An old timer at the Grand Canyon star party saved me from buying a bad telescope

Last summer I went to the Grand Canyon star party near the South Rim. This retired guy named Bob saw me looking at a cheap reflector scope and told me to steer clear. He said the mount was too wobbly for anything but the moon. I almost bought it anyway because the price was good. But I listened to him and got a used Dobsonian instead. Best decision I ever made for deep sky photos. Has anyone else run into helpful people at star parties who gave solid advice?

3 comments

3 Comments

hayden_rivera9d ago

And another thing nobody mentions is that those cheap scopes can actually turn people away from astronomy for good. I've seen a few friends lose interest completely because they thought all telescopes were that frustrating to use. That old timer really hooked you up with more than just equipment advice, he saved your whole future with the hobby.

beth8789d ago

Right? How many people quit before ever seeing anything cool just because they grabbed the wrong gear off Amazon? I bet half the beginners who give up never even get to see saturn's rings or a decent nebula. It's a shame because once you nail the setup, it's a whole different world out there.

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claire_butler19d ago

Man, Bob saved you a headache. Those cheap mounts are nothing but frustration even on a still night. Good on you for listening to the old pros.