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Dave,
Beware, the " 675X " used to advertise a $200 telescope (for
astronomical use) raises a caution flag and does not give confidence
in the seller's knowledge of telescopes. I suspect the telescope is
a refractor (as opposed to a reflector) and the aperture of its light-
gathering lens (the objective lens) is in the 50 to 60 mm range (like
the one in the link references that follow). That being the case,
the maximum usable power, no matter how good the optics are, would
be, under ideal conditions, 150X. 675X is a gimmick to draw in
those who are fascinated with idea of seeing planets, stars and
galaxies but have no actual experience "in the field".
I would suspect that 2 or 3 eyepieces would be part of the package
along with a 2X barlow lens. Only the lowest power eyepieces (longest
focal lengths (25 mm to 12 mm) would be useful. The higher power
arrangements would only give fuzzy, disappointing views. 675X is
ludicrous for apetures in that range.
The mount should be solid (free of wiggles once clamped tight)
otherwise it will be a source of frustration when trying to aim and
lock on a planet or star.
Here are a couple of sites which provide appropriate comments on a
TASCO 675X.
1) TASCO 675X
or http://www.telescopesastronomy.com/forums/
refractor-telescopes-forum/621-tasco-galaxsee-675x-refractor-
telescope-help.html
2) TASCO 675X or http://www.epinions.com/pr-
Tasco_Luminova_40114675_Telescope/display_~reviews
A NICE PAIR of 10X 50mm BINOCULARS with a tripod and tirpod
attachment, along with a good reference like "Nightwatch" by T.
Dickinson or a copy of "SkyNews" magazine (Canadian), and a couple
of clear evening sessions under the stars with someone who knows the
neat binocular views is an excellent way to launch an interest in
star gazing. An amateur astronomer values a pair of binoculars as
one of his/her most useful pieces of observing equipment. One
cannot do much with a sky telescope without some knowledge of where
things are, another reason to make binoculars the first step. The
binoculars can be used for other things as well.
If the interest grows, then it's time to save and invest $500 to
$1000 for a useful "8 or 10 inch" reflecting telescope (for example,
a Newtonian reflector on a Dobsonian mount,"a Dob" , for short)
http://www.vancouvertelescope.com/astronomical-instruments/orion-
reflectors.html there are good refractors too but they are more
expensive; for the same $$ range and would have smaller aperture
(meaning a lower ability to gather light ).
There are other considerations but this is probably enough at this time.
Hope this is helpful.
Sherman
Sherman Williams
shermw@xcountry.tv
On 10/04/2008, at 5:09 PM, David & Alison Webster wrote:
> Dear All Stargazers, Apr 10, 2008
> Our 11 year-old grandson who is very keen on stars, planets,
> astronomy etc wants a telescope and has settled on a Canadian Tire
> TASCO 675X ($199.99).
>
> Can anyone comment on whether this is a good buy for the price
> or as Giles says, "Merry Junk' ?
>
> Yours truly, Dave Webster, Kentville
>
>
--Apple-Mail-1--216559393
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<html><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; =
-webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">
<div>Dave,</div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Beware, =A0 the " 675X " =
used to advertise a $200 telescope (for astronomical use) raises a =
caution flag and does not give confidence in the seller's=A0knowledge =
of=A0=A0telescopes. =A0I suspect the telescope is a refractor (as =
opposed to a reflector) and the=A0aperture=A0of its light-gathering lens =
(the objective lens) is in the 50 to 60 mm range (like the one in the =
link references that follow). =A0 That being the case, the maximum =
usable power,=A0no matter how good the optics are,=A0would be,=A0under =
ideal conditions,=A0150X. =A0 =A0675X is a gimmick to draw in those who =
are fascinated with idea of seeing planets, =A0stars and galaxies but =
have no actual experience "in the field".</div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>I would suspect that 2 or =
3 eyepieces would be part of the package along with a 2X barlow lens. =
Only the lowest power eyepieces (longest focal lengths (25 mm to 12 mm) =
would be useful. The higher power arrangements would only give fuzzy, =
disappointing views. 675X is=A0ludicrous for apetures in that range. =
=A0</div><div><br class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>The =
mount should be solid (free of wiggles once clamped tight) otherwise it =
will be a source of frustration when trying to aim and lock on a planet =
or star. =A0=A0</div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Here are a couple of sites =
which provide appropriate comments on a TASCO 675X.</div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>1)=A0<a =
href=3D"http://www.telescopesastronomy.com/forums/refractor-telescopes-for=
um/621-tasco-galaxsee-675x-refractor-telescope-help.html">TASCO =
675X</a></div><div>=A0=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 or =A0 =A0 =A0<a =
href=3D"http://www.telescopesastronomy.com/forums/refractor-telescopes-for=
um/621-tasco-galaxsee-675x-refractor-telescope-help.html">http://www.teles=
copesastronomy.com/forums/refractor-telescopes-forum/621-tasco-galaxsee-67=
5x-refractor-telescope-help.html</a></div><div> <span =
class=3D"Apple-style-span" style=3D"border-collapse: separate; =
border-spacing: 0px 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; =
font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: =
normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: auto; =
-khtml-text-decorations-in-effect: none; text-indent: 0px; =
-apple-text-size-adjust: auto; text-transform: none; orphans: 2; =
white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; "><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>2) =A0=A0<a =
href=3D"http://www.epinions.com/pr-Tasco_Luminova_40114675_Telescope/displ=
ay_~reviews">TASCO 675X</a>=A0=A0 =A0 or =A0=A0<a =
href=3D"http://www.epinions.com/pr-Tasco_Luminova_40114675_Telescope/displ=
ay_~reviews">http://www.epinions.com/pr-Tasco_Luminova_40114675_Telescope/=
display_~reviews</a></div><div>=A0=A0 =A0 =A0</div><div>A NICE PAIR of =
10X 50mm BINOCULARS with a tripod and tirpod attachment, =A0along with a =
good reference like "Nightwatch" by T. Dickinson or a copy of =A0"SkyNews"=
magazine (Canadian), =A0 and a couple of clear evening sessions under =
the stars with someone who knows the neat binocular views is an =
excellent way to launch an interest in star gazing. =A0An amateur =
astronomer values=A0a pair of binoculars as one of his/her =A0most =
useful pieces of observing equipment. =A0 One cannot do much with a sky =
telescope without some knowledge of where things are, another reason to =
make binoculars the first step. =A0 =A0The binoculars can be used for =
other things as well.</div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>If the interest grows, =
then it's time to save and invest =A0$500 to $1000 for a useful "8 or 10 =
inch" reflecting =A0telescope (for example, a Newtonian reflector on a =
Dobsonian mount,"a Dob" , for short) =A0=A0<a =
href=3D"http://www.vancouvertelescope.com/astronomical-instruments/orion-r=
eflectors.html">http://www.vancouvertelescope.com/astronomical-instruments=
/orion-reflectors.html</a>=A0=A0there are good refractors too but they =
are more expensive; for the same $$ range and would have =
smaller=A0aperture (meaning a lower=A0ability =A0to gather=A0light =
).</div><div><br class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>There are =
other considerations but this is probably enough at this =
time.</div><div>Hope this is helpful.</div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>=A0=A0 =
Sherman</div><div><br class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div><br =
class=3D"webkit-block-placeholder"></div><div>Sherman =
Williams</div><div><a =
href=3D"mailto:shermw@xcountry.tv">shermw@xcountry.tv</a></div><div><br =
class=3D"khtml-block-placeholder"></div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"></span> </div><br><div><div>On =
10/04/2008, at 5:09 PM, David & Alison Webster wrote:</div><br =
class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type=3D"cite"><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Dear All Stargazers,<span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 </span>Apr 10, =
2008</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0=A0 </span>Our 11 year-old grandson =
who is very keen on stars, planets, astronomy etc wants a telescope and =
has settled on a Canadian Tire TASCO 675X ($199.99).</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><span =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0=A0 </span>Can anyone comment on =
whether this is a good buy for the price or as Giles says, "Merry Junk' =
?</div><div style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Yours truly, Dave Webster, Kentville</div><div =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><br></div><div style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><br></div> </blockquote></div><br></body></html>=
--Apple-Mail-1--216559393--
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