OFFICIALS of Bolton Astronomical Society have a standard piece of advice for anyone planning to buy a telescope for stargazing. DON'T.

Press officer Steve Fielding says most instruments sold in high street shops as "astronomical" or "lunar" scopes are regarded as a waste of money by any serious enthusiast.

So on Monday, one of the UK's best telescope makers, Gerald Bramall, will be at the society's meeting in Ladybridge Community Centre (7.30pm) to demonstrate the real McCoy.

His latest creation, with a 16 inch reflector, is nicknamed The Stealth. It is six feet high and 20 inches wide and gives superb images of distant planets.

And it is painted black so that it does not reflect any of the stray light from street lamps or badly sited household security lights which are the worst bugbear for any serious astronomer.

The public are welcome at the event or at any meeting on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

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