector telescope I found was a 76mm (3 inch) and it was very basic in all its elements.  More common are 102mm (4 inch), 114mm (4.5 inch), 127mm (5 inch) and larger.  A reflector style telescope does have a few additional learning curve elements to learn/master.  Such as collimation, possibly polar alignment, etc.

Keep it simple and forget any electronic gadgetry — at least for now. Let your first scope simply take you on a visual tour of the universe. If it gets you hooked on backyard astronomy, you can move on to more advanced activities like Astro-imaging with your next scope.

4. Search the classified ads

Armed with an idea of what you want in a telescope, it’s time to begin your search. Occasionally, you’ll come across a hidden gem of a telescope at a yard sale, pawn shop, donation center or in a newspaper classified ad.  Craigslist and eBay are other online shopping options, but may contain the occasional lemon.  A source for better quality items is Cloudy Nights Classified, which offers equipment solely for the amateur astronomer and contain ads put out by reputable and knowledgeable sellers.

Whatever the source, be especially wary of any used telescope whose chief selling point is a high magnification — a clear sign the seller is trying to distract you from seeing faults and hoping you will be drawn in by the magnification illusion. The general rule is 50x per inch of aperture. Any higher and you risk dim, fuzzy images. 

Another way to ensure a quality used scope: Pick a manufacturer with a good reputation.  Since this is your first telescope, and your still shopping, ensure you are aware of what is being offered when you do purchase new. Double check with the listing and/or seller that you’re getting an entire package — optical assembly (tube, finder, focuser, and optics), mount, and at least one eyepiece. The user’s manual is a big plus, but, if missing, can probably be downloaded off the internet.  Knowing what is and is not provided when you purchase is key.  Most every missing component is available separately.

5. Know the cost of the telescope when purchased new.

Once you’ve zeroed in on a particular telescope, and before you contact the seller, make an online search of the manufacturer and model to determine what it costs when new and what accessories came with it. A fair asking price is 50-75 percent of the original cost. That can fluctuate depending on the condition of the item. If there are missing accessories, it should cost less. If it’s literally in just-purchased, still in the box condition, then it will cost more. Don’t get emotional when purchasing, understand that patience often means less expensive. 

In many cases, the telescope is an excess item or the telescope belonged to an older family member who has since passed away.  In either case, the telescope is available for you to enjoy.

6. If possible, buy locally.

Buying locally allows you to acquire your telescope today and use it immediately (weather permitting). More importantly, you can inspect the scope in person to ensure that it’s been “used” and not “abused.” 

Your inspection should start with a general look-over. A telescope doesn’t have to be cosmetically perfect but be wary if the tube has any major dents or rust spots.  In most cases these blemishes indicate less than perfect storage but are often a means for getting a better deal.  Except for damage to a mirror or glass lenses, most everything else can be repaired or replaced.

Check the eyepiece focuser to be sure it runs smoothly.  If the focuser is too tight or loose an adjustment may correct this issue.  You may find that some simple cleaning and some lubricant is the answer. 

Depending on how the focuser is designed, the disassembly, cleaning, lubrication, reassembly and adjustment takes but a few minutes.  You would be amazed how many online tutorials are available for assistance.  Also, see what size eyepieces the focuser will accept.  0.965”, 1.25”, and 2.00”.  If the focuser uses the 0.965”, adapters are available to use the more common 1.25” eyepieces.  Be aware though adding an adapter may change the focal length of the focuser more than the eyepiece can adjust for.

Then peek through the finder or spotter scope. The optical type should provide a clear and sharp view and the crosshairs (not always included) should be intact. A finder should display a red dot or an illuminated circle when turned on.   Batteries are often the culprit when the red dots do not work.  Be careful how you remove the battery cover.  At times the rheostat (red dot intensity adjustment knob) may have some corrosion causing dead spots. Using WD-40 or similar product can help remove the corrosion or dead spots. Or you may find you just want to use a different design than was provided.  Again, personalize so you are more inclined to use your new telescope.

If the telescope is a refractor, inspect the objective (bit end) lens. A little dust is OK, but scratches and chips are a deal-killer.  I totally recommend you walk away if the objective is damaged in any way. The same goes for the objective and secondary mirrors on a reflector. Check for reflectivity. A hazy or blotchy mirror is not a disqualifier, but I recommend you keep looking.  Remember this is your first telescope.  If it was your second or third (or moreth) my advice might be different. 

The mount should be solid while still operating smoothly.  With the telescope completely assembled, gently tap the tube to see if the scope wobbles back and forth. Less wobble is best. A scope with an alt-azimuth type mount should point up and down (altitude) and side-to-side (azimuth) smoothly.  Again, it may take no more than tightening all the visible fasteners to remove wobble.  OR, the mount might just have too many points of movement to make the mount desirable.

You can find out a bit about your prospective purchase by asking the seller three questions. Why are you selling the scope? What do you like about it? What don’t you don’t like about it? 

Once you’ve kicked the tires, it’s time for a test drive. Ideally, you’ll want a clear evening when you can test scope and eyepieces on celestial objects. If that’s not possible you can still check it, however. In daytime, test it on a few distant objects. On a cloudy night, try far-off streetlights.

7. If you purchase and cannot physically check out the telescope, contact the seller

Purchasing online does add a level of risk. Question, can the telescope be returned if you are not satisfied? Can you contact the seller and ask your questions. Start with the ones outlined in the previous section. If the seller’s ad didn’t include images of the telescope, ask for a few — if necessary, specify that you want pictures of certain aspects of the scope.  Use a credit card (not debit) to help protect your online purchase.

Consider the long-distance purchase of a telescope with caution. You’ll incur the extra expense of crating and shipping by the seller — usually included in the price if shipping is “free” — and several days (or weeks!) until the scope reaches your doorstep. You also run the risk of damage while it’s en route.  The advantage of purchasing online, the prices are often much lower.  Consider what has a higher concern for you… purchase price or ability to buy and drive?

Whether you’re a novice backyard astronomer looking for your first telescope or a seasoned amateur astronomer seeking a second, third  (or moreth) instrument, you can save big bucks by purchasing second hand. Follow this advice, and you’ll wind up with a telescope that paves the way to a lifetime of astronomical adventure.

HERE is a Post Script for the benefit if those who read to the bottom.  I personally know of 2 great transactions that happened in our Club.  The first was a gently used 10 inch reflector on a dob mount (plus some accessories) new for about $800-900 plus shipping acquired for $300 and a 3 hour round trip drive.  The second was an 18 inch, f4.5, reflector on a dob mount, with a feather touch focuser new for about $9000 plus shipping acquired for a round trip north of Atlanta GA.  The scope was free to a good home.  Bargains are available, these are just two (maybe extreme) examples of what might be found.  

I am looking at getting a sheet of Baader Solar Film to make a filter for my 10inch dob and two little filters for my 10x50 binoculars. Astro-Physics sells a sheet of 500mm x 1000mm (roughly 20in x 40in) for around $100 with shipping. I will be 3D printing the ring brackets for both in 3-4 weeks. I can get by with a filter sheet a quarter that size, but would still pay roughly $75 for a 250mm x 500mm sheet. Seeing as that seems like a waste, is anyone else currently wanting to make filters for their equipment and open to splitting the cost? This seems to be the most economical way to buy film if you can make use of most of the material.

Let me know if there's any interest before I order the smaller sheet.

I have owned an AWB OneSky 130mm for right around 2 months now (received on February 24th), and after spending two months with it as a complete beginner, I wanted to share my thoughts and experiences. I am brand new to amateur astronomy and have never owned a telescope before now. I was given another telescope as a gift in mid-February and came to this subreddit seeking advice (which you can see here), and returned it and bought the OneSky. Being thrown into a hobby due to being given a gift is certainly an odd experience, but credit to my wife for recognizing that this is something I'd likely enjoy doing if given the chance.

So, what resources did I use to get started?

• was the first place I came, as I said above. The pinned buying guide was essential to pointing me in the right direction as I started to suspect that the gifted telescope I'd received was actually bad and there are better options. Being able to come and ask questions and get answers from experienced people was great, and searching the archives and finding past discussions has also been helpful.
• AWB OneSky Cloudy Nights thread - This is another place that has been excellent. I don't know if other scopes have dedicated threads there, but for the OneSky the thread has been excellent. It's been another place to go and get answers to questions and read through past discussions that are all about the OneSky, whereas this subreddit obviously has much broader discussions.
• Sky Safari 7 Plus - Absolutely phenomenal app and has been essential to me learning the sky and learning where to find good targets. I'll share my observed objects list below, and the entire reason it's as long as it is is due to Sky Safari being an irreplaceable tool for me learning.
• Astrospheric - Great app for using to figure out if you'll have a good night or not, particularly if you're trying to plan even a short drive out to darker skies.
• Local Astronomy Club - This gets mentioned a lot, but joining your local club is great. I've already done two outreach events with them and attended a general meeting, and being able to work side by side with someone who has years or decades of experience is something you won't get to do if you don't join a club or go to events. My club has a dark site an hour outside of my city in Bortle 3 that I haven't visited yet but intend to as soon as I'm able, and I'd imagine most other clubs are similar across the country.
• AliExpress Scope Accessories List - Compiled by u/__Augustus_ , this is a list of vetted links to items available direct from China for much cheaper than what you'd pay at a US retailer. The dirty secret is that off-brand and name-brand budget eyepieces are made in the same factories and then branded later and sold for a mark-up, and this list helped me sort through and find some items to purchase that allowed me to save some money.

What equipment have I purchased in addition to the scope?

• IKEA KYRRE Stool - The OneSky is a tabletop dob, so it needs to sit on something. The linked IKEA stool is the perfect fit and is only $25. I will say that it places the scope in a slightly awkward spot for viewing, as it's in between being comfortable for sitting or standing unless it's pointed straight up, but an astronomy chair or adjustable stool could help rectify that issue. I may attempt to build something for it to sit on, but for now the IKEA stool will do.
• Harbor Freight Apache 3800 Case - I would have bought the slightly smaller 2800 case, but when I went to the store the 3800 was on sale for $30, the same price as the 2800. It's definitely large for the small collection of eyepieces and accessories I currently have, but I can grow into it as I add. Solid case for the price, especially when compared to Pelican cases.
• Black Diamond Headlamp - I actually already owned this but discovered that it has a red light function that I'd never used, so it now lives with my scope stuff.
• 3D-Printed Light Shroud and Flocking Paper - I learned quickly from reading here and at Cloudy Nights that a collapsible scope like the OneSky really needs a shroud to elevate the scope's performance. My friend has a 3D printer and printed it for me for free with an old spool, and then I painted it and lined it with flocking paper.
• Mounted Green Laser - This has been an absolute game-changer. The OneSky comes with a Red Dot Finder that is decent enough, but when you're pointing at anything higher than 30 degrees, it's a literal pain in the neck to use because of how low you have to get to use it. Popular finders like RACI scopes and Telrad are too large for the small collapsible tube of the OneSky, and as such options are limited to upgrade beyond the RDF. The laser pointer is perfect for this; it comes with a corded button that can be turned on and off quickly and makes it really easy to point the scope where you want to with little effort. I've seen generally positive sentiment around using a mounted laser, but I've also seen some discussion of it being a bad option due to the potential dangers of using it, namely it having the potential to blind or be a problem with planes. Checking the sky for planes before using is easy enough, and I intentionally take the battery out of the mount when I'm not using it to prevent accidental activations. I also don't use it at outreach events where there's a lot of people around. But given that 95% of my observing time so far (albeit with a small 2 month sample size) has been either alone or with only one other adult aware of the risks, the laser has been a great option with low risk of causing problems.
•  Eyepieces
  • Celestron X-Cel LX 25mm - Excellent eyepiece for this scope and a worthy upgrade over the included 25mm. Has a wider FOV and significantly better eye relief. I got to try one out before ordering when a club member let me use his at an outreach event.
  • SVBONY Redline 9mm - Another great upgrade over the included 10mm, particularly for the price. The 25mm stock EP is at least useable, but the 10mm stock EP is really bad with annoyingly short eye relief.
  • Celestron Omni 2x Barlow - Can't be beat for the price, and I couldn't notice any difference in using this vs a more expensive Barlow borrowed from a club member.
• Potential future purchases
  • Higher power eyepiece (likely something in the 3.25-7mm range for when planets are back).
  • Binoculars - would love to have a good pair of 10x50 binos in the future to put in my case and use alongside the OneSky.
  • Astronomy chair - may buy one, but more likely to make an attempt to build one. May start with something like this that is easy yet functional
  • Filters - I'm conflicted about this one, as it seems most filters aren't actually that good, but there does seem to be a consensus that UHC and OIII filters can actually be worthwhile buys

What have I been able to see?

First off, a note on my observing conditions. I am in a large Florida city in Bortle 6-7 and my house has a street lamp in the front yard and heavy tree coverage in the back, so I don't have great viewing opportunities at home. However, my in-laws are about 20 minutes away on the coast line in Bortle 4 just between two cities, so I have twice made a trip out to sit on their dock over a marsh and had a great time. Most of this list was done alone with Sky Safari as my guide; the two outreach events I did with my club mostly just hit the highlights you'd expect while doing outreach. With all that said, here is what I've observed in the OneSky in my first 2 months:

• Local Objects:
  • The moon (duh) - The moon sucks when it keeps you from viewing DSOs, but at least for now I am still fascinated by looking at it, particularly at high mag. As a bonus, it's great no matter how bad your light pollution is.
  • Jupiter - could clearly see the 4 moons but never was able to make out surface detail; it was already getting low on the horizon and I only had the 10mm stock EP at the time, so 65x mag just wasn't powerful enough to see anything. I'm looking forward to it coming back.
  • Venus - never more than a bright disc
  • Mars - just looks like a red star because of how far away it is at the moment
  • Uranus - just a little blue disc

• Deep Sky Objects
  • M3 - Globular Cluster in Canes Venatici
  • M5 - Globular Cluster in Serpens
  • M13 - Hercules Cluster
  • M41 - Open Cluster in Canis Major
  • M42 - Orion Nebula
  • M44 - Beehive Cluster
  • M45 - The Pleiades
  • M51 - Whirlpool Galaxy
  • M68 - Globular Cluster in Hydra
  • M81+82 - Bode's Nebulae
  • M92 - Globular Cluster in Hercules
  • NGC 2264 - Christmas Tree Cluster

I've also split some double stars but admittedly haven't done a great job of keeping track of those. Open clusters in my opinion make for the best targets in the OneSky, with globulars also being decent. Beehive and Pleiades are my favorites so far. I admittedly could probably see globulars even better with higher power, but right now I'm limited to 144x or less with my current EP collection. M13 is the best globular I've seen, with stars able to be resolved at 144x. Others either have required averted vision to resolve or can't be resolved at all and only appear as bright smudges. Galaxies are nothing but faint smudges, with M81 being the easiest to see the faint haze of the structure. M31/Andromeda was already dropping too low on the horizon for me to see, so I haven't actually observed it yet. M42 is obviously very impressive, with the faint haze of nebulosity able to be seen at 72x while also being able to see the Trapezium. Getting a brand new scope in February was a blessing and a curse: a blessing because M42 is such an awesome target in even a small scope, but a curse because it sets bad expectations for what other DSOs will look like when you put them in the scope.

What else?

Time for some random thoughts and musings, mostly about my experience of learning and doing so much so quickly.

• Observing is NOT like looking at astro photographs! This is the biggest thing with which I had to come to grips. Everyone, no matter where they're starting from, has seen awesome astro shots. Whether it be from Hubble (or now JWST) or an amateur with good equipment, most people have seen some fantastic photos of how beautiful space is. Using a 5" telescope in your backyard is NOT going to be anything like looking at those photos. I had to completely reset my expectations of what I'd be able to see, but that isn't a bad thing. For me, half the fun has been finding stuff on my own and having a sense of achievement from that. I was ecstatic when I found M3 in my backyard for the first time a few nights ago, and I continue to feel that way every time I find a new target for the first time or even find a difficult target on subsequent times.
• Aperture envy is real. It's only been two months and I'm already looking at marketplace forums/websites for used 8 or 10" dobs. I saw an 8" for $200 the other day and it was gone in an hour. That said, I've made the decision to stick it out with the OneSky for at least a year before upgrading unless I see a truly this-seller-has-no-idea-what-they-have kind of deal. It's a great scope and I will continue to learn a lot from using it.
• Outreach is fun! Even though I'd only had my scope for a month, going with my club to help do a Girls Scouts event was a rewarding experience and I already knew enough to be helpful and educational in talking about astronomy and putting my scope on targets for observation.
• Journals/logs are a must. I didn't realize this until a week or two ago, but having record of when I first viewed an object and describing what it looks like is something I wish I had started from the beginning. Currently I'm using Sky Safari's built-in observing session tools, but I'm open to looking at other digital options. I'm not a pen-and-paper kind of guy, so let me know if there are some other good tools out there. My biggest fear in using Sky Safari's admittedly great tools is that there doesn't seem to be a way to export logs, which means I could lose access to them should the service shut down.
• Imaging with a dob and a smartphone is a waste of time. I bought a cheap $10 eyepiece mount and grabbed this image of M42 the first night I spent at the Bortle 4 location. Looking back, it's a cool thing I was able to do but I have shelved the mount and spend zero time trying to grab photos since then. The photo is pretty good for the equipment I used but is very bad by any other metric. I spent probably 30 minutes of my 2 hour session trying to grab that photo which ultimately to me is a waste of time that could have been spent observing. I'm not opposed to getting into imaging down the road, but if I do it will be with equipment made for imaging.
• Dark skies make a big difference! I live in Bortle 6-7 and driving just 20 minutes to Bortle 4 makes such a huge difference in what I’m able to see. Some of the tougher targets I’ve found are impossible at my house given the light pollution, while the darker location either enables them to be seen at all or at a minimum makes it easier to find things.

During the COVID period, most of the outreach events were cancelled because everyone was worried about getting sick.  Let me ask, how many eyes have looked into your telescope eyepieces (EP) since you last cleaned them?  In the two years I have been involved in NEFAS outreaches, I have had a few guests shove their eye deep into the EP, possibly touching the lens. I even had one guest, a boy about 10, lick the EP.  Yes, I wrote lick.  I politely told him “Don’t do that, that EP cost over $350.00”.  His dad snatched the boy up and both disappeared into the night.  I cleaned my EP the best I could and the next day cleaned it properly.  That was about a year ago.

A few weeks ago, NEFAS was involved in a solar viewing outreach.  We had a few hundred guests, many trying hard to see sunspots and asking questions.  As I was putting my telescope equipment away, I noticed the EP shields were covered in…. stuff.  What stuff?  Make up, eye goop, salt spray, and sweat.  How gross.

I got home and searched the internet to research EP maintenance and cleaning.  Why is EP maintenance important?  We spend a lot of money on EP’s, filters and other optics. We should and need to make sure they remain in good working condition.  If we allow even just dust to accumulate, our visual experience is reduced.  If we allow contaminates to accumulate, now we are potentially damaging the EP and worse, sharing possible eye infection causing viruses.  Damaging? Infections?  YES, the cheaper EP’s have little if any, coatings to protect the lens from getting etched due to chemical reactions or scratched.  Even with more expensive EP’s the protective coatings can only do so much.  Why else is EP maintenance important, we can actually transmit eye infections from one user to another.  Which carries more importance to you?  Look inside and you decide.  In either case, I hope you keep reading.

The first comment and bit of advice has to be … KEEP your EP’s from environments that promote mold growth.  Prevent dirt accumulation by limiting how, who, where, and how often your EP’s are handled.  Store your EP’s in correct containers.  FOLLOW the manufacturers advice for cleaning your EP.  (I can’t repeat that enough.)  This might all sound like common sense, but I have witnessed some disturbing handling of EP’s from experienced, amateur astronomers. 

Keep your EP from being stored in places that promote mold.  Once mold is allowed to grow, good luck getting it removed.  The more complex the EP, the greater the chance you will never remove the mold without returning the EP to the manufacturer or retiring the EP to the nearest landfill.

What is needed to keep your EP in its best condition?  Again, I suggest follow the manufacturers recommendations, but here are a few very common items all them tend to agree upon.

                        Microfiber Cloth, blower brush or puffer bulb, cotton swabs or cotton Q-Tips, and a cleaning solution.  There are many different cleaning solution options.  Here is a concept to think about… we spent a lot of money on EP’s, don’t get cheap on what kind of cotton swabs are Q-Tips you use or how many you use.  Most all the manufacturers suggest use the swab once and dispose of.

The cleaning of your EP is again an interesting topic of discussion on the internet.  The general consensus is.  Prevent as much as possible the EP from getting dirty.  Clean your EP’s in a clean environment.  Follow manufactures instructions.  NEVER soak your EP in any liquid for cleaning.  A damp Q-Tip or cotton swab over a wet one.  If the excess cleaning fluid is allowed to collect inside the EP housing, you will be required to fully disassemble the EP to remove any excess.  Don’t use microfiber cloths with lanolin as they will cause smudges.  Periodically clean your microfiber cloths to prevent cross-contamination. Finally, make sure the EP’s are dry before putting them back into storage.  I recommend you take some time to look up some great tutorial videos on YouTube for additional direction on EP care.

We impress participants who attend our outreaches with what telescopes we have, EP’s we use, and the knowledge we share.  Let’s not add to that experience sharing poor visuals and eye infections.  Stay safe and keep looking up.  AL

A few inexpensive ways to enjoy observing the heavens.  Notice:  Your experiences may vary!

VISUALLY:                 As simple as the sounds, just looking up can help us learn about astronomy.

Tools:                         None required.  There are many apps available for free on your cell phone to assist in identifying what is in the viewable sky.  Examples of such apps include:  STARTRACKER, STELLARIUM, STAR WALK 2, and many others.

Cost:                           FREE.

BINOCULARS:          Good option to inexpensively view solar (with proper filters), lunar, planets, and some deep space things.

Tools:                         Binoculars.  Sizes vary.  A good starter size is 10x50, 9x63, 20x50 or 12x70 (first number is magnification the second is the size of the objective lens (how much light is allowed in)). Remember, the larger the binoculars, the heavier they are.  A pair of 25x100 weigh about 12 pounds!

Cost:                           Vary based on a number of items:  manufacturer, fog proof, water proof, eye relief (look this one up).  Available new or used from a reputable seller on sites such as EBay, Amazon, or pawn shops.   Many to choose from between $40.00 - $100.00 (or more).  Asking a NEFAS member might offer some additional guidance.

Upgrades:                 Consider getting a good tripod, and or, a very comfortable zero gravity chair to enhance your viewing.

TELESCOPES:            Entry Level reflector or refractor telescopes are available. Look on Craigslist, pawnshops, Amazon, EBay, and of course, ask any of the NEFAS members if they are aware of a scope for sale.  Prior to selecting a telescope, it is important to consider what do you expect the telescope to allow you to enjoy.  EVERY telescope has limitations, even Hubble.  ALL of the limitation concerns can be worked with or overcome with inexpensive upgrades or diligent practice.

Tools:                         Most smaller telescopes (60mm, 70mm, 76mm, 80mm, and 90mm) are refractor by design. They have good optics, but to keep the price lower, the manufacturers often install focusers that are “sloppy”, spotters that are barely adequate, provide eyepieces (EP) that are poor to average quality, and tripods that do not offer much stability to the telescope.  Not much here to adjust, can be a point and observe experience.  These can be found on EBay delivered for under $100.00.

                                    The other entry level telescopes are what is called either a reflector or Newtonian design. These are a little more complex in design and often are a little more expensive.  Reflector telescopes are as small as 70mm and get larger from there.  These are often identified by the size of the primary (larger) mirror either in MM or INCHES.  Note:  25.4mm = 1 inch, 76mm = 3 inch, 114mm = 4.5 inch, etc).  When it comes to telescopes bigger doesn’t always mean a better experience.  Reflectors tend to use either a budget minded AltAz Dobsonian mount, or can use an AltAz tripod or Equitorial tripod mount.  Learning what these terms mean will be critical to your purchase decisions and overall level of satisfaction.

Cost:                           I have found both refractor and reflector telescopes for sale at prices as low as $28.00 delivered. The telescope was a 70mm on a tripod. It works well for solar and lunar observing. I also purchased a 76mm reflector on a tripod that is also good for solar, lunar, planets and some deeper space items for under $100.00 delivered.

Upgrades:                 Too many to discuss here.  As you increase your experiences, your choices for what works, or doesn’t, will change.

In closing, this information is shared, not as the end to what you might want or need to observe the heavens, but to provide some information to help you make better choices, help keep your budget in check.  Astronomy has many tools to pick from.  Not every option is correct for everyone based upon what they want to observe and how they want to observe. As your experiences mature, your needs and wants should also change.  Asking questions to the NEFAS members and leadership will provide some interesting direction, as well as watching as many U-Tube tutorial videos as possible.  Remember the universe is endless, and so is how we experience the hobby.  Enjoy the journey and keep looking UP!

The other night I had the privilege to hear a conversation between a number of very experienced, well respected amateur astronomers and a newer, less experienced amateur astronomer.  If you added up the years of experience between everyone present it would easily have been 100 years or more.  Kinda safe to say “Been there, Done that” would stick to someone in that group.  Here is where the topic for my paper comes from.  The newer member had recently upgraded from using a nice pair of binoculars to purchasing two smaller (<5 inch) reflector scopes.  While sharing the newly purchased telescopes and asking for some pointers, one or more of the experienced members could be heard saying “Oh look, a hobby killer.”  This was both disrespectful and disheartening to the purchaser of these new scopes.  Read on as I explain my thoughts on this subject.

When you come out to the monthly Outreach events, you will see four basic groups of telescopes being set up:  SCT’s on huge mounts, 6-12 inch reflectors on EQ or Dob mounts, some 70mm-90mm refractors, and anything smaller in that horrid category, “hobby killer”.  Guests to the Outreach tend to gravitate towards the larger more elaborate scopes and the astronomers with the smaller scopes get little or no attention.  One question that I hear every Outreach is, “How much do you have invested in that thing?”  Two short years ago, I was that person asking that question to the “experts”, both online and in person.  How much is an important question for the person who wants to invest into astronomy, but is afraid to take the financial obligation.  I personally own an 8 inch reflector on a Dob mount with everything short of the OTA having been upgraded to be more user friendly for me and my enjoyment.  Recently I acquired an EDU-Science 70-700mm refractor for lunar and solar observing, often referred to as a hobby killer, AND that last comment is the basis for this commentary.

Let’s take a moment and consider little Johnny loves to look at the moon and stars. His parental units are not sure if this might be a passing phase and as all budgets are tight, don’t wish to spend a lot of money on a passing fancy.  Little Johnnys parental units have no idea what to purchase, but one day while shopping at Hobby Lobby, Michaels, or even the local museum gift shop, they find a few telescope kits. One is a 60mm, one is a 70mm and yet another is 114mm, ranging in price from $70 to $140, a little pricey for them, but not too bad.  The telescope kits have, what is described as, everything needed to immediately start looking at the moon, planets and of course the stars.  PERFECT!   Little Johnny’s parental units take the plunge and pick one of those options and take it home.  Little Johnny cannot believe his eyes, his first telescope.  His excitement level is off the chart. The next step, since little Johnnys elders have no idea how to use such a complex piece of science equipment and don’t want to break it, the local astronomical society is contacted for any help that may be available.   An Outreach event is happening soon and the amateur astronomers in the group will share what to do, what not to do, and most importantly, how to observe the heavens.  The days pass slowly as little Johhny wants to play with his new toy and his parental units want to be re-assured, they didn’t waste their money with the purchase.

Outreach day arrives, the new telescope is carefully packed and little Johnny and his support team are off.  When they arrive, they are overwhelmed with how large, professional and complex the telescopes being set up by the club members are, and how confidently these complex telescopes are being handled.   Some have computers, others wires all over the place, most are huge in comparison to little Johnnys telescope.  Sheepishly, they walk about the Outreach looking for someone with a telescope similar to what they purchased.  Maybe one or two are seen, but these are not getting the attention the other scopes are.  Oh no, was the purchase for little Johnny a mistake? 

Finally, they find a friendly face, who asks “Would you like to take a look?”  The view is amazing, craters on the moon so big, details that make your eyes hurt, then over to the gas giants and OMG, Saturn with those beautiful rings, then over to one of the nebulae.  Little Johnny is crazy excited, and starts to talk about his new telescope and how he is afraid to try to use it for fear of doing something wrong, or worse, breaking it.  Their new friend, the expert amateur astronomer, says bring it over so we can look at it.  The moment everyone has been waiting for arrives, the new telescope gets unveiled.  The expert amateur astronomer looks at the telescope and says with all the knowledge his years in the hobby have gained and says clearly…. “Oh look, a hobby killer”.   To support his statement, the expert talks about how each of the other telescopes present are quality scopes, can do sooo much more than the telescope little Johnny was given.  If the parental units had only ….. before buying the wrong thing.

Little Johnny has no idea what this means, but his parental units are immediately upset that they were suckered into buying a piece of junk.  This was a total waste of time, money and emotional energy.  Within a few minutes, little Johnnys new telescope was returned to the car, tossed into the trunk, and when it finally gets taken out of the car, stored in the garage.  From that point on, when Johnny asks about astronomy, his parental units redirect his focus to something else. Eventually, Johnny stops asking about the telescope.  His desire in the hobby was killed.

My personal experiences were different, yet similar.  I bought a telescope after a few months of doing personal research.  Yes, in my ignorance and excitement I bought things I didn’t need (and couldn’t use).  One comment I heard at my first Outreach was “At least you didn’t buy one of those hobby killers”.   Brand new to the hobby and I am being validated as having made a wise purchase!  

I heard the term Hobby Killer used over and over again.  Often referring to the smaller refractor telescopes available on the store shelf.  I often parroted the same sentiments about these telescopes to others, having no experience with them.   

It wasn’t until about a year ago, I had a very experienced amateur astronomer share how some of these less expensive telescopes have wonderful optics and junk or sensitive tripods, or have limitations based on ____ (fill in the blank), but do have positive attributes.  Often the company selling the telescope has contracted with a company in China to manufacture, then brand the scope as theirs.  The quality control coming from China has never been great.  I have heard of new telescopes being delivered that had the objective lens installed upside down (try to focus that), or diagonal mirrors being made from cheap glass causing a double or triple item viewed in the eyepiece.  With a little bit of guidance on what might be causing poor operation, maybe replacement of a poor-quality part, or an upgrade to a more user friendly part, the hobby killer telescope could become a quality telescope, with limitations. 

My view on hobby killers took on a very different light.  Maybe the better term could be entry level telescopes or specific topic telescope.  No one ever balks when they hear about someone having a solar scope or a lunar (only) scope. 

I know when I find someone who is looking for information on what kind of telescope to look into, I always ask “What is it you want to look at?  What kind of budget do you have?  What is your level of experience?”  The conversation can go from there. 

To wrap this up.  Maybe its not the telescopes that are the hobby killers, but how we, the more experienced amateur astronomers, treat the little Johnnys and his parental units that can kill the hobby.