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Menteerio t1_j4l6orm wrote

Do you have a recommendation for a good beginner but not toy telescope?

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BuffaloBoyHowdy t1_j4ln631 wrote

Look for a small reflector; 4"-6". With a Dobsonian mount. (Up/down and sideways.) They grab enough light to see neat things, but are easy to carry and set up. Most will come with a 20mm -22mm eyepiece. That's a great wide angle, low magnification choice. Maybe you'll want a 10mm-12mm or something to get closer looks of the moon, but I prefer the lower power ones for nebulae and clusters.
I think Sky and Telescope had a 4-1/2" beginner scope that was nice. Look at Telescopes.com and see what they have. Try a local astronomy club. They love to share and someone might even have one to sell.
And a good finder scope. I like the TelRad but the Rigel is nice. (You can ignore this if you can make the one that comes with the scope work.)
Then find a decent book for small telescopes. I like "Turn Left at Orion", but there are others. These will help you actually find nebula, star clusters, etc. rather than just trying to find stuff.
Go to astronomy web sites and see what they say. Figure a few hundred dollars at least for the whole thing.
You can store them in the garage or shed. Keep it covered so dust and mice don't get in it and it'll last for years.

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