Contact Super Cooper!
Over the last ten years, or so, I have recieved over two thousand email enquiries
from this site, and I have answered them all fairly and with my best advice.
supercoopertelescopehelp@gmail.com
Please be assured that ALL your general questions, and lots of your specific
ones, are answered in the pages of this website.
I'm getting on a bit now! Please try to find an answer in the website before writing,
as I will just direct you to the correct page anyway!
If you have a specific question that is not covered, please get in touch and I will do my best for you.
Please note: This is not a 'blurb', a 'blog', an 'article' a 'project' or an 'info sheet' - it is a website!
SuperCooper lives in the English midlands, in the UK.
He keeps Universal Time or UT+1 daylight saving (GMT/BST).
e-mail: supercoopertelescopehelp@gmail.comP
About SuperCooper:
I first saw the craters on the moon through my dad's 30x30mm terrestrial refractor at the age of five, and my interest as awakened.
I saw Jupiter and its moons through a friend's 60mm refractor at thirteen, and I was hooked.
I have spent over 50 years looking through telescopes at the night sky.
Barry Cooper Cert. H.E. (Open)
The information in this guide is my own opinion and can be taken as honest advice from someone who wants to help you make the right choices when you are just starting out.
With qualifications in astronomy, having been a director of an astronomical company, and with about fifty years experience in observational astronomy, I hope you will trust my informed guidance in these matters.
I have no professional connection to SkyWatcher, or eBay, or Harrison Telescopes, neither do I sell telescopes professionally. Nevertheless I
heartily recommend these products and suppliers and honestly believe they represent excellent value. Please read the website in full to get all the information you require to start your
astronomical life in the best way.
SuperCooper.
Picture: Me and my SkyWatcher StarTravel 150 on
Bresser EQ4 Mounting - An eBay buy, for £190
Mission Statement:
THROUGHOUT THESE WEB PAGES:
I will do my very best to help those starting out in
the difficult field of amateur astronomy to make the right choices when selecting equipment. I will recommend telescopes that perform well and disuade the purchase of those that fall short
in their performance. I will name and shame the 'baddies' and praise the 'goodies'.
I will give advice that is considered and
thought through to the best of my ability with an explanation of why this is the case or how I arrived at my conclusion.
I will use examples and/or analogies wherever they
might help understanding of a problem, sticking-point, misconception or confusion.
I will exercise understanding and generosity
when communicating with queries and will not make anyone feel silly, stupid or ignorant. Everyone has to learn, and the science of Astronomy is an area where it is easy to have
misconceptions and beliefs that are not born out by experience – My mission is to educate, not ridicule.
Picture: A wonderful Mitsuka 76.2mm f16 refractor...
Beautiful images from this classic Japanese refracting telescope: an eBay buy for just £30 in 2020.
Note:
I make no apology for repetition in these web pages. Repetition is the means by which we learn best.
I have no affiliation with any telescope manufacturer or supplier (Though I do recommend specific ones) and have produced this website with the intention of saving beginners lots of time and money by guiding them to good telescopes that will perform very well on the night sky.
Clear skies and good seeing, Barry Cooper (SuperCooper)
Testimonials:
People write to me with all sorts of questions. I do my best to answer them with as much detail and honesty as possible. Some write back with thanks and support - I appreciate
it. To that end I will publish a few lines of gratitude here, not to massage my own ego, but so that you can see that other people get real help from this site.
I am thankful to you for all your guidance, support and encouragement in my astronomy endeavours.
Ravi H
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Thanks to your website at last I have found a balanced and clear approach towards telescopes and astronomy fundamentals, in particular for beginners, an aspect not easy to find in most of the forum about this hobby. I followed your advice and I bought my first telescope, an EvoStar 90 on Eq2: an excellent choice, with a good value for money. Wonderful views of the night sky. Thank you!
Enrico
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Hi Super Cooper,
First and foremost, I'd like to say I am SO GLAD I stumbled upon your website! I had been researching what telescope to choose when I was directed to yours, and after weeks of reading through so many websites, YOURS was the most informative, easy to digest, and incredibly helpful. Truly.
Thank you for all the personal help you provided. And so quick too. The telescope I had chosen was rubbish and I thought I had wasted all my money. Your help in sorting out a few projects for me to do while I waited for a better telescope was invaluable and I thank you again for that. The telescope supplier you put me in touch with was super and I am now able to tell you that the telescope I bought off Ed Harrison , with your advice , is brilliant. I can see that even though it is twenty millimeters smaller than the terrible Seben I bought in error it gives more detailed images and brighter , better detail views of the planets , especially Jupiter. Forever in your debt , I will share this invaluable website with all my astronomy friends world-wide.
Thanks ,
Steve S
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I was looking for some comparisons between a 120mm f/5 Refractor and a 130mm f/5 Reflector and I stumbled upon your guide and wow! What an amazing read. It was very detailed and had very good comparisons and examples, I think everyone, beginner, intermediate and even pros should check it out!
Alvin
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Your information is perfect for a beginner like me, with plenty of useful information, and excellent pictures as examples for what is explained. In just a few hours, I went from feeling totally lost to very informed by taking in all the information you provided. Your site should be linked to from every supplier everywhere!
Øystein
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Until I stumbled upon your site I was feeling increasingly confused about which scope to look for. Many advice sites and reviews nearly always ended up being "Sponsored sites" with no real advice at all, unless it was how to part with large amounts of cash for not a lot of decent equipment.
...
Armed with this new found info, I think I will soon be the owner of a scope that is actually worth having.
Col and Elliott
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Extremely clear, concise and full of the right information one needs when considering purchasing a scope. I can't begin to tell you how many times I've referred to your information. Again, thank you,
Malcolm
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Ushran
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I wanted to thank you one last time for all the help you gave me, and for bringing the Mak150 to my attention as well, so thanks!
Max
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Thanks for all your help when I was choosing my telescope. I finally decided on the SkyWatcher 150mm and have been very impressed with it.
Speedbird
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I've just read your really helpful guide about choosing your first telescope. Thank you for helping me navigate through the minefield of telescopes out there! I've been casting my eyes upwards towards the evening sky for a few years now, so it's time to take the plunge. Many thanks for your time and advice.
Paul B
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Your guide to buy a telescope is the best I've read so far. I'm looking to buy a telescope for my boyfriend. He's super interested in space and has been taking courses in astronomy - but has never been near a telescope! So he'll be happy about this gift - IF I get it right.
Anna-Karin T
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I came across your article before and from the very beginning I understood that this is something unique - all the neccessary information, examples and explanations on how to choose the telescope in one place. And for amateurs (and again not only) that are making their first steps in stargazing with telescope this is crutial. I rememmber my self 10 years ago trying to find out what kind of telescope do I need and the information was spread all over the internet, different books and etc. It caused a great confusion. After all I managed to buy a good scope but out there is a lot of people, that may not be so lucky and may be loosing the interest in astronomy just because of bad experience with their new telescopes. I just wanted to tell you that I appreciate your efforts! Keep on the good work [and I see you are keeping it up by updating the article]!
Agris
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Your guide to astronomical telescopes is outstanding! I was looking for resolution comparisons for different aperture sizes and your guide came up which was very helpful.
Jordan
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I hope that reading some of these genuine responses has given you faith in my advice. Good seeing and good luck!