Some advice please..

Is it possible to buy a telescope where you can put in the cordinates of a star, planet and the telescope will automatically find it? Can you coneect a telescope to a laptop or camera and take pictures? How much does a telescope like this cost?

Ciaran - the simple answer to all of your questions is yes. Such telescopes exist and prices vary considerably.

The big-brand names (e.g. Celestron, Meade) sell all-inclusive packages (bar the laptop). You'll get a mount, a telescope, a camera and a keypad plus some eyepieces. You supply the netbook/laptop and you're pretty much good to go. Certainly Meade provide image processing software with their cameras, Celestron probably do too.

The keypad itself is a "computer". You key in the object you want to look at and it then moves the telescope to that spot.

This is one route you can take and it will give you passable images of a variety of subjects.

When it comes to purchasing, ensure that you shop around. With the economy the way it is, there are many good deals around, including from abroad. And do not underestimate the second-hand market. Astronomers tend to look after their equipment very well.

The final piece of advice is not to rush into a purchase - come back here and ask questions first. Many folks here have been in your shoes and will offer advice on what they did right, and what they did wrong.

If you can join a local club, even better - you'll get to see other peoples setups and have a go before you take the plunge.

Hope that helps
Dave

Dave has given some sound advice, Ciaran. Most of all, don't rush in to it. If this is part of a Christmas wish list to give to your friends and family, buy yourself a good astronomy mag like Astronomy Now or Sky & Telescope and simply look through the advertisements to get a feel of options, makes and prices.

One of your best bets is to tag a long to an astronomy club's open night and bring your questions along.

Where are you located?

Seanie.

Thanks a million for advice Dave.

Seanie, I'm from Leitrim but I'm in Univeristy in Galway. I'm aware that there is a club there but from my research it seems that any events are indepth lectures/ talks about things that are over my head for the moment. Theres a telescope for sale on donedeal.ie: www.donedeal.ie/for-sale/hobbies/1645555

What do you think?

Well Ciaran, you are in luck as the Galway Astronomy Club - www.galwayastronomyclub.com - meet not far away from UCG in the Westwood House Hotel each month. I have been lucky to be one of their guest speakers a couple times and believe me, the topics are never far reaching over anyone's heads. Sure, some talks might be by professors etc. but the balance is also done by club members on 'ordinary' astronomy topics all the time. Check them out.

The telescope you refer to is nothing near a top of the range 8" reflector, but for the price they are asking it is a good deal. Seben are not a top make of astronomical equipment, they would be what we would call a chemist shop telescope, you know, the cheap ones in the window of your local chemist for about 5 years before its bought.

If you have money or are willing to save for another month or two to get more money you'd do less harm buying a 10" or 12" Dobsonian for around €300 to €400 second hand... no equatorial gizmos to wreck your head over and comes in 2 parts - optical tube assemble (OTA) and boxed base - very easy to use by first timers in telescope astronomy. In all, do a little more research.

Just some of my thoughts, hope they help.

Seanie.