OwlHarbor Loc: Pacific North West USA

What type of telescopes are you using to take pictures of the planets, stars and other heavenly bodies? What are some tips, favorite brands, size and type.

Nikonian72 Loc: Chico CA

I suggest that you subscribe to the Astronomical Photography Forum at http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/s-109-1.html , and ask the same question.

dragonswing Loc: Pa

According to my profile, I am subscribed to the astronomical forum, yet I never see any messages.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

What Nikonian72 said.
Some things to think about.

I have an 8" (Diameter) Reflector. Very common & the best value. However, it's the largest type, heavy & bulky, and a real pain in the patootie to drag around if you have to find some dark sky away from a city. It's about 4 Feet Long and has some heavy weights to counterbalance it as well as a very heavy tripod.

A Dobsonian is pretty much like a Reflector except that it doesn't have the weight of the Reflector. I think they're cheaper, too.

I don't know if mine still works because it was in Sandy and I never checked to see the condition of the interior.

If you have the money, I'd buy a Schmidt-Cassegrain. They're the best of all worlds and much much smaller than the other two.

The other UHH group will tell you more but you might consider, with either the reflector or the Schmidt-Cassegrain, is an electronic device that will track an object you're looking at. Sorry, I forgot what it's called...brain fart, y'know.
If you don't, you'll have to constantly readjust the position of the scope because, as you know, the earth is always moving in relation to the heavens. You can be looking at the moon and 5 minutes later it has disappeared.

That being said, if I were just starting out, I'd pick up a 4" and see if you really like the hobby/science of astronomy.

If, like DragonsWing says, there is no activity in the Astronomy section of UHH, look for clubs in your area.
The Pacific Northwest should give you some excellent viewing unless you're in or near a populated area, and you should be able to catch some auroras which would make me very jealous.


That's my 2 cents. 8-)

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

When I bought my first rangefinder camera (newly minted M3 w/50 mm lens,) I thought "if I put the camera on a tripod and hold one of the binocular eyepieces to the lens, can I get a pic of something distant?" I tried it and focused thru the lens and got a few, not terrible shots on film. This encouraged me to splurge on some longer Leica lenses plus assorted other gear. Unfortunately, I left bachelorhood, had a baby girl and being near penniless, sold all my Leica equipment to pay obstetrician/hospital fees, etc. But that is a different story. As I age, I tend to digress more.

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

For planets, a minim size of Schmit Cas would be 8". You don't need a fancy go-to computer drive, but do need some sort of clock drive for,following the planet. For deep, you need. Better mounts and auto guiding. But for getting started, try 30 sec exposures with a wide angle lens on a tripod. Or get something like a SkyTracker which will allow for longer exposures. Beyond that, it gets harder and more complex, but also very rewarding.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Celestron.
Go to astronomy section.

stan0301 Loc: Colorado

Unless the prospect of finding a needle in a haystack (star hopping) delights you, you really will like having a computer go to--looking at stuff vs. finding stuff
Stan

carl hervol Loc: jacksonville florida

I strongly suggest find an astronomy club in your area that is your bet .I ust a meade 12 inch Xl price around 5000.00 you will also need aequatorial mount.This is something you don't learn over night.

jhkpilot

The best quality telescope for optics and functionality is the Questar. Check their website. Either 3.5 inch or 7 inch model can fit various SLR or DSLR or mirrorless cameras at prime focus, have built-in tracking motors, and are easily portable and simple to use, because of their great design.

Made in the USA, they are expensive, but real quality does not come cheap. I have owned one--a Standard Model 3.5 inch--since 1967. Never had any kind of malfunction; have used it for lunar, solar and planetary, terrestrial photography (birds, aircraft, people, etc.) and even microscopic photography of insects, etc., at distances as close as six feet.