Best telescopes according to redditors
We found 969 Reddit comments discussing the best telescopes. We ranked the 225 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
We found 969 Reddit comments discussing the best telescopes. We ranked the 225 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the top 20.
Like $500 for a smallish one, good for planets and stars.
Here is a finished version consisting of my favorite images of the objects within the solar system I have taken an image of. Sorry Pluto! Maybe one day I will get around to adding you! :)
Thanks for looking!
If you feel like looking at some of my other images or following me on social media, here is a shameless plug to my Instagram
__
Equipment:
Acquisition varied per target. Essentially the idea for these images is to take video in order to make the final image. I use a program known as PIPP to stabilize the video and discard frames that have no target within the field of view. Following this I use Auto Stakkert 2 to stack the best frames with the best atmospheric disturbance which gives you the most clarity as well as the least amount of noise. Lastly, I use a program known Registax 6 to sharpen and perform some other manipulations to the output of the Auto Stakkert image. All of these programs are available for free online.
If you want to see some other images that didn't quite make the cut:
My first image ever through a telescope
Jupiter double transit of Europa and Io
Jupiter with three moons
Close up of the moon
There are quite a few more, but they tend to just be worst versions of the above image which I think are the best versions of each target I have. The only one I have singles of though are Mercury, Uranus, Neptune, and the ISS. Can't really hope to get much more detail out of the planets, but I would like to retry the ISS one day.
Would this telescope be powerful enough for an image of this clarity??
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0007UQNKY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_img?_encoding=UTF8&colid=32H2LFBQBWTJQ&coliid=I3PKKGCNP138VH&psc=1
For camping (Sorry, a tad over $100):
For Cooking:
You're after the Skywatcher Heritage 130. Pretty much the same telescope, hence the OneSky not entering the market.
Don't get the celestron. Their low-end range is very bad for a variety of reasons.
At that price range, I'd recommend the Sky-Watcher Heritage 130p. It has the same aperture (you'll be able to see the same objects), but on a sturdier mount, and better optical quality (the celestron has a flawed spherical mirror). It's on a very stable dobsonian-style mount, but you'll need to put it on a table to use it at eye level. It's pretty much what everyone on this sub recommends, and for good reason.
The moon will look phenomenal (it does through any telescope!) and brighter deep sky objects (Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy) should also be visible. The planets will be doable, but I recommend getting a better quality eyepiece for higher magnifications. The 6mm Gold-Line eyepiece is a good choice that won't break the bank.
Clear skies!
They're not too expensive at $359.99 - less than a PS4 http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376678749&sr=8-1&keywords=xt8
I've made two recommendations before. I am not an astronomer, amateur or pro. I have been interested and have found some information about it, that's where these come from.
First order of business. Bigger hole is better. Always. Get the biggest diameter scope you can get. With that in mind these two have been suggested as great starters:
The Astroscan a good review from Dan's Data. It used to be cheaper, and normally was recommended before the next one, but now they're pretty close in price, but that one is still smaller and more portable.
The Orion Dobsonian XT8 Though really any 8" telescope would be good, but at 350$ for a well reviewed major name brand one is very nice.
Oh, and two more things, 1. get a book from somewhere. It's really important to know what's worth looking at, when and where. 2. find and speak with an astronomy club. They often have viewing events where you go and look through their setup scopes. That'll get you recommendations, perhaps second hand eq, and at the very least an idea of what you're getting into.
Edit: Wow, thanks generous stranger!
Don't buy either of those. Not great.
If your budget is around $200 get an AWB OneSky
If you can stretch to $250-300 get a 6" Dobsonian
If you can stretch to $400-450 get an 8" Dobsonian
Yeah, buy the XT8 instead.
(Or the Skywatcher 8". It's cheaper than the XT6 on Amazon right now.)
Hello :-)
If you aren't in a hurry, you can regularly get a refurbished/2nd XT6 and XT8 for $200-$285 over at https://www.telescope.com/Sale/Clearance-Center/pc/6/777.uts?&refinementValueIds=4567. If you check the used market, you might get one for even less.
 
New, the Orion XT6 costs $279. New, a 8" costs $350 (that's a sale currently, with one that has much better accessories than the XT8)for a much better price.
Within your budget, the only things worthwhile are the OneSky and Mini 130. The OneSky is very compact, the Mini has contrast benefits (closed tube, possibly thinner secondary hodlers) and a regular focuser.
Outside the US, the OneSky is sold as SkyWatcher Heritage 130p, and another one is the Bresser Messier 5". The Mini is more expensive here.
 
The XT4.5 has slight contrast benefits due to it's "more relaxed" aperture ratio (->possibly mirror aberrations, coma... Easier to reach higher magnifications with cheap eyepieces). The set comes with a lot of stuff (though a cheap barlow isn't ideal). It has a slightly smaller aperture than the OneSKy/Mini130 though.
For the price-difference of the XT4.5 and XT6, the XT6 is very much worth it. The increase of aperture shows noticeably more detail, and it's height makes it easier to observe standing/seated.
Speaking of, for the OneSKy, I use a Ikea Bekväm.
It still beats any of the sets on tripod. The 127eq, 114eq, 130eq and similar all suffer from a mount that's not overly stable, bad accessories, and flawed optics (flawed "bird-jones" type or spherical mirror in case of the 130eq). Even though some of these have amazingly good reviews, they are not good at all. Beginners reviewing them are just happy to see the moon "up close".
 
> planetary viewing
Do keep in mind that only three planets show noteworthy detail and aren't even up all the time. So a larger aperture for some deep-sky observing is always a good idea :-)
Links on what to expect in different telescope aperture sizes
Size/Portability
 
All telescopes require one or more eyepieces to get the most out of it. But recommendations depend on the telescope you choose. Avoid eyepiece sets, they are never worth it (overpriced, mediocre, Plössl-type eyepieces under 10mm have horrible eye-relief).
 
Clear skies! :-)
Celestron First Scope (or Cometron if you want to stretch the budget).
It is not going to be an amazing scope, but it was my first and I was able to see that Saturn had rings with it (rather than that Saturn was an oval shape). M31 and M13 as well as other deep sky targets will not look amazing, but will be visible in it.
I think they strike the right balance between not being complete shite so as to turn any interest they have into annoyance and disinterest, but also it not being the end of the world if they use it once and never use it again.
Orion SkyQuest XT8
Telescopes can be anywhere from sub-$100 to tens of thousands of dollars, it's really all about what you want to get out of it. If you're just getting into the hobby I'd highly recommend this telescope. It's sub 100 and decent quality. You can also add a $30 filter to look at the sun with.
If you're willing to spend more money, this is a great telescope at $400 USD.
Astrophotography can be as simple as putting your phone's camera up to they eyepiece or connecting a DSLR or CCD camera to a computer-controlled telescope to get many hours of images to stack to bring out the detail. Of course, this can get really expensive.
Do note: there's a saying that the more you spend, the longer you'll have to wait to use it.
I own one of these, it's decent:
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1487998236&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=telescope&psc=1
Light pollution is the #1 problem you'll face. Something cheesy like this though can legit see the rings of Saturn.
UFOs typically fast moving. Try sighting the ISS and you will understand why people don't typically bust out a telescope to look at UFOs.
PLEASE listen to the AutoModerator bot post. Those of us who spend a lot of time on here answering these kinds of questions ALL agree with it (which is why it posts what it does).
None of those that you list are worth the money. They are all low-quality scopes that will do more to discourage you than support your interest.
Your price-point is a tricky one. $300 USD would be a little better. But there's still some good options. The SkyWatcher Heritage 130P is your best bet around that price point. If you can push a little further, though, even better would be the Orion XT6 Dobsonian. I cannot recommend ANY motorized/GoTo telescopes for even twice that price (though some people may disagree).
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1497733605&sr=1-2&keywords=dobsonian+telescope+6+inch
Firstly, I don't recommend getting a telescope in that price range with photography in mind. You will be sorely disappointed-- to begin getting respectable photographs, it requires several thousand in equipment. There's nothing stopping you from just holding your phone up to the eyepiece and snapping a photo, but the results aren't going to be anything spectacular unless you're willing to spend exorbitant amounts of money.
That being said, the Orion Dobsonians are fantastic telescopes available at that price point. With your budget, you could get the Orion XT8 for $390 and still have some money left over for a Sun filter. It would get you amazing views of the Moon and planets (along with some nebulae and galaxies depending on light pollution).
To be entirely honest with you, you should go for a light bucket. If you don't mind paying juuuuust a bit extra, I would go with an 8" Dobsonian. I've read in multiple places that it's the best bang for buck. You should start out, as heptapod said, with just a pair of binoculars and learn the sky. You can find many sky maps online and if you subscribe to Astronomy magazine, they supply you with a good amount. You can find an 8" Dob on Amazon from Orion for $329, which is a great deal. The larger the diameter of the telescope, the more light you'll be able to gather from the cosmos. There's many different things to check out when grabbing a telescope.
Check it: http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=photo&qid=1266821888&sr=1-1
Look throughout some guides: http://findascope.com/
and others. I'm saving up for a 12" Dob. I'm also joining the local Astronomy club at the museum (The Neville Museum's Astronomical Society) which isn't a bad idea and you should look into as well. Good luck, and congrats on getting into an amazing field!
This was recommended to me before. Thoughts?
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2PH6H3705OL3F&coliid=I3E0J2WO5X7IGE
for 350 bucks you can get an 8 inch dobsonian (very easy to use and to take with you places.)
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/tags-on-product/B001DDW9V6
Get an 8" classic dobsonian from any major manufacturer. I'd recommend this one.
A few reasons:
More questions can be directed to the "beginners" guides over at the side-bar, under "Looking for your first telescope?". A lot of us are biased toward dobs because of the value and ease of use. If you want to go for a tripod refractor, that's fine, but in my opinion you won't get much out of them other than planets, the moon, and some star clusters or globulars. Aperture is cheap for dobs.
If an 8" dob is out of reach in price, get a mini-dob or a good pair of binoculars. Don't get a Walmart telescope, those are garbage.
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001TI9Y2M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I probably could have spent more time researching one, but it had good reviews, travels easily, isn't too complicated to set up and it's a great price. I decided I'd rather start here and work my way up to something more advanced later on than buy one now that's too advanced for me and more expensive.
Plus it has 70mm in the name, and I saw Interstellar on IMAX 70mm so the Murphy in me told me it was fate. :)
A brilliant telescope for a young child would be the Orion Funscope. I have several scopes but I have this in the boot of the car all the time just in case. It's a table-top scope which does away with complex mounting issues and the usual awful tripods that come with cheap scopes. It's got 2 decent eyepieces and a great little laser finder that other scopes like this don't have. As a very amateur astronomer for years, this is by far the best bang for buck out there in telescopes.
I want to point out that you don't necessarily need a RCA out. A standard 1/8" is fine as you can use a 1/8" to rca cable. My previous setup was Fiio e10k as a DAC into Topping TP22 into those micca speakers.
I actually don't know of a 4" from Orion. They make a 4.5" that runs a little over $200 on Amazon. There's also this 5" Jones-Bird Reflector from Celestron. Quality seems ok for the price, but collimation is tedious.
There you go: SkyWatcher Skyliner 8" Dob. Best bang for buck, and will absolutely murder the shit out of the itty bitty Space Probe 130 in all regards.
You don't need very much magnification at all, as they're visible with the naked eye. But if you want a really clear, detailed image, you want to collect a lot of light, so the diameter of the telescope is what really matters. The bigger the better. This one is a pretty good bang for your buck, especially if you also get this to go with it.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000MLHMAS/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 -- I bought this one a few years ago, looks like it's about $115 presently. Very basic scope, very basic mount, but the second thing I ever saw through it (after the moon) was Jupiter and its moons, and you can see them pretty well.
Alt-Az mount is way cheaper than an equatorial mount, but it means you'll have a harder time tracking objects across the sky. And you'll be surprised at how fast they move when you're looking at them under high magnification. So your investment should also consider how old your kids are and whether they're going to be able to track with the scope themselves.
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6
This seems to be the starting point for a lot of people. simple to use, lots of room to upgrade, decent sized aperture. It's what I have and it gets my vote
I don't know your budget but this is a great telescope for a 9 year old and you wont be disappointed. It's durable and a really good scope that will last a long time. Maybe get a barlow lens because it doesn't come with one but it's the best bang for the buck. You will be taking this puppy out and orion has a great customer service. Here is the link
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/tags-on-product/B0000XMSNO
How technical / mechanically savvy is she? Has she shown a strong interest in astronomy, or are you giving her this gift in the hopes that she'll find it interesting?
The reason I ask is that while the second one you linked to is a better instrument, it's harder to operate the mount and get the scope to point where you want it. A non-mechanically savvy or only partially interested kid may lose interest because the mount could prove to be too frustrating to use.
I've had numerous telescopes in my life, currently have a mid-grade refractor on an equatorial mount, and it's a pain in the ass even for me. I don't use it as often as I would like because it's cumbersome. Cheap equatorial mounts also vibrate like crazy, blurring images the instant you touch the focuser.
The only reason to get an equatorial mount is if you want motorized / aligned tracking of objects. A smooth alt-az mount is just as easy to keep objects centered with IMO, and it's SIGNIFICANTLY easier to just aim at them.
If she does have a strong interest, and you're willing to stretch your budget a bit, you can get her a scope she'll grow into rather than grow out of, by getting something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10014-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B0000XMSNO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1417754292&sr=8-2&keywords=orion+skyquest
The problem with binos is that you'll never be able to hold them steady enough to study things. You'll need a tripod and mount.
Nevertheless, enjoyable viewing can be had with a good set.
Here's what I'm working.
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 $75
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-SkyMaster-Binoculars-Tripod-Adapter/dp/B00008Y0VN/
70-Inch Pistol Grip Tripod with Bag $55
https://www.amazon.com/AmazonBasics-70-Inch-Pistol-Grip-Tripod/dp/B01LQX0P8Q
Total Cost ~$140 shipped
This is slightly more costly than most decent starter scopes.
Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope ~$133
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY
If money is of little object, get a basic scope and the binoculars I stated earlier. You'll enjoy having both capabilities and it will help you hunt down objects. Also fun for people who come with you to have something to do while you work the scope.
I will say that binoculars get uncomfortable if you're not laying down, or sitting naturally and even then it can get tiresome on the eyes and neck. Nothing beats a telescope imho. You can learn the sky and develop good habits just the same.
I felt the same way and picked up one of the “department store telescopes” people will tell you not to buy... so long as you don’t mind getting what you pay for, they can be great “gateway drugs” to enjoying astronomy.
Orion SpaceProbe II 76mm Altazimuth Reflector Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0732TBPJW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XfTCCbEP3BWTW
This is something you could look into just to start. I began with this:
Celestron 21061 AstroMaster 70AZ Refractor Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000MLHMAS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_fyTCCbET2H4X6
Just food for thought. Will you probably turn around and wanna spend more money? Maybe... but in my mind, spending ~$100 to try something is a lot better than ~$400.
Rule of thumb is avoid cheap refractors. With refractors you need top notch optics to get good results, and you will never find them on cheaper ones. Don't be fooled by the magnification number, 300x magnification is useless when your optics cannot produce good results to begin with. It's just a cheap trick they use to impress beginners
Your best bet, with a 200€ budget is to get a good pair of binoculars, something around 15x70 and a tripod. If you still want a telescope, what you need is a reflector. Check out the dobsonians in Amazon, they're great and pack a lot of power for what you pay for, best bang for your buck as a beginner. Example: Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DsWCCb75RADY1
Telescopes are one thing where price does really matter though, it is advised to spend as much as you can on one, because quality and results obtained exponentially go up the pricier they are.
My suggestion would be to get a pair of nice binoculars, and if you like what you see thru them in the night sky (completely dark, away from City lights preferably) save up for a nice telescope. I've seen quite a few deep sky objects with just these cheap Olympus 10x50 ones, in completely dark skies. Olympus Trooper 10x50 DPS I Binocular (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AKGX3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HIWCCb36S5DK2
Good luck!
You can get a 6" Dobsonian for about $250. That's where I would start for visual observing. Astrophotography is a whole other kettle of fish and you'll need to stretch your budget by a factor of 5 to get started. The best way to get into astrophotography on a limited budget is to use your camera lenses and get wide field shots using a tracker like the Vixen Polarie.
Holy Batman this is an amazing response!
The 4 year old has used a telescope before, he's just absolutely fascinated by space right now. If it was just him, I'd definitely be getting the £50 type scopes. Due to my interest, I really don't believe any model I get will be a waste of money.
I had the Heritage in mind, but had never looked at that Skyliner 150p, which has lead me to the 200p....I'm sure you know the feeling!
Already purchased Turn Left at Orion, definitely want a moon filter/scope as well as a planetary one.
Finder scope is essential from what I've read.
I think I'm settled on either the Heritage 130p or the Skyliner 150p. Is there any justifiable reason to even consider the 200p? I'm fairly certain I'll go in the middle for the 150p, but always welcome opinions!
Yet this Orion StarMax and this Orion SkyQuest keep appearing in my research. It will be between those 4 for sure, if you have any specific advice on those along with any accessories I need I would be eternally grateful.
Also it is only $349 with Amazon Prime: http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394664803&sr=8-1&keywords=xt8
EDIT: Not Prime, but still free shipping.
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6
I've owned about a dozen telescopes and the best beginner telescope is by far the Orion skyquest, 8 inch. You can find them used on craigslist for half the price. https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1491667181&sr=8-1&keywords=orion+skyquest+xt8
Is this that model?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6
Amazon has that scope on sale for only $25! Awesome deal.
Well, the traditional starter is a 50-mm refractor...what most people think of as a telescope. The optics are usually fine, but the mounts are horrible. I still remember battling mine. And the one my wife bought at the thrift store has confounded my kids. Tradition!
Another option would be a Newtonian telescope, which uses a mirror instead of a lens. They don't look like a "normal" telescope. However, they work just as well...and the mounts are a lot easier to use. The tabletop versions are portable and are intended for kids...
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00FM4A108/
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UQ6E4Y/
That's what I would have gotten myself way back when.
I don't know if it's improved lately or not, but Tasco used to not have the greatest reputation. This sort of small refractor in particular is generally considered very poor.
I don't own one personably, but I've read generally favorable reviews of the Celestron Firstscope. It's less expensive, likely to be better quality, and much more portable. It's probably a good idea to also pick up the accessory kit for that.
Whatever you end up getting, it's probably not worth spending too much on unless you know you'll really like using a telescope. A cheap beginner scope will give you an idea of whether or not you like telescopes, and if you do, what sort of things in particular you like. Then you'll be ready to buy a better, more specialized scope.
Check out /r/telescopes for recommendations. They love answering questions.
You don't need a large & expensive telescope to see the rings of Saturn, Jupiter's great red spot, and details on the Moon (it's possible with something like this), but to get better views of planets and other things like dim galaxies, nebulas, globular clusters, etc. bigger is better (an 8-inch Dobsonian is the most popular suggestion).
Edit: Also, here's a guide showing what you can expect to see through different sized scopes.
Just to throw a spanner in the works - for purely planetary usage it could be worth looking at a maksutov. They typically have a longer focal length, which makes them excellent for planets but their f-ratio makes them less suitable for DSOs. They're also more compact which makes storage and transport simpler.
http://www.amazon.com/10022-StarMax-TableTop-Maksutov-Cassegrain-Telescope/dp/B002JO06PO or http://www.amazon.com/Sky-Watcher-S11750-Sky-Watcher-Virtuoso/dp/B00CIVV34Q could both be worth a look.
Strictly speaking, wattages and THD are a good guide for figuring out quality, but are certainly not a hard-and-fast rule. Knowing your brands and trusted opinions are better, listening to it yourself is best.
The link in the sidebar has some good ones.
I'm actually in exactly the same position as you at the moment, I'm considering this one as it's the cheapest (50w per channel, ~au$80 delivered), but apparently this one is much better even though it's only 30w per channel and is $20 more.
Or then again I could anticipate future upgrades and just go for this yammy amp which is 100w per channel for ~$190.
I really like that Denon one you've posted, though. Decisions, decisions.
You're correct, you are missing an eyepiece. They come in many different magnifications. When I got my first telescope, I also picked up these, http://www.amazon.com/Orion-08890-1-25-Inch-Telescope-Accessory/dp/B0069VXRLS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1418025111&sr=8-1&keywords=orion+eyepiece+kit .
No, that will be awful. In that price range check out the tabletop reflectors such as this 100mm Orion SkyScanner.
The absolute best telescopes for beginners is a good 8 inch dobsonion. If you are willing to take the time to learn the night sky and don't need goto a good one is 400 or so new. For 650 you can get a push to 8 inch scope that allows you to tell it what you want to see and it will tell you how to push the scope to see it. True motorized ones are much more expensive
The reason 8 inches is the best starters is it's big enough to provide great views of everything from the moon, the major planets and all the brightest deep space objects. The dobsonion type scope is easy to setup,very stable, and light enough that it's not a big production to get it out and ready.
If you get a scope order the book "turn left at Orion" on Amazon. It is a great book that gives you easy to understand directions on where to point a scope any time of the year to see the best objects currently in the sky. Also see if there are any astronomy clubs in your area because they are normally very willing to help you get started
Astrophotography is a whole other can of worms and requires specialized telescopes mounts cameras etc
Below are some examples of Scopes and good reading:
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11610-Traditional-Dobsonian-8-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3PRK/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=skywatcher+dobsonian+8&qid=1569033244&s=gateway&sprefix=skywatcher+dobs&sr=8-3
https://www.telescope.com/mobileProduct/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/Classic-Dobsonians/Orion-Limited-Edition-SkyQuest-XT8-Classic-Dobsonian-Bundle/pc/1/c/12/sc/13/101452.uts
https://www.telescope.com/mobileProduct/Telescopes/Dobsonian-Telescopes/IntelliScope-Dobsonians/Orion-SkyQuest-XT8i-IntelliScope-Dobsonian-Telescope/pc/1/c/12/sc/27/102012.uts
https://www.amazon.com/Turn-Left-Orion-Hundreds-Telescope/dp/1108457568/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=turn+left+at+orion&qid=1569034887&s=gateway&sprefix=turn+left&sr=8-1
In before someone else mentions the used Skywatcher 8 inch dobs that are currently on Amazon for under $300. Probably your best bet.
Argentina eh? Is that 570 American Dollars?
Good looking scope.
Do you have dark skies where you are? I started off with a Celestron 130mm, but I live in San Jose, CA (which has bad sky pollution), so sold it for a smaller 90mm Mak. In city areas, I think 90mm Maks or (or small Dobs) are the way to go. Easy set up.
But this is a personal preference (I have no patience for those EQ mounts! It took me three trips from my room to the drive way to set everything up. Then you have to align it, etc.)
That was my initial idea but the Mrs talked me out of it. Something about the feeling of using a telescope, which I had to agree with.
I think I'm about to pull the trigger on this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002JO06PO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER.
OK so a basic 2 channel amplifier would work, amazon has quite a few. I have this one and love it. https://www.amazon.com/Topping-TP22-TK2050-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B005VR1VQE/ref=sr_1_sc_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1484862119&sr=1-1-spell&keywords=toppingt+t22
These speakers are a really good buy and popular among budget audiophiles.
https://www.amazon.com/Micca-MB42X-Bookshelf-Speakers-Tweeter/dp/B00E7H8GG2/ref=sr_1_1?s=aht&ie=UTF8&qid=1484862170&sr=1-1&keywords=mb42x
I personally find surround to be a gimmick. Especially at this price point you get so much more from investing in a decent pair of stereo speakers than if you have to spread your money across 5 speakers.
If you could live without the soundcard and just use USB, I would spend just over $250 and get Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (just google reviews of these speakers), a Topping TP22 amp, and a HiFiMeDIY Sabre USB DAC. You will also need speaker cable, and a RCA to 3.5mm cable.
I need to replace the Lepai 2020 that I've been using at the office for monitoring demos and as an amp for my Fiio X1/tablet.
I lucked out when I grabbed the Lepai and got a REALLY quiet one. Now I need another for a project and they appear to be out of production, so I figure it's a good excuse to upgrade my office system.
What I need:
A sub $100, compact, digital amp similar to the Lepai in size. I need 2 inputs, preferably at least one set RCA and a front-mounted power switch.
Headphone out would be nice, but isn't required. Banana plug friendly is nice, but not required. I don't need an EQ on the amp as long as it's relatively flat (for the money).
My problem is that while I enjoy making music, I'm definitely not an audiophile. I've been looking at the
Topping TP22 and the SA-60, neither have a headphone out but do seem to tick all the other boxes. Are there any other models I should be looking at, or are these pretty much where it's at in the~$100 range?
Well keep in mind with speakers like screens it's a long term investment. I think they retail for $350/pair but Amazon has had the black ones for $199 for a while now. I can almost guarantee you won't find a better speaker out there for $100 each.
I'm using a small class T pre-amp to drive them. The Topping Tp22 is pretty great, zero distortion and small footprint. It doesn't have a ton of wattage but if you don't want to blow your eardrums out it should be plenty powerful. My Genesis Model 1 is probably my quietest system and when I want to rock out to some Lightening Force and crank it I get it up to about the halfway position on the knob. You can see my setup in this pic. (ignore the center speaker, it's a holdover while I finish changing my setup over to my new TV)
Probably a desktop amp and a pair of bookshelf speakers. Something like this:
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B005VR1VQE
http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B009IUIV4A
Or find one of those "home theater in a box" setups and use the receiver from that, which would allow you to add more/better speakers later if you end up moving or something. I got mine fairly cheap on craigslist when I couldn't afford much else, then bought higher quality speakers later on.
I have the exact same scope. Mine came with a 25mm Ploessl that allowed me to see Jupiter and it's four moons and allowed me to get a decent glance at saturn and it's rings. I've had mine since February and the planets haven't exactly been in good locations for viewing (and at convenient times...), but I'm in the northern hemisphere, so it'll be different for you. I got a Orion lens kit that came with a barlow x2, 6.3mm, 7.5mm, 10mm, 17mm and 40mm lenses as well as six different lens filters. Orion 1.25" lens kit
The issue I had with planetary viewing (and in general) is that my 6.3mm and 7.5mm lenses get me to almost 200x magnification, which as was mentioned, will be about the limit for the scope, problem is, my views were VERY blurry and hard to focus, I know my scope is collimated well (Something you should double check), but planets and the moon were crappy for getting sharp views. That said, the other night, I got great close ups of the moon, so I'm thinking the issues I'm facing are atmospheric, not equipment. Would love to know what you all think about that!
Hope my info helps!
I started off with a 100 dollar 4.5 inch (70mm is 3 inch i think) orion tabletop. Then I added a barlow lens and a 6mm eyepiece for about 40 dollars each. You can find cheaper pieces though.
The tabletop I had is pretty good for beginners, I could see dark objects like the andromeda galaxy and orions nebula. Planet views are good too but the eyepieces that come with the scope dont get you a lot of zoom which is why i got a 6mm and a barlow.
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-10012-SkyScanner-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BIIU/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=orion+4.5&qid=1562969551&s=gateway&sr=8-11
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8920-Expanse-Telescope-Eyepiece/dp/B0000XMXXO/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=6mm+orion+eyepiece&qid=1562969593&s=gateway&sr=8-2
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-08711-Shorty-1-25-Inch-Barlow/dp/B0000XMWQW/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=orion+barlow&qid=1562969613&s=gateway&sr=8-3
You can find cheaper eyepieces and barlow lens though.
The smaller the eyepiece, the more zoom you have, the barlow lens doubles your zoom.
For stuff like the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn, a ~$100 telescope is fine to start with. Some people will say to get binoculars, but I think that it is horribly outdated advice.
Do you have a local astronomy club? If so, it might not be a bad idea to visit one of their public observing nights and check some stuff out.
Even in the middle of light polluted Phoenix, I have no trouble doing sidewalk astronomy on planetary objects, and even a few of the brighter nebulas.
My daughter is just barely out of the "toddler" stage, and uses this telescope on her own to look at the moon: http://www.amazon.com/iOptron-6004-iExplore-Refractor-Telescope/dp/B009S0VT62/ref=sr_1_4?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1394183296&sr=1-4&keywords=telescope
I'd never recommend that telescope to anyone though, but it was a gift from an astronomer friend, and it's cheap enough to where if she breaks it, I'm not out much. Maybe in a couple more years she can start using my 8" dob.
For a telescope suggestion, I'd stay away from any equatorial mounts. Cheap equatorial mounts are more frustrating than anything.
If $100 is your budget, Orion has a nice table-top dob that would make a nice starter scope. http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10012-SkyScanner-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BIIU/ref=sr_1_6?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1394183296&sr=1-6&keywords=telescope
The problem with the table-top scopes is sometimes it's hard to use the finder scope. Once your daughter becomes familiar with the scope though, she shouldn't have trouble hitting the moon, and Jupiter.
If she plans on looking at the moon a lot, I'd suggest a lunar filter (about $20). http://www.amazon.com/Orion-05662-1-25-Inch-Percent-Transmission/dp/B0000XMUWS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1394183584&sr=1-1&keywords=lunar+filter
I know that pushes things up to ~150, but upping your budget a bit will pay off well. The toy scopes under $50 aren't really worth bothering with.
If your budget is limited, you could consider the Celestron Firstscope, which is a 3" table-top reflector. Combine a firstscope with a lunar filter, and you are talking about $60 or $70, and would still make an "okay" starter telescope.
As for keeping here interested in space/astronomy you could download and install stellarium on your computer for her. Stellarium is a free/open source planetarium program. Simply set your location, and you can view everything visible in the night skies of your area.
Also, there are a ton of "citizen science" programs your daughter could participate in.
Check out cosmoquest.org and zooniverse.org
>I asked him if the other planets are flat. He said there aren't any other planets (!!!!). Just the moon and the sun.
You can show him the planets in the sky and also show that they change position from night to night, whereas the stars stay the same relative to each other. A phone app can help you locate ojbects in the sky.
You can also buy a cheap telescope that will allow you to view the major planets. Seeing Saturn's distinctive ringed shape or Jupiter's moons, with his own eyes, might help. (Could also take him to a local star party.)
You can definitely get a nice hobbyist telescope for a reasonable to semireasonable amount of money. I don't know much about brands so definitely don't take this as buying advice, but here are two consumer telescopes at opposite ends of the price range for that market.
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-SpaceProbe-Equatorial-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BKOW
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-StarBright-Schmidt-Cassegrain-2800mm-Telescope/dp/B000ARFND2
I have put some effort into research for binoculars/telescopes myself and I bought Cresta Prestige PB321 for €30
$200 budget can also buy you this telescope https://www.amazon.com/Orion-10015-StarBlast-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D12U1IK that I got recommended from some site somewhere.
I can see Jovian moons with the binoculars but I don't have them long enough to look at anything more. I also have a lot of light pollution, so I doubt I should expect much more than Jovian moons with €30 binoculars
I'm thinking of buying that telescope if I still care enough to use my binoculars when my birthday comes around. I don't want to spend a lot of money on a 3 month hobby
I bought THIS off of craigslist for around $120(?) and I can see Saturn with it. It's just crazy to see it with your own eye.
Starblast via amazon.
It's a reflector so it has mirrors instead of lenses. Portable, decent aperture, good optics. I don't think you'll do much better for 200$ unless you get lucky on craigslist or ebay.
You can also get it on an equatorial mount but it'll cost more that way.
Ack, don't buy that telescope it's crap. I'd advise you save a bit more and get something like this: http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10015-StarBlast-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D12U1IK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1374094182&sr=8-2&keywords=starblast+4.5
But if $60 is your top dollar you can do better than the Barska with these:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374093969&sr=8-3&keywords=celestron+tabletop
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10021-FunScope-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BIGC/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1374093969&sr=8-7&keywords=celestron+tabletop
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21036-PowerSeeker-70AZ-Telescope/dp/B003AM87PU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374094004&sr=8-1&keywords=celestron+70az
Biggest issue you are going to have is for children to have any good luck, they will need to be able to find stuff to look at. With that said, I would bundle any telescope checkout with a copy of "Turn Right at Orion" as well as a red headlamp. I would also consider having parents sign some sort of release form that if the scope comes back damage you can go after them for the cost.
You might do better with a GoTo telescope. These make it easy to find stuff to look at if you get them positioned properly. I am not sure of you budget, depending on that I would go with this
http://www.telescope.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=102026&utm_source=google&utm_medium=comparisonshopping&utm_campaign=US-googlemerchant&gclid=Cj0KEQiA1b7CBRDjmIPL4u-Zy6gBEiQAsJhTMHDaTbPhQ5-buq2SReWnyk_Mz2gYSK67XVWMkvSpdgMaAvPv8P8HAQ
I would also reach out to your local astronomical society to see if they would help. Here is a example of what the New Hampshire Astronomical society does.
http://www.nhastro.com/ltp.php
The telescope they use is this one
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-10015-StarBlast-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D12U1IK
I would actually not recommend the one you have listed. The larger scope will allow users to see more objects as well as a tripod will be harder to control shaking then a tabletop mount.
I'm pretty into astronomy, but just as 99% of our communication is nonverbal, 99% of my astronomy is naked-eye, watching the constellations swim by as the year goes on. The planets are a special treat, they add a lot of spice to the night sky with their movements.
My first scope was an Orion FunScope, a 76mm Newtonian Reflector. My next scope, a year later, was a 8-inch Orion SkyView Pro, an equatorial (follows the Earth's rotation) Newt Reflector. Newtonian Reflectors are my scope of choice, easiest to use. It requires a lot of patience and knowledge of the night sky and how the Earth rotates. My biggest achievement is locating Nova Delphini with only star-hopping.
http://www.rocketroberts.com/astro/firstscopes.htm
Fun Scope and First scope are table top, easy to handle, ‘scopes I’ve read about. A finder scope on the side to locate objects is important shouldn’t be overlooked. Edit: I’m partial to this one but I’ve never used it. Again, note the finder scope that helps with pointing the scope at your object. https://www.amazon.com/Orion-10033-FunScope-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00FM4A108/ref=pd_sbs_421_4/130-6793756-0166417?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00FM4A108&pd_rd_r=47425607-60fe-11e9-953e-dd131782f63a&pd_rd_w=VqyX5&pd_rd_wg=j4E2u&pf_rd_p=588939de-d3f8-42f1-a3d8-d556eae5797d&pf_rd_r=J6SKZGWA068T3AY8WFN9&psc=1&refRID=J6SKZGWA068T3AY8WFN9. Edit edit: you might want to look into a smartphone adapter. Not too much $$. This sends the image from 5he scope into,the phone camera. Bingo, big display screen foe all to view. Some an be klunky and might be best to 5he adults to set up.
The 114AZ isn't a bad scope per se. It's NOT a Bird-Jones scope like the 127EQ is. It's a long focal ratio reflector with a spherical mirror. However, the long focal ratio means the spherical mirror behaves about as well as a parabolic mirror, so views are comparable to a similar aperture scope with parabolic mirror.
The main issue is the mount is REALLY wobbly, and it prevents the scope from pointing vertically in certain orientations thanks to the tripod legs. Optically, it's not a bad scope for $82, but the mount makes me question whether or not it would be too frustrating an experience to get much value out of it.
Realistically, I don't recommend any scopes less than about $300 because they all have problems that can lead to a frustrating experience if you don't know how to overcome them. The bare minimum scope I would recommend is the Zhumell Z130 table-top dobsonian, but you have to understand that you're getting a small scope that has to be placed on a very sturdy table that won't move, else you'll have similar problems with view stability.
What I often recommend is a 6" full-sized dobsonian like the SkyWatcher 6" Traditional for $285. The long focal ratio is much more beginner friendly, the full size dob base means it can be placed on the ground and you can sit in a chair to observe through it, and the extra aperture will really show a lot of detail on the planets and moon on a night when the atmosphere is steady.
Ah gotcha. I wasn't sure the age of your son, but it's awesome you are looking for one for your young son and helping him to venture into the world of science. If I were you I'd just wait and find a decent scope on craigslist. If he is still interested in astronomy in a couple years then I would throw down some money on a scope. I think a smaller scope for seeing the planets and looking at the moon will be interesting for him. The Orion XT6 is pretty large, but they do sell a 4.5" model which would be a bit smaller and cheaper. Link
I wouldn't buy anything from Wal-mart or K-mart though, those scopes are kind of trashy. I used to have a Tasco when I was younger that I won in a fundraiser and I could see the moon and not too much else so it was kind of disappointing.
Best of luck.
> I am looking for a really good telescope that is between 100 to 150 dollars...200 would be pushing it. Does anyone have any good recommendations?
There is no "really good" telescope within your budget. An 8" Dobsonian would be ideal but it costs $330. Stretching your budget a little you could get a 4.5" one for $230.
Well apparently I'm not the only one who wants this sweet telescope... /u/call_mecthulhu, come on down! We both totally have unrealistic wishes for items! Woo!
Here's my revised advice, get this telescope and this adapter.
I'm not thrilled with the aperture value (f7.8 or something at 1000mm) but it does come with cheap German Equatorial mount. You can use the finder piece and the mount controls to manually track stars and planets. I believe the German Equatorial mount, if my memory serves me correctly, can be set to various angles so that you will only have to adjust one knob to track any body in the sky (as opposed to having to turn two knobs like an etch-a-sketch to track).
Long exposures are needed to photograph planets, stars, galaxies, etc. You'll want the tracking ability, even if it is done manually.
I just bought a Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope for my family. We've looked at the moon, Mars, and Venus. It can imagine the rings of Saturn, but I haven't had a chance yet. I'm going to buy this phone/tablet mounting bracket so I can take pictures through the scope.
Under $50: 76mm newtonian w/dobson mount
Under $100: an 80mm refractor for each eye (tripod not included)
Under $200: 127mm newtonian w/ equatorial mount, tripod, starfinder and 3 lenses
I started with this one. A celestron 130slt. I know people don’t like the computerized ones but in my opinion, for an amateur, it’s really great. Amazon has a warehouse deal for $320 right now. It’s a great telescope for beginners. I even took some pictures of the moon and stars. You can see the rings separated from Saturn but you cannot tell that there are two rings if that makes sense.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNNQ/
While nothing special https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-130-Computerized-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNNQ has been a great learning scope for me.
Equipment (I’ll link everything as well)
Hardware:
-Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNNQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_sHMFDbRWV6XEC
-iPhone 7
-phone mount
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DZ45CPA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_IIMFDbJMWY647
Software:
-NightCap Camera by Realtime Dreams Limited
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nightcap-camera/id754105884
No processing was done.
Random question but I was wondering if you could compare the two telescopes below with the one OP originally asked about.
https://www.amazon.ca/Celestron-31051-AstroMaster-130EQ-Telescope/dp/B0013Z42AK
https://www.amazon.ca/Celestron-NexStar-130-Computerized-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNNQ
I'd mainly be interested in Jupiter and Saturn and would be willing to go up to the $599 cost of the NexStar but would rather just get a cheaper one if there isn't much difference.
this was my first scope, http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-130-Computerized-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNNQ/ref=pd_ts_zbs_p_10693141_3/188-2997468-6997211?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=right-5&pf_rd_r=1RKJ9NYZ56K083VFJHY2&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=236989901&pf_rd_i=524138
You can see all the planets, and even the Galilean moons clearly, and the shots of the moon are awesome. Good for the Great Orion Nebulae as wel.
Ok I read through some articles. Kind of complicated! Thanks a lot for your help.
Do you have thoughts on this one? It's $20 more for the barlow, is there a difference in barlows or should I get the one that comes in a bundle?
The other one that looks interesting is [this computerized one.] (http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top#Ask) This might be slightly out of our price range when you throw in accessories.
Is she interested in using the telescope visually too? or mostly just for photography?
A "complete package" scope at that price that would be pretty decent for visual and also decent for lunar/planetary/very bright DSOs is the Celestron NexStar 4se plus a T-adaptor and T-ring for her Nikon. Total: under $500
One that would require a bit more work and luck to find used stuff, but might be worth it if she wants to continue with the hobby: Used Celestron AVX or Orion Sirius mount, some kind of power option, cheap 80mm refractor like the Orion Short Tube, T-ring for Nikon. Total: Maybe $600 if you get lucky
Here's a Celestron 4SE sitting at the top of your budget. It's computerized, I think you can do some astrophoto with it and you don't need to worry about collimation as much as with a simple reflector.
If you get tired of it you can probably resell it on Craigslist for $300 any time in the next 5 years, so in a way you are committing $200 to own a nice telescope with more versatility than a Dob.
Dobsonian scopes are so popular because the mounts are so cheap to make, and a good (non-dob) mount can cost you more than the scope itself. This one has a bit of extras attached, like what appears to be some sort of goto add on, but it's far from the most expensive scope you'll ever see.
The key to telescopes is aperture. This one looks like a 12"? it could be an 8" (that's the diameter of the mirror inside). This 12" dobsonian with goto is $1,780. 1,179 if you want to manually move it while still having a computer tell you where to point. And only $629 if you want to skip the electronics all together. Now switch to a refracting telescope (what most people imagine when they think of telescopes). This 5" televue (less than half the aperture than the dobsonians, so see less deep space stuff) without any eyepieces, mounts, finder scopes, etc is $7,295. It's still not the most expensive amateur telescope out there, but you get the point. For the exact same price, you can get an 18" dobsonian telescope with a mount.
My first "serious" telescope was an Orion XT8. Just a scope that sits on a wooden box (aka, a dobsonian mount). It came with two eye pieces, a red dot finder, and a higher quality focuser. It costs $349. Later on, I upgraded to a Nexstar 8. They're the same size, will more or less see the same things, but the price jumps to $1,200, and this is still a fairly low end scope if you really want to get into astronomy.
I'm in my mid 20s and I would straight up marry the woman who bought me this.
My grandpa mentioned recently wanting a telescope to play around with so I sent him this one a few days ago when I saw it for ~$60 on sale (not bought on Amazon though). He's told me he's managed to resolve some of Jupiter's and Saturn's moons with just the eyepiece and tripod and everything else that came with the telescope, and pictures of planets taken with the scope from some of the reviews seem decent enough, though obviously nowhere near as good as the OP's (and from the review the former picture is technically long-exposure and using a fancy tripod, so not quite what you're eye would see).
While it's not directly related to the telescope, if you are buying from amazon the Orion 27193 XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope and Beginner Barlow Kit isn't going to be in stock for another 3 weeks.
In my opinion you will not be missing much to get the one without the additional barlow lens+red light.
Instead I would spend that extra $20 the way u/schorhr's recommended to me by buying the book, Turn Left at Orion. It is an awesome book that teaches you a ton about all different aspects of astronomy including what you can see in a telescope, and where/when you can find it.
If you don't mind tossing a bit more money on it this might be a better purchase if you want to keep things on the cheaper end.
Orion SkyQuest XT6
I actually just used my cell phone camera, but with the help of an Orion XT6. I've been getting into astrophotography a bit recently, but I still need a few parts before I can start taking really nice pictures.
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW
Comes highly recommended as one of the best affordable stater telescopes. I can throw my own personal experience behind that.
I'll check out James Web, thanks.
This Orion has great reviews. I have a Skywatcher myself, which is slightly more expensive. Of course you can also go the second hand route, just have to take a good look at the state of the primary and secondary mirrors.
Thanks for posting back. Is this the telescope that you were talking about?
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6
Anything you can tell me about it would be helpful. My dad has wanted a telescope for years and I really want to find the perfect one. Thanks!
Personally I'd get a dobsonian; more bang for your buck, but equatorial tracking can be pretty expensive with them. Without modifications though, you could get a sweet 8" scope for not very much.
I would say the best way to start in observing is to buy a simple Dobsonian telescope and a couple of Star catalogues. What you're looking for is the ability to gather a lot of light, not necesarilly magnification. Something like this will reveal many, many things:
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310480268&sr=8-1
Once you learn, and find you really enjoy it, then you might look at more expensive scopes or astrophotography. But the first fun...and it is fun, is to simply use your own eyes and hands to control a simple scope that gathers a lot of light. Good luck. If you have other questions please write me.
If you feel like reading on your own, over at /r/astrophotography we have a pretty comprehensive Wiki geared toward helping you figure out which scope works for you. Keep in mind though it's with imaging in mind and not just basic observing.
Orion is a quality manufacturer, their gear is used pretty widely across the board with amateurs and enthusiasts for observation and astrophotography.
The first thing you need to do is have real expectations, all the cool space shots you see are always done with long exposures, usually stacked. This means that your camera sensor is opened up to accept a a lot of photons over a longer period of time, the resulting image ends up in way more detail and contrast than you would get with just viewing through the eyepiece. If you scroll down toward the bottom of this you'll see some comparisons of what you can expect to see.
If you don't plan on imaging, you essentially want the largest aperture scope you can afford, this will be a reflector like the one you linked. However I would look for a Dobsonian mount instead of a equatorial (tripod mount). You can get an 8" Reflector for just about $400. But this is a big footprint scope, heavier and not totally easy to tote around frequently. This is kind of a catch-22 because the way you will get the most out of this scope is to bring it to the darkest area possible, up into the mountains like you mentioned would be ideal.
A couple good examples would be either M31 (Andromeda) or M42 (Orion Nebula) both large and fairly distinct objects, M42 is actually the closest Nebula to us and that's one of the reasons it's so widely photographed and viewed. Andromeda with a 8' Reflector at a dark site would yield you something like this. On the other hand, an image from user /u/kindark with a less powerful scope but multiple stacked exposures was able to produce this. The former is more what you can expect to actually see.
Dobsonian is a type of mount - which is of the style: Alt-azimuth opposed to the other popular style: Equatorial
You can read about the differences here: http://science.howstuffworks.com/telescope5.htm
In short, Dobsonian style mounts are designed to be stable and easy to use but they're not ideal for long term tracking of objects in the sky for the use in say astrophotography. I would recommend this type for a beginner just because I find it easier to understand and use. It is also one of the cheaper solutions. Most Equatorial style mounts with a good telescope will cost you a good deal more than $300.
As for the 6" mirror. It's really quite simple. The bigger the mirror, the more light it collects and the better the image will be. Besides overall quality of the telescope, location, pollution, etc.. bigger is ALWAYS better. 6" is a good starting point. the XT8 (8" version) of the same maker is also a good choice, but would cost you a bit more than $300 - coming in at around $350 + accessories / shipping.
Take a look at these pictures: http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-gallery/B001DDW9V6/ref=cm_ciu_pdp_images_1?ie=UTF8&index=1
Taken from a XT8. they will give you an idea of what you'll be able to see with these telescopes.
According to the OP this was taken with an XT8, which is a very modestly priced telescope: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001DDW9V6/
I know they're poor telescopes, astronomically-speaking, but a Celestron travel scope, or one like it, might be a good option.
The eyepiece provides an upright image (so aiming it is intuitive) and is set at a 45 degree angle, which might be easier to use on a table or tray.
It's light, has a tripod mount (which can be secured or stabilized in several ways) and can be operated with one hand - both aiming and focusing.
Again, not a premium scope, optically, but it might be what you're looking for. I've used one and enjoyed the experience.
I'd get a telescope. Just a 2 min Amazon search shows that you can get decent stuff in that price range, for example: https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21035-70mm-Travel-Scope/dp/B001TI9Y2M
Note that this is just the first shopping result I have found, I am sure that on reddit (e.g. /r/telescopes/ ) will be people who can recommend you the best one.
As someone who lives in a city as well, it depends. If you can see at least a few stars at night, you might want to consider buying a telescope. I use a $70 Celestron travel scope 70. While it is pretty cheap as far as telescopes go, it does great where I live. And because the telescope will have more light collecting ability than your eye, wherever you point it you should see at least one faint star. Besides stars you should be able to see Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn. planets are relatively bright compared to other things in the sky. Really the one thing you definitely will not be able to see clearly are deep sky objects (nebula, galaxies, etc.) these unfortunately are too faint, and while you may be able to see a few stars where the nebula should be, it will be very difficult.
So really it depends on what you plan on looking at: planets/moon are great, stars are okay, DSO are very faint and difficult to see. I hope this helps!
EDIT: link to the telescope I own- http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001TI9Y2M?pc_redir=1411188054&robot_redir=1 it's fairly good for the price, however the tripod is a bit flimsy.
I got my wife the Celestron Travel Scope 70 for her birthday and gave it to her a bit early on Sunday since she was talking to me about the "moon dancing with Jupiter" thing that was going on over the weekend. She's been wanting a telescope for ages so I finally got one for her. It's not the greatest, but it's certainly inexpensive (~$70). We were able to score a picture of the moon and Jupiter, however, the Jupiter pictures weren't all that great. I will say the tripod that comes with it is absolute shit, and I'm lucky I had this thing in the closet that I could attach it to.
This is the photo my wife shared on facebook. Both the moon and Jupiter images were taken with a 10mm eyepiece, but I have zero experience with telescope and have no idea what I'm doing. From what I could tell in the manual that came with it, that eyepiece should give roughly 40x magnification. A pinpoint enlarged 40 times is still a pinpoint, yet I was able to see Jupiter and the Galilean moons.
Now she's on a quest for filters and eyepieces and anything she can find online for it.
Happy Zambambo!
What a wonderful thing to do on your birthday. This would be great to take camping next weekend.
Oh wow. Thank you so much for putting in your time to write this. Honestly the criteria & budget (and this whole idea) is set by my wife. I have a solar system book and went over it with my daughter one day, and she seemed to be very into it so my wife wants to get something to encourage her to explore into her love for science.
I was going to get this one because it was recommended by a website I browsed earlier, but my wife said she wants to get the one with tripod.
I own one, and I like it a lot. The biggest advantage that it has is that it is very portable. And since it is so inexpensive, you don't need to worry about it getting broken or lost. It is of course not going to give Hubble-like views. You'll be able to identify Jupiter and Saturn, but its strength is on things like open star clusters. It has a f/4 mirror, so it has a very wide field of view. I can still picture in my mind the awesome view of the Pleiades in close proximity to Venus last year. I suppose it is important to keep in mind that the Firstscope is not my only telescope (I have an 8" dob). Also it can be a challenge to align things to what you want to look at, so it will probably be best to get the finder option (or build one yourself from some PVC pipe and dental floss). Also, you can get it cheaper on Amazon. Overall, I think this is a much better first purchase for someone compared to binoculars, since you can place it on a table, and get steady views (heresy, I know). I'm probably the only person in the world to make degree circles for the Firstscope. Just keep in mind that this isn't a high performance instrument. It has a spherical mirror, and if you want to attempt to collimate it, you have to do it with secondary mirror only.
Any decent camera for astro-photography is quite expensive, several thousand $ or more. At your price range I would agree with the others and get good binoculars, they will provide a better beginning experience, especially for tracking faster objects.
In my limited experinece the biggest problem with low end scopes is the poor mounts which make it difficult to track and line up on objects. I did buy this scope (http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y/) and have enjoyed it even if the images are far from perfect due to distortion, much more glamorous for my kids than looking through binoculars and the mount is very stable, so I don't have too worry much about the kids moving it and losing site of what was there. It is possible to see the great red spot on Jupiter with it on a good night.
As far as pictures go, I am planning on getting a good DLSR with a good zoom lens once I can afford one. This will work for me for pictures of the planets, star clusters, etc. Then I hope to buy a tracking mount and trying my hand at some of the dimmer objects out there that require longer exposures.
when you see a measurement such as 6" it just means the primary mirror (big one at the back of the telescope) is 6 inches in diameter. "dob" is just an abbreviation of "dobsonian" which is just a type of mount for the telescope.
The one I have is the skywatcher heritage 130p, which after checking is a little smaller than 6" (5.1") and cost £140
Here it is on amazon.
Interesting. With your sub $200 can you see anything but the moon?
I also saw this dob from an old post
Skywatcher Heritage130P FlexTube Dobsonian Telescope Black
Skywatcher Heritage130P FlexTube Dobsonian Telescope Black https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002828HJE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_2NZ1Db7QCXVE9
I was actually salivating over this just last night.
*edit: Oops, just saw the UK note. My fault. Dumb question - wouldn't you be able to just buy that from the US Amazon site?
I have this one and I love it: https://www.amazon.com/Orion-10014-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B0000XMSNO/ref=pd_sbs_421_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B0000XMSNO&pd_rd_r=4PBPDVSK8CK92CENCT31&pd_rd_w=E0pXs&pd_rd_wg=Ltec5&psc=1&refRID=4PBPDVSK8CK92CENCT31
I can certainly see the 4 major moons and the cloud bands on Jupiter with a Dobsonian 4.5 that I got my kids for Christmas
Saw them on the second night out and second time I ever looked through a telescope (first night was spent checking out the moon). I'm not sure, seems doubtful actually, that I could make out the shadows with the 4.5. A week into owning a telescope and I already want a bigger aperture!
Yes I'm located in the U.K and cool thanks for this advice :) I've done some looking around and I was thinking about the http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0000XMSNO/ref=pd_aw_sbs_2?pi=SY115&simLd=1 Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 because I'm just not sure.. But I will definitely take what you have said into consideration and look at everything you have linked.. :) thank you reddit stranger
This will be a really broad question but here goes...
What is the best starter telescope I can get? I have literally nothing right now. No camera, no mount, no scope, nothing. I want to get into the hobby, but I just want to make sure I spend my money the best way possible without spending a fortune.
Was looking at the Celestron 127EQ but from what I understand is you can't take photos with it.
Edit: I'd like to be able to see planets like mars, jupiter, and saturn with some good quality.
I sent op's image to my brother, who has a Celestron 127eq. He said he's seen Saturn similar to the image on the left, not quite as good. He's also been able to see a couple of Jupiter's moons.
Not as nice as OP's scope, but it will get you looking at planets, and might be easier to aspire to.
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-PowerSeeker-127EQ-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY
I think you should buy this And I know it's more than $50. But, after having purchased a very similar scope within the last few weeks, I wish I had gotten it sooner. It is so much fun going out after dinner and looking at the stars, reminding me that, although I feel so small and insignificant sometimes, maybe someone, something, out there...is watching me the same way, feeling the same things. And I don't feel so alone after all. Not so mention being able to see something so vast, so spectacular...a little closer and sharper. Treat yourself. It's worth it.
For looking at the moon, you really don't need something crazy expensive. You could get a small dobsonian type like this for some good moon views. If you wanted to get more into looking at planets or nebulas you would want to go bigger. The one I was using to get this shot was a 10inch dobsonian which was around $600.
Hello,
I'm a complete noob to amateur astronomy. I once had a cheap refractor telescope as a kid, but it's long broken. I'm currently looking to get a new one, primarily for the purposes of stargazing, but perhaps further down the line take some photographs (issue is I don't have a camera, nor am I sure I will get one). I'm more interested in viewing deep field objects, but as I understand it, the only way to do so is through long exposure with a camera (?).
I'm currently looking at a few different models:
Celestron NexStar 4 SE Telescope -this one being the absolute limit of my budget
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope
Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope
From what I've gotten from the 'What Telescope?' post, I need to choose between deep field and planetary viewing. What will I be able to see with my eyes, versus a camera?
I bought a pretty decent one online on Amazon. It's a beginner telescope but still quality. Cheap for what it is I think and great for a kid. I'll update with the link ...
Astronomers without Borders have some amazing telescopes and least expensive
Don't go for a high end one , just pick a beginners
https://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=0&products_id=4&zenid=bbpmck0h912ddr7e1qifog4hc4
Celestron 127EQ PowerSeeker Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNKY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_1NVqzbW67QQ09
Gskyer Telescope, AZ70400 German Technology Astronomy Telescope, Travel Refractor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DBK1GIK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_oPVqzbHVZ19R7
Don't worry about the books for now, once you trigger interest he will do his own research on the web.
Feel free to reach me if you need any help.
All the best
If she loses interest, I won't. So I think I am going to go ahead and start with a scope. Is something like this any good http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007UQNKY/ref=psdc_499154_t2_B00D05BIIU
I am buying my son this telescope for Christmas. I hear good things, and it falls within your budget. Our goals are to see lots of Moon craters and check in on Saturn and other planets.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY
So something like this?
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1376235060&sr=1-1&keywords=telescopes+for+astronomy
Wow seriously??
Does it come with any carying case type of thing? I'm hoping for a backpack-style one so i can load it in the car easily
this one looks badass , but it again comes down to not really knowing much on the difference O:
Hey, great idea introducing your cousin to astronomy! His first views through a telescope may be times he remembers for the rest of his life. :)
You may want to try Amazon's International Shipping section. It has a lot of well priced scopes!
https://www.amazon.com/International-Shipping-Direct/b/ref=as_li_ss_tl?node=230659011&linkCode=sl2&tag=amazon123405-20&linkId=b739aa289b437281a7069081d2ffef8b
Here is my pick for your budget:
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1526851326&sr=8-3&keywords=telescope&th=1
That scope is good enough to see details on the planets (jupiter's clouds, saturn's rings) and a lot of the brighter deep space objects (nebulas, clusters, galaxies). If you go out to the country, you'll be able to see a lot of fainter objects, perhaps up to around magnitude 10.
Hope it works out!
If you have Amazon Prime, it's on sale for $330 for until the next hours or so. https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-130-Computerized-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNNQ
I'm new to astrophotography. Can I get a view like that with this telescope? (I also have these accessories)
Hi,
I am Irish, so would be buying from either Amazon UK or one of the Euro sites.
The old telescopes I had were the kids style refactors, I dont have expectations of the telescope tracking to object being spot on, but anywhere in the ball park is fine, I can use charts for the rest.
I live in a pretty dark area and holiday in the International Dark Reserve so lucky with the lack of light pollution.
As for what I expect to see, Planets with some detail ? making out Saturn's rings or Jupiter's moons would be great of course. Some deep field objects.
I thought the pics one of the reviewers took here were class
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0007UQNNQ/ref=pe_2443651_89585181_em_ti
Found this setup on amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0007UQNNQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3DWYIK6Y9EEQB&psc=1
This would be my first scope and I do want to use it for some astrophotography including planets, the moon, milky way and some more visible M objects. Will this meet my needs or am I out to lunch on thinking this?
Oh, I thought it would be cheaper.
I've actually found this and I thought it was a good deal.
Would this telescope be a good choice for Astrophotography?
I would prefer something can can assist me in tracking as much as reasonably possible.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=sr_1_2?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1452609274&sr=1-2&keywords=Celestron+NexStar+4SE+Maksutov-Cassegrain
This is what I was thinking of. I think that is even on the telescope I had been looking at recently.
Nexstar 4SE - motorised and looked fairly compact.
Is this the scope you are talking about? C8
Pretty small aperture for that kind of price. Also, it's a refractor, which has inherent optical problems. For more than a thousand dollars, I'd look into something a little more powerful. For instance, a Celestron Nexstar 8. http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-8-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOC8/ref=pd_sim_sbs_p_3
This is an 8 inch SCT (Schmidt-Cassegrain; combines mirrors and lenses), which is much better than an 80mm refractor, optically speaking. And it also seems to be a fair bit less expensive.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GUFOC8
I know that alot will advise dobsons like the Zhumell Z-series, but honestly, if he is a geeky guy and also wants easy of use then consider the Celestron NexStar 8 SE http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000GUFOC8/
This. my Dad got it for Me, its also why I recently purchased this.
The problem with all telescopes is they can get real expensive for a good one.
For the money and his age (in case he out grows his interest I'd start cheap).
This one would make for a half way decent beginner telescope without breaking the bank.
Also another thing I thought of for a young kid interested in astronomy is one of these.
I had a more primitive version of one of those things when I was a kid but would still stare at my ceiling for hours when I had it turned on.
Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21061-AstroMaster-Refractor-Telescope/dp/B000MLHMAS/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1324870310&sr=1-2. It looks like it is more now. I could have sworn my wife said it was on sale for $70.
https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21061-AstroMaster-Refractor-Telescope/dp/B000MLHMAS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1481412776&sr=8-1&keywords=celestron+astromaster+70az
incase you're wondering. The Celestron 21061 AstroMaster 70 AZ Refractor Telescope is the telescope I used. I bought it for them as a combined Mother's/Father's day gift. I also took a picture of Saturn. Looks better with your own eyes, but you can still see the basic shape
As mentioned in a previous post, most scopes in this price range on a tripod will not provide pleasing views. If you want to see things with as much clarity and detail as possible, you need to get a Dobsonian telescope and get the largest aperture (the diameter of the telescope) as you can afford. This scope will be your best bet within your budget.
You can get a 6" Dobsonian for about $300. This only comes with a single eyepiece, so to get higher magnification views of the Moon and planets you may also want a second eyepiece and a Barlow lens. For $400 you can get the telescope with both, or for $430, an 8" Dobsonian with both. You'll be able to see more with the 8" telescope, but it's also a little heavier and less portable.
Also look at the sidebar of /r/astronomy. There are some guides for buying your first telescope there.
For the planets viewing from your backyard will be fine because they are very bright, but for most DSO's you will need to go to a dark spot, use this http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/
Id go with a 6 inch dobsonian because you have the aperature to see DSOs but is small enough that you can actually take it to a dark site where you can view them.
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-XT-6-Classic/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331787043&sr=8-2
Now for eyepieces:
You take the focal length of the scope, and divide it by the focal length of the eyepiece and you get the magnification it will provide.
For example the 6" scope I linked has a focal length of 1200mm, so with a 10 mm eyepiece you will get 120x.
Tthe best views of the planets are going to to be about 180-200x when you factor in seeing conditions and having to adjust the scope for the planets moving(move faster at higher mags).
For DSOs you want to use lower magnifications because they are very faint, so you will want from 40-100 depending on what you are looking at.
The orion sirius plossl eyepieces I have give great crisp clear images so im sure you will be happy with them, and they are not very expensive at about 40-50 each.
Barlows basically double your scopes focal length, so when used with an eyepiece it doubles the magnification. They effectively double your eyepiece collection so consider them when you are picking eyepieces.
Also download http://www.stellarium.org/ it is free and will teach you the constellations and will show you how to find anything you want.
Edit: also learn to collimate whatever scope you get or else you wont see anything good.
So right now I'm deciding between these three telescopes, including the ones you recommended (thanks!).
http://www.amazon.com/Vixen-39951-A70Lf-Telescope-Porta/dp/B0027VSSU4
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6
Do you think that these are reasonable deals and prices?
Based on the very little info you provided (and my advice for most amateurs) I'd recommend a dobsonian, because you will get the most bang for your buck if you're willing to spend some time learning the sky, and in the short term you will be able to see planets and the moon very clearly. You save money with a dobsonion because the technology is very simple- it is essentially just a long metal tube, with two mirrors mounted on a simple pressboard mount. What you save on simplicity, you can put towards aperture. The aperture does two things- it allows more light to enter your eye allowing you to see fainter objects (such as nebula, galaxies, etc), and increases the highest useful magnification of the scope, which is better for planetary viewing. Overall, bigger= better so long as the optics are decent.
One of the advantages of the dobsonian telescopes is the simple movements- it has an Altazimuth mount. That means there are two perpendicular axes for the mount, a vertical and a horizontal. It makes pointing the thing incredibly easy. "Equatorial" mounts are much less intuitive, they are set up to follow the arc of the sky and have adjustments that move the scope in counterintuitive ways. These mounts are much better for photography, but for simple viewing they are cumbersome in my opinion.
The disadvantage to the dobsonian is the lack of a motorized mount and the lack of a goto system (unless you spend much, much more). This means you will have to learn the sky, and once your skills improve, you will never be able to use this scope to photography deep sky objects. However, since they are so handy for quick viewing, even if you move on to different equipment, the scope will still be useful. I still use mine for photographing planets even though I have upgraded to an SCT, and just last week I used it to photography the International space station.
Anyways- so you can benchmark your price for this, here's a link to the amazon page for an Orion 6" dobsonian. https://www.amazon.com/Orion-894... It's about the least amount you can spend without being disappointed by the scope as your hobby develops. If you can swing it- spend a bit more and get an 8" or 10". There are entire reddit communities devoted to this hobby you can check out, a lot of great advice about equipment there. The first link is good for someone that's on a budget, the second is good if you're curious about astrophotography.
https://www.reddit.com/r/telesco...
https://www.reddit.com/r/astroph...
Thanks. I spend a fair amount of both time and money on my hobby.
The scope I linked is a fairly good starter scope. The mount may look a little intimidating but is easy to get the hang of. A similar telscope on a simpler mount is called a Dobsonian. They are very easy mounts to use. Here is a good example of a decent starter dobsonian. I would recomend getting a free program called Stellarium for pc/mac/linux. That is a great way to start.
Mark
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DDW9UW/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1MX591ICBLWRE
this one right here. I just didn't know exactly what i need. When i google it i find so much information
ok, so I guess I'll be getting this https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/product-reviews/B001DDW9UW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_paging_btm_2?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=avp_only_reviews&sortBy=recent&pageNumber=2
I have that sticker on my telescope. To be specific, this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DDW9UW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
If you're locked into purchasing from Amazon, you have these options for an 8" dob:
$355
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11610-Traditional-Dobsonian-8-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3PRK/
$390 but out of stock until August 4th:
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1406655799&sr=8-2&keywords=Orion+Telescope
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-9851-SpaceProbe-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B0000XMSWK/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1406655799&sr=8-5&keywords=Orion+Telescope
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10019-IntelliScope-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B000E1TNGW/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1406655799&sr=8-6&keywords=Orion+Telescope
Protip: follow NASA's rule. Bigger the mirror, greater the clarity.
What budget are we talking here? On virtually every astronomy sub/site you'll find this little beauty being recommended.
Check out Orion's 8 inch dobsonian reflector telescope. Its on wheels so you can roll it in and out of your home easily and they have a sale every year before xmas for around 3-400 bucks. I have their astro 90mm refractor and love it for its price and portability. One day ill grab that dobsonian too.
Edit: link for the telescope
You and others should look into buying a telescope and driving out to some dark skies to do some of your own observing. An 8" dobsonian like an Orion XT8 is affordable and allows you to see a lot of cool stuff. Join a local astronomy club too.
Imho it looks vastly overpriced for what it is - the standard 650mm FL celestron tube with a computer mount.
Better would be this
Or maybe a dobsonian
Also allow some room to buy some eyepieces
Check out the links in the side bar.
According to this, it's an Orion xt8 $350 and it's great for looking at the moon.
XT8
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_3?crid=D6DJI7P4OQ1D&keywords=xt8+telescope&qid=1575050736&sprefix=xt8+tel%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-3
Here's the XT8 plus (come's with better focuser and some extra things.
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B07KWKKN5C/ref=sr_1_4?crid=D6DJI7P4OQ1D&keywords=xt8+telescope&qid=1575050736&sprefix=xt8+tel%2Caps%2C203&sr=8-4
This is the Apertura AD8. It's pretty much the most recommended if you can afford it. It's the right size between being able to handle/portability (it's still huge though) and being able to see things. It's the one I wound up getting for my son/me. It comes with all the bells and whistles except some upgraded eyepieces, which you should get with any telescope you buy. I didn't want to put myself in the position of every time I pull out my telescope I would think "What if I had gotten the AD8..."
https://www.highpointscientific.com/apertura-ad8-8inch-dobsonian-telescope-ad8
If you get the 6" in a light-polluted area, you'll wonder "What would this look like under some really dark skies??" If you get the 6" in a really dark sky area, you'll wonder "what would this look like with an 8"??"
None of those are Dobsonians. Dobsonians are relfectors (Which is what they are) and a Dobsonian mount. Many people recommend the XT8. I personally have the skywatcher 6 inch dob
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6
Is orion xt8 similar to z8?
The prices are almost identical.
This is taken from my Samsung Galaxy S6 camera through an [Orion 8945 SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope] (https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6)
That is some awesome advice. Other people are recommending a dob as well. Do you know any thing about this one?
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-XT8-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1369432158&sr=1-1&keywords=orion+skyquest+xt8
Also, for $30 more they have this option which to me sounds like it might be worth it?
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope-Beginner/dp/B003ZDEUS2/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1369432158&sr=1-2&keywords=orion+skyquest+xt8
Or do you recommend any dobs?
I actually was just saying that I need a new wallet because mine is falling apart! I would love the normal sized wallet.
A telescope of course!
How were you able to volunteer in Thailand? I got into Peace Corps. So I wanted to know how other people's experiences volunteering abroad are.
I have a common 700x76 so its fine if I cant really see much detail (of course I would like to upgrade but right now my only option for sky viewing is hiking). As long as I dont downgrade from there Im fine. I got a plossl 25mm lens which improved the quality a lot but it's still hard to distinguish much detail.
My current budget would be around a 100 dollars. Where I live (Argentina) things are pretty rough with inflation and basically anything like this costs almost twice as much when you make the conversions. I have a relative travelling to the US and they could pick up a scope like this for me. Of course I could simply hold on and save for the next occassion.
Nebulae is something I would love to see but I could never do it, probably due to the light pollution. I basically gave up on them thinking its impossible. Would I be able to see them with a refractor? Clusters and panning scross the sky also sounds good and kind of what I want to do.
Maybe I should get some binoculars instead but I would really like a telescope I can take on hikes and take some beginner pics with my phone, sorry for the link but something like this is what I had in mind: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TI9Y2M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_9dnDDbVM2WANA
You should get yourself a telescope!
https://smile.amazon.com/Celestron-21035-70mm-Travel-Scope/dp/B001TI9Y2M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495505189&sr=8-1&keywords=astronomy+telescope
This pen
https://smile.amazon.com/Nikola-Tesla-Engraved-Quote-Pen/dp/B01N6BO458/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1495505256&sr=8-2&keywords=engineering+gifts
or the fountain pen on your wishlist since it's something you've been wanting, affordable and has many good reviews
https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B0002T401Y/_encoding=UTF8?coliid=I1R5BQE0JNYFYY&colid=226JO509390Q8
Am I blind or did Amazon just adjusted their pricing AND reduced it with a promo? Link
I swear I was looking at it just before I made this thread and it was 165$...
Maybe this is the time for a short travel refractor like this one?
Celestron 21035 70mm Travel Scope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001TI9Y2M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ke03BbBWZF532
My sister is 7 and pretty into learning so I got her things to try and keep that spirit alive. I bought her this telescope and a childrens book about celestial bodies. I also bought this for a girl about Isla's age for Christmas. I got to play with it in the store and it feels pretty awesome and never dries up.
Edit: Adela might be interested in the other things I got for my sister which were a Crayola crayon/marker maker, Bill Nye science books and this DohVinci thing
I started with a Celestron FirstScope (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001UQ6E4Y). Very inexpensive - ~$40 - easy to use will get you some great sky viewing with no real effort or investment. It was enough to see if it was a hobby I'd really get into before I dropped serious money.
It depends on how good the smart phone is, how much you want to do, if the camera has apps. Sony is introducing a 22MP CMOS camera chip for smart phones. This could be close to using a DSLR as the telescope camera.
http://www.stuff.tv/news/sonys-new-camera-sensor-will-make-your-smartphone-snaps-sparkle-videos-stable
That telescope is really low end, so it might be good for nature shots, the examples on the Amazon review page shows really blurry Moon shots, recognizable Jupiter.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y
I had quite some fun with this Celestron and the extras.
i have this one
i'm happy when i see jupiter and its moons.
and i need a new DSLR. my minolta X500 is just too old.
I got a VERY inexpensive starter scope ($40), the celestron firstscope and it's been great to get the family started. It's very portable too.
The only reason I broke the "get binoculars for your first telescope" rule is that I could point the scope, take my eye away and let the kids look.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y
But take this with a grain of salt, I'm still just starting out.
In case it helps have heard very good things about this as a starter scope. Fairly serious power for that price. Do your research and avoid common mistakes made by beginners when buying their first scope.
Hey there and thanks again. I'm from Germany, btw.
The Heritage 130p basically is an identical design to the 76/300, just with an extendable tube, right? Link on Amazon. Because I'm actually tempted to return the 76/300 (still within the first 14 days) and get the 130 instead if the difference is so huge for just ~100 EUR more.
It's a very capable scope for the price, better than any refractor you could get for that money.
Edit because I'm being modded down: *at the price* it is the best telescope to buy (unless buying used). Yes, it would be better to save up and buy the Orion SkyScanner for 100 GBP (more than twice the price) or even better to get the SkyWatcher Heritage 130p u/phpdevster named for 162 GBP ... but that is almost 4 times the price. Good for OP if they have (and want to spend) that kind of money, but in the 45-50GBP price range the Firstscope *is* a good scope.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Orion-10022-TableTop-Maksutov-Cassegrain-Telescope/dp/B002JO06PO :)
is there any difference between these two amps?
https://www.amazon.ca/Topping-TP22-Tripath-Class-T-Amplifier/dp/B00IZS5C3O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484775422&sr=8-1&keywords=topping+tp22
and
https://www.amazon.ca/Topping-TP22-TK2050-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B005VR1VQE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1484775422&sr=8-2&keywords=topping+tp22 ??
they seem to be the same, one is in stock and one isnt and they are named a little bit differently? if they are different, what is different about them? thanks
The turntable I was looking at has a switch to go from phono output to line and includes RCA cables, would that be sufficient to go straight into the amp or is a preamp still needed? I was reading that this turntable had a built in preamp.
As far as amps go, I was looking at this: https://www.amazon.com/Topping-TK2050-TC2000-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B005VR1VQE
Same as /u/Garak, came in looking up VX1 and this review was on top. Great review btw.
I bought this a couple of weeks ago to power my P4s and my turntable but it doesn't seem to like my PC at all. The DAC input keeps dropping out and freaking out my PC to the point where it completely stops playing any audio and prevents it from playing unless I go into the control panel and disable the VX1 drivers. Have you ever had this issue while testing/using it?
This is the second VX1 I've gone through and im just thinking of getting the TP22 and use and AUX to RCA cables for my PC input. You have a review of the TP21 and was wondering if you have any experience with the TP22? Sounded like the TP21 was just pretty horrible. Maybe i should just stay away from Topping in general...
Agree with this setup so much. Only thing I did was downgrade to the Dayton SUB-1000 and switched out the SMSL A2 for a Topping TP-22 and a Schiit Modi 2. I wanted the modularity of having separate components, plus the electrical isolation was a big help.
If you do decided to go this route, you'll need to do four runs of speaker cable (one from each speaker to the sub, and one for each channel on the sub to the amp) and buy an RCA to RCA cable. The Modi 2 will come with a USB that'll connect to a computer and Win7+ will install drivers automatically. I would also recommend getting these. A good set of banana plugs will save you a lot of frustration if you need speaker wire going to terminals that can accept these. It's too bad, though, that only the amp I use feature the right connector.
I've been on the hunt for a receiver for a bit and no luck. Would something like http://www.amazon.com/Topping-TK2050-TC2000-Digital-Amplifier/dp/B005VR1VQE not be good enough?
If you want something small, chances are you won't find anything with all the extras you're looking for. u/explosivo563 had a good point with the art preamp with USB in, I had forgotten about that one. For a good small amp something like the smsl sa50 or 60, or the Topping Tp22 for a small step up would be perfect. The downside to these style amps is you don't have the bass and treble adjust, but honestly I don't think it's that necessary anyway.
I just got a Topping TP22 to power my 2 Monoprice studio monitors. The monitors take TRS or XLR inputs. The Topping's output seems to require banana cables, which I've never used before. How do I connect the amp to the monitors? I can't seem to find any "banana cable ---> TRS/XLR" cables.
Which of these ones do you think would be what I needed for the Miccas?
Dayton DTA-120 60WPC w/ headphone
Topping TP21 25WPC w/ headphone
Topping TP22 30WPC
SMSL SA-60 60WPC
SMSL SA-50 50WPC
I think I'm missing something about the Toppings, is there a reason they are the same price as the others but with only half the WPC?
I am pretty new to this, but my old roommate had a setup and I just couldn't get over how much better the sound can be so I went searching and I found two turntables that I am buying. One is a Scott PS 49A and the other is a Kenwood that I can't recall the model of.
My question is more of a setup. I was looking at some devices and I am looking to keep it realatively budget friendly ($150 or less for preamp and amplifier). My parents are providing me some old speakers so no cost there and I was looking to, buy this preamp and this mini amplifier.
Are there any receivers for $150 or so with a built in phono preamp that can also power some passive speakers?
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-08890-1-25-Inch-Telescope-Accessory/dp/B0069VXRLS/ref=pd_sim_p_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1EW2QNPBT13A068NG434
is this a good buy?
Hey, I was going to ask a similar question like OP but I've had my mind set on the XT8. This would be my first telescope. I saw in amazon this kit would this be good for a beginner or is it overkill? It's a bit expensive but if it really makes a difference then I'd go for it.
Thanks for the recommendations.
I'll definitely be getting a Barlow (most likely this kit), especially if I get an Orion.
I love your astrophotography! I never knew there was equipment like the Optron Skytracker or the Vixen Polarie, it's a different equipment approach to astrophotography. I'll probably be getting a scope first, but I may explore getting telephoto lenses for this in the future.
the 10mm one from this. http://www.amazon.com/Orion-1-25-Inch-Premium-Telescope-Accessory/dp/B0069VXRLS/ref=pd_sim_421_7?ie=UTF8&dpID=513A3GPm9yL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR138%2C160_&refRID=0ZWMZJSHFDKGAGVJZ6VV
Also what about something like this? Keep seeing 1.25 or 2 inch
http://www.amazon.com/1-25-Inch-Premium-Telescope-Accessory-silver/dp/B0069VXRLS/ref=pd_sim_421_3?ie=UTF8&dpID=513A3GPm9yL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR138%2C160_&refRID=1XS7J23SB3HQF2A9F9J1
/r/Astronomy plug. I personally got this telescope, and it works phenomenally out of the box. I didn't want to go all-in on something I might not be interested in :p
As far as other ideas that fit for a more quiet person go:
No it's definitely alright! I appreciate that you are being completely honest. I can spend up to $100. So, that SkyScanner 100 is good? I see it for $100:
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-10012-SkyScanner-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BIIU
The heritage is a bit out of my range. How about this one.
4inch table top skyscanner.
http://www.amazon.ca/SkyScanner-100mm-Table-Top-Reflector/dp/B00D05BIIU/ref=sr_1_14?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1456808726&sr=1-14&keywords=telescope
Woulf a tabletop be a bette choice for a newbie? I would assume they would put more quality into the scope itself if the tripod is not needed?
I was the same a couple years ago and wasn't sure where to start. I ended up settling on this:
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-10012-SkyScanner-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B00D05BIIU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1479685615&sr=8-1&keywords=orion+skyscanner+100mm
It can be mounted to any standard tri-pod too. I live in the suburbs in a very light polluted area however I can still see the moons of Jupiter (and very slightly the bands in the planet) and I can easily make out the rings of Saturn.
I later bought a barlow lens and just a few weeks ago I bought a clamp that fits over the lens so I could take pictures. This is one of the ones I took of the moon a couple weeks back.
Imgur
I went with a similar scope based on your recommendation. I'll let you know how it goes. The only downside is the inverted terrestrial viewing. I don't have any hot neighbors so I guess it won't matter.
I bought this one for my first one LINK accompanied by this. I can see Saturn's rings, Jupiter's moons, and Mars.
*disclaimer I live near Atlanta so some of the pictures are hazy. There are a few planet pictures in there but my Iphone really cannot deal with that faint of light. You can do whatever you want with these pictures, I just love to share them with people.
These are all the moon pictures I managed to grab before the harvest moon and of course the harvest moon itself, I took the pictures using an Iphone 4s.
I use this telescope; however mine is a bit larger - they both look the same though.
This is great info. It makes me realize that what I'd hoped to do is probably impossible, but makes me excited for the other possibilities that exist. Even if I just use the telescope for viewing, but can use a camera and tripod separately to recreate an image similar to the stacked M42, I would be incredibly thrilled.
Would getting a telescope like this one potentially help alleviate the focal length issue, or would it still limit me to exposures that are too short (if I were to try the same methodology of stacking): http://www.amazon.com/Orion-09007-SpaceProbe-Equatorial-Reflector/dp/B00D05BKOW ? I know it wouldn't be as good for viewing the DSOs, but if it gave me more of an opportunity to try astrophotography on them, it might be worth the trade off.
this one is good
I have an Orion 130ST with a cheap Orion drive. I mount my camera on the tripod for photography but when I mount it to the telescope, I get that ugly coma issue stuff.
I understand that a coma corrector corrects coma issues but I'm wondering if it would help on such an inexpensive scope like I have. I'm considering putting some money into a new mount and I'm wondering if I can get away with using my current scope.
I would probably need a new focuser as well. Is it worth the upgrades or do I just get a new scope?
Thank you for your detailed reply. :)
About the optics type issue, thanks for pointing out which of those have spherical mirrors. I'm aware of the problems spherical mirrors bring in but somehow I forgot to check that when browsing for scopes. haha It's my first telescope purchase, so I asked help for that reason. :) Also I know those mounts are not very very sturdy but for this price range I know I have to make some compromises. I guess for now it would be better to buy a scope with a parabolic mirror and ideally upgrade the mount at a later time when a bit more cash flows.
Last thing. What do you think of these if I may ask? Skywatcher Explorer 130p and [Orion 09007 SpaceProbe 130ST] (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D05BKOW/ref=psdc_499154_t1_B0000XMSWK). Optics for both are stated to be parabolic. Are dobsonian still better than these? For planetary/lunar observation too?
thanks
If you can find a local astronomy club or planetarium, they would have much better telescopes to look through. A moderate sized amateur telescope is way out of the price range you are talking about, but it's the kind of thing lots of astronomy club members have
If you decide you want one of your own, a tabletop one is better than one of those long refractors with a spindly tripod. The best optics in the world don't help you if the stand it is on wobbles around. "table-top" doesn't mean you have to use a table, anything stable and reasonably flat will work - stack of concrete blocks, tree stump, etc. To see much of anything, you need to get away from city lights, few trees to block the view, and preferably dry stable air.
A bigger telescope can overcome light pollution from a nearby city, but you won't be getting a bigger telescope with your desired budget. One on the rooftop of a planetarium or university building can be much bigger if it doesn't have to be portable.
It takes time for your eyes to fully adapt to dark conditions - be patient.
Those are nice shots.
I'm almost tempted to beg Amazon for a gift card in exchange for that telescope since I know for sure that my in-laws purchased it off their sit, however. Maybe buy this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00D12U1IK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fPxnzbC9B0TSH
I actually went with the StarBlast. I also bought a couple of lenses and a Barlow, and a sun and moon filter (which, in total costs more than the scope itself, but should be translatable, when I decide to scale my project).
Honestly, dropping a couple of hondo on a scope doesn't mean that much to me, but I know me (I got into yoyo's, then the next thing I know I spent $2000 on freaking yoyo's), so I have to mind myself in that regard, and not go too crazy.
I hope that we'll be able to talk in the future, because I'll be wanting something more later on. I just needed something right now, as my girlfriend (who is amazing and has written over 250 papers...not on astronomy, btw) wants to go out this weekend to a hike to view with some people (thus my need).
I took Astronomy I and II in college, and loved it, so I'm stoked that she's into it. I am an engineer and have a degree in mathematics, so bring on the nerdy, baby. :)
Edit: Edited.
With your budget, definitely this. I started with a much larger telescope and bought the FunScope as as a grab-and-go scope and am highly impressed by it even though it is much smaller. From a dark sky spot, you'll see plenty with it although you may want to invest in better eyepieces later on.
Thanks mate. I have been look g at the funscope astro dazzle and it looks great for him. Only issue is they don't sell the in this country. I can get one shipped in from the US which wouldn't an issue but the shipping and customs charges might make it a tad expensive.
Just a thought is this the same thing?
FunScope 76mm TableTop Reflector Telescope https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FM4A108/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wCLRBb1A75TXD
Thanks again!
Zhumell z8: You mean below ones? I am ready to splurge more, if its worth it.
https://www.telescopesplus.com/products/zhumell-z8-deluxe-dobsonian-reflector-telescope
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002UPSPX2/
Skywatcher 6" dobsonian :
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11600-Traditional-Dobsonian-6-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3D22
As of now I am looking either at the
Orion 27193 XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
or Zhumell z8 if that good
Binoculars : any recommendations.
I was considering this at first Orion starblast II 4.5 EQ reflector
But mu friend told me that it doesn’t have an autotracker so now I’m considering buying Sky watcher S11600 traditional dobsonian 5”
I do want to observe planets and the moon atm and no for obeserving the milky way I’ll have to travel to other cities.
Yes. A skywatcher 6" dobsonian.
hey! My first telescopes were refractors, don't bother with them for planets. I'd have to say the sky-watcher 8inch is a pretty good start, its the one I'm currently using myself. only 385$ usd on amazon, no shipping with prime, either!
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11610-Traditional-Dobsonian-8-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3PRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500760446&sr=8-1&keywords=dobsonian
Leaving aside all the "read the sticky" responses, one thing I'd recommend is, if you see one that interests you on Amazon, check prices at a few other places like the manufacturer's website, other vendors, and any photography/etc stores in your neck of the woods. Prices can vary, often in breathtakingly silly ways.
Depending on your location it can be worth looking at used stuff on Kijiji as well; every now and then I'll see people local offloading one telescope or another for whatever reason at "you're kidding, right?" prices.
Past that, if you're mainly interested in lunar/planetary observation from an urban environment, you've got some pretty forgiving targets - if you had a 16" Dobsonian with high-grade eyepieces it wouldn't hurt your viewing of the moon by any stretch, but you definitely wouldn't need that kind of gear.
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-NexStar-4-SE-Telescope/dp/B000GUFOBO/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1395671954&sr=8-2&keywords=celestron+nexstar+5se
Yeah, the timings slightly unfortunate since I'm getting this scope for my mom as well, and she'd really like to see the planets. So I'll probably start with the moon and move on to clusters, etc.!
The 'fatal flaw' comes from the 4th paragraph of 1st review on the amazon page: https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6
I did some searching on Cloudy Nights, but there doesn't seem to be anything on it. The reviewer might be mistaken.
Also, I wasn't aware the SkyWatcher was the same as the AD8. The stickied post mentions it has the same OTA as the XT8, but is there any source linking it with the AD8 as well?
Tbh that looks like a really good beginner scope. It's not meant to be an investment, it's meant to help you determine if stargazing is right for you.
You could also look at:
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21024-FirstScope-Telescope/dp/B001UQ6E4Y
http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-AZ-DS-127EQ-PowerSeeker-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY
Portability might be a factor for you, I know it is for me...so always read the reviews carefully!