h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi Jimi,

With Crimbo fast approaching, SWH is dropping large hints - Thud - there goes another one. Can you recommend a good starter telescope?

Criteria:-

Portable, with all the light pollution around here, Nr Manchester UK
we'll need to get out into the country with our caravan.

Idiot proof, 'nuff said

Reasonably priced

Upgradeable.

Tall order I know but if you could give us some pointers I'd be grateful.

Ta muchly

Just a bit more please....

How do you mean 'upgradable'? Also, how much is 'affordable'?

Though off the top of my head, a good all-around 'scope is the Edmund Astroscan

Here's are some reviews of it:
http://www.excelsis.com/vote/astro/telescopes/Edmund/

http://www.skypub.com/resources/testreports/telescopes/richfield.html

http://www.telescopes.uk.com/Astroscan.htm

The manufacturer's site is http://www.edmundscientific.com/ and follow the links to astronomy, telescopes, astroscan.

This isn't a great, all-powerful telescope. But it is a great wide-field scope and while it won't give super-detailed views of planets and deep-sky objects, it will get use for years to come.

One of its major drawbacks is its shape - it doesn't look like a traditional telescope. But it *does* get the job done.

Hope this helped.

- X

Thanks Jimi,

We'll check out those sites & have a good ponder.

I hope that helped. If the appearance is too much of a problem, I believe the Bushnell Voyager telescope comes in a better colour than red.

Let me know if there's anything else I can help with...