Will either of these telescopes work for my family?

I'm a homeschooling mom of young kids and I'm shopping for a telescope. I don't know anything about telescopes. I would like something that will allow us to view things like saturns rings, the moon craters, stars, and such. Will either of these do the job?



http://www.buytelescopes.com/Products/15694-Meade-etx-60at-tc-bb-achromatic-refractor.aspx



http://www.sears.ca/product/national-geographic-full-size-telescope/06422150?ptag=1Will either of these telescopes work for my family?
鈽?I would like to suggest that you join a local astronomy club or astronomical society BEFORE you spend your money on a real telescope. There are many different kinds of scopes and what is perfect for one person is not perfect for another. Everyone has their own set of eyeballs and no two are the same. If you join a club, you can attend a few of their star parties and try out members scopes to see what works best for YOU, before you buy a scope. The members can also help you when you get your scope and show you how to get the most out of your new scope as well as to help teach you where the treasures in the sky are located. Most clubs have loaner scopes and extensive libraries that you can gather more information from too. Most clubs will have monthly membership meetings with informative presentations given by members and by guest speakers. You can really learn a lot from these clubs and an added plus is all the great new friends you make there too. Go to this site to find a club in your area. http://www.astroleague.org/societies/lis鈥?/a>

This only has clubs that belong to the National Astronomy League, so there are many more which do not appear on this list. Continue searching google if you don't see one in your area here.

鈽匱here are several different kinds of telescopes and all of them have some excellent features. Refractors and Reflectors, plus Schmidt-Cassegrain, APO refractors, Mac-Cass, and many more. There are also several mounts to chose from and the mounts are just as important, if not even more important, than the scope is. All of the different scopes and mounts have some features that some people like and do not like.

鈽?No two eyeballs are the same and the perfect scope for one person might be completely wrong for another person.

鈽匱here is no one scope that is "better" than another, except for all the junk scopes out there, which are all just a waste of money. Never, ever buy from Walmart, Costco, Target, or any other discount store like that. Junk scopes are flooded into the market from those stores. You will be buying nothing but bad optics and plastic. You must buy from a reputable telescope manufacturer or telescope distributor or telescope store. If they don't specialize in telescopes, look elsewhere.

鈽匱his is a new article from Sky and telescope that will tell you about a few types of telescopes and how to choose your first telescope.

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/equipment鈥?/a>

鈽?If you are new at this, then stay away from anything used from ANY site. If you don't know what you are buying and who you are buying from you will most likely be getting someone else's headache---with no warranty either. Some great deals on used equipment are out there, by people who know how to use and take care of scopes, but if you don't know what you are doing, you might be spending a lot of money on worthless junk. One improper cleaning can destroy a scope. Buyer Beware.

鈽匢 recommend: http://oriontelescopes.com/

Orion is the very best for value and for customer service too. I have 3 of their scopes and I will only buy from them from now on. My first scope was a manual controlled scope and I am very glad that it was because it forced me to learn where things are in the night skies. Go-To type scopes can be frustrating to use. If you do not have them aligned exactly perfect, they do not find the targets. If you are a beginner, you will be frustrated unless you spring for a GPS Go-To. An object locator is just that---it will locate objects for you (must be aligned first) but an object locator is not a tracking motor. It will not keep the scope on the target. The Orion site has some excellent diagrams and explanations of all types of scopes and mounts.

鈽?Things to consider are size--can the user lift and transport the scope to the viewing site easily? Does it fit in your car? If not, then it will gather dust in a closet. I recommend a carrying case too so it is protected in storage and transport. Can the viewer reach all the knobs and buttons? I have a long tube large manual refractor and it is very difficult for me to reach the knobs when I am pointed to Zenith. I am not a tall person.

鈽匰ome people will try to suggest that you get Binnoculars instead of a telescope. That is not a bad idea but at bare minimum you need 10x50 size and you MUST have a tripod for astronomical viewing. Even your pulse will make them shake. My personal preference is a telescope because Binnoculars must be aligned properly at the factory. If they are not, they you see double or triple vision of everything rendering them useless for astronomy. They can easily be bumped out of alignment too, so be very careful.

鈽?Take your time in making your decision.

鈽?Don't try to learn everything all at once or you will be overwhelmed and discouraged. Patience is the key to Astronomy.

鈽?You will need a good star chart program too.

http://www.stellarium.org/

This is great freeware that you can download. Tell it where you are and it will tell you what you see. Ask it where something is and it will show you. I wish you the very best.
With the etx60 you are paying for electronics rather than adequate optics. And you don't need electronics to find easy naked-eye targets like the Moon and planets. With the "National Geographic" reflector you are paying for overpriced junk (you can always tell when a main selling point is high magnification).



A good 6" or 8" dobsonian reflector from Orion will show far more for the same amount of money spent.

http://www.telescope.com/control/search?鈥?/a>



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Added: While the two new choices are an improvement over your initial two choices, I really think you will be better served by a 6" or 8" Dobsonian. Here are my recommendations:



6" classic dobsonian

http://www.telescope.com/control/product鈥?/a>



8" classic dobsonian

http://www.telescope.com/control/product鈥?/a>



6" Intelliscope dob (if you need electronics)

http://www.telescope.com/control/product鈥?/a>



If any of the above are really too expensive, the Xt4.5 would still be a better and easier to use choice than the StarBlast EQ

http://www.telescope.com/control/telesco鈥?/a>Will either of these telescopes work for my family?
You should contact an astronomy club for advice, and a trip to a star party. The members will be glad to share. Search for them at www.skyandtelescope.com.

Both those telescopes are nice, but have problems--

The first, from a good sales outfit, is small, won't magnify much or gather much light, and has a flimsy tripod stand. It has basic computer control for finding things in the sky.

The second, while a lot larger, with a little bit sturdier tripod, can gather more light and magnify more, is difficult to steer around the sky on its mount unless you learn first how the sky works, learn how to set the scope accurately and move it with the stars, and can use star charts and books or a planetarium program to help find things. You won't get any advice or help from a department store sales person, as they know nothing about astronomy.Will either of these telescopes work for my family?
The Meade you picked out is really too small to do much besides bird-watching with. The one from National Geographic is about the smallest telescope (referring to the size of the primary mirror) that would still get you decent views of the Moon and planets, but frankly you'd be better off buying the same size telescope (about 4.5 inches primary mirror) from a company like Meade, Celestron, or Orion - those are well-known, quality telescope makers.
Sure, either will work. Not very helpful, am I? Well, there's just too much to think about.



What conditions will you be using it in? Dark skies out in the country will make even a poor telescope seem like Palomar. If you live just at the edge of a big city, maybe spending a lot isn't a good idea.



The little ETX go-to scope is nice, but do you really need it to tell you where everything is "up there"? More than half the fun is finding it. (and learning how to find it again)



The Sears scope looks a little clunky... how about a nice Orion scope:



http://www.telescope.com/control/telesco鈥?/a>



Best advice, check out scopes at a local Amateur Astronomy night. Maybe you have a local observatory?
I would like to suggest joining an astronomy club,the people are friendly and very helpful.

Check out andy's shot glass,He has many helpful articles-

http://www.andysshotglass.com/ChoosingSc鈥?/a>

Wally