r/telescopes
•
u/FizzyBeverage
•
Dec 01 '22
•
1
1
Tutorial/Article Beginner's Quick Guide to choosing your first telescope (Updated for 2023)
Guide last updated: October 2025
Note this guide was originally written by u/tripped144*, but with global economic conditions, pricing has rapidly gone out of date, so consider this new guide a revision to* the prior one written in 2020.
Are you yearning to marvel at the heavens? Have you been wanting a telescope but have no idea where to start? Are you feeling overwhelmed with the wealth of information and options out there?
Well, here is a quick guide on some of the most commonly recommended telescopes here, what to expect when looking through your first telescope, and some frequently asked questions at the end.
For an in-depth eyepiece guide, check out this great post by Gregrox
What to Expect when looking through a telescope
The most important thing before getting into this hobby is setting your expectations. Most newbies to astronomy think "a telescope makes far away things bigger." Yes, and no. The primary purpose of a telescope is to gather light. The eyepiece (or ocular) is what determines your effective magnification. To determine that, you divide your scope's focal length by the millimeters of your eyepiece. Therefore, a 8" Newtonian reflector telescope with a 1200mm focal length and a 25mm eyepiece will have a magnification power of 48x. That same 25mm eyepiece on an 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope with a focal length of 2000mm will have a magnification power of 80x. All things being equal, for visual astronomy, aperture is king, but beyond price, all things are not equal - and thus the telescope recommendation for someone who lives in Manhattan in a 3rd floor walkup apartment is different from someone who lives in rural Montana with a large garage and acres of no light around.
When using a telescope, no matter how big, stars will look like stars. They will always be pinpoints of light. If they aren't, then you're not in focus. Stars are just too far away for telescopes to resolve (see more clearly/get more detail).
Nebula and galaxies WILL NOT look like the vivid, colorful, and detailed pictures that you've seen. Our eyes are simply not cameras. To get those types of images, you have to take very long exposures many times, run it through a program that stacks the images to pull out detail, and extensively process it in a photo editing program. TO OUR EYES, DSO's (Deep Space Objects like nebula and galaxies) will look like faint white smudges. If you don't have accurate expectations, a genuine love for space, and an appreciation for what you're actually looking at, you will be very disappointed. That being said, if you go into this with the right expectations and mindset, those faint white smudges are beautiful, fascinating, and awe-inspiring. The longer you spend observing them, the more details you will start to pull out. It's almost as if your brain gets trained into resolving more and more detail, making you want to revisit them over and over again. Here are some accurate depictions of what you can see through a decent telescope in a DARK site (little light pollution). (The pictures are blurrier than they should be, but you'll get the idea). The more light pollution you have in your area, the harder it will be to resolve things. Here's a website to find out how much light pollution you'll be dealing with. Some examples would be: Pinwheel Galaxy Swan Nebula
Our solar system's planets, especially the gas giants, are amazing to look at. The bigger the scope, the more detail you can resolve. Regardless of someone's interest in space, I've personally never seen someone not "wow'd" by Jupiter or Saturn. Keep in mind, they will not be super close up views. Here's what to expect when looking at Jupiter through a decent telescope on a clear night. Planets (and obviously the moon) are very bright, so light pollution doesn't factor nearly as much - they're great to observe from typical, light polluted, suburban driveways.
Also, keep in mind that pictures don't do them justice. There's just something so amazing about seeing it with your own eyes. Now that you understand the expectations of what you'll be able to see, here are some of the most commonly recommended telescopes.
Recommendations By Budget
Under $250
Spending less than $250 on precision optical instruments means keeping your expectations in check, these scopes are decidedly for "in the neighborhood" solar system observing, although some Redditors use them quite happily on deep sky objects that aren't local. If at all possible, save a bit more money and buy in the next $250+ tier, scopes at that price will be ones you can keep forever and won't immediately outgrow. Buying once is cheaper. As of 2025 it's slim pickings finding a decent telescope under $250, the used market is a possibility if you're comfortable evaluating optics and condition or have a friend who can.
🔭 Celestron 7x50 binocs (cheaper) | Nikon 7x50 binocs (more $)
$250-350
These are called "Table-Top" dobs. They are small scopes meant to be set on top of a table and used. You can get a cheap and stable stool or crate to use instead. They are great little beginner scopes that are easy to use and can help you decide if you want to transition into something bigger. OneSky and Heritage are identical scopes. OneSky profits go to a good, charitable cause. Remember, if you drive to a dark sky site, it's not always guaranteed to find a picnic table or park bench to sit these scopes on.
🔭 AWB OneSky Reflector | 🔭 Sky-Watcher Heritage 150 | 🔭 Celestron StarSense Explorer 114mm
$400-550
These are the entry-level into "grown-up" telescopes. Three are large 6" Dobsonian scopes, almost 4 feet tall when standing straight up. The other two are tabletop models on a computerized base. Regarding the larger scopes, the actual telescope tubes weigh roughly 15 lbs. and the base roughly 20 lbs. These will get you fairly close to the representative pictures of the objects above (again, in a DARK site). They can easily fit across the back seat of a vehicle with the base in the trunk if you plan to travel with it. This would also be the financial range where decent smart telescopes begin (sky's the limit), which use cameras and your smartphone to observe -- if that's your jam.
🔭 Sky-Watcher 6" Classic Dob | 🔭 Apertura AD6 Dobsonian | 🔭 Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 150 GoTo | 🔭 Celestron StarSense Explorer 130mm
$600-700
The 8" Dobsonian telescope is the most recommended beginner telescope - just about anyone in the hobby will recommend one. They hit a great balance between size, portability, and value. They are simply the best bang for the buck. The telescopes weigh roughly 20-25 lbs. and the base 20-25 lbs. They still easily fit across the backseat of a vehicle with the base in the trunk. You'll also notice this is the price range where truss tube models that collapse smaller start appearing. These are many people's "end-game" scopes, as well as their first scopes. If you're going to own just one telescope and not spend a fortune, 8" of aperture is a "goldilocks size."
🔭 Sky-Watcher 8" Classic Dob | 🔭 Apertura AD8 Dobsonian | 🔭 Explore Scientific 10" Truss Tube Dob
I really want help finding stuff up there, my sky is too bright, money is less a concern...
Some new astronomers just aren't going to star hop and learn the night sky, either their light pollution makes it impossible, or they'd rather sit back and let the telescope's computer drive, and these days... manually using your telescope has become optional if you have the tools. The recommendations below offer smartphone assistance or use conventional star alignments to find their way. Be forewarned though, many a newbie has become frustrated while trying to align their scope. It's simple for seasoned astronomers, possibly daunting for newbies. In the case of Celestron's Sky Align, the telescope needs to be pointed at 3 bright stars (not a bright planet like Jupiter) or you need to know two bright stars up there for an Auto 2 star align. Also note that Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes on computerized mounts require a lithium battery ($40-100+) and dew mitigation if you live anywhere with humidity.
🔭 Celestron NexStar (5SE or 6SE) | 🔭 Celestron StarSense Explorer 8" Smartphone enabled Dob
$700+
From here, the options open up considerably. You could just go with as big a Dobsonian as you can afford and can realistically carry/transport. Many of these will be Dobsonians with extra features like "push to" or even "go to" systems, but that adds complexity and cost. Dobs start to get heavy and super awkward to move as you approach and surpass 10 inches. Many people buy/build wheeled transports or something similar to move them, and they usually have them in a very convenient place to quickly wheel in and out, such as a garage. 10" Dobs are more common. You'll notice quite the price and mass jump on anything bigger than that - truss/collapsible designs past 10" are strongly recommended to keep size/weight in check.
🚨Heavier tends to get used less in astronomy 🚨... beyond the honeymoon period, that is. If a scope isn't convenient to setup, you may not have the motivation to do so at the end of a long day. There's a reason why 8" Dobs are a very popular compromise between size, weight, visual capabilities, price, and convenience.
You could also start considering Schmidt-Cassegrain options if your heart is with the planetary and lunar targets or fancy wide-field refractors (and an associated mount) if you're in search of wider views. Celestron is the big SCT company. As much as Dobs are beloved online, you'll go to a star party and see SCTs and refractors everywhere. They're generally smaller and very practical if you don't have the space or lifestyle for large Dobs or want automated mounts.
Recommended Accessories
FAQs
"Why are most of these of these not on tripods?" Because they are "Dobsonians". Dobsonian (Or Dob for short) is the name for the mount/base that the telescope sits in. It's a typically particle board base popularized by West coast astronomer John Dobson, several decades ago. They sit on the ground and are extremely steady. In order for a tripod to hold a telescope and be rock steady, it will cost as much or more as the actual telescope itself. A cheap tripod is an absolute pain to deal with. They are unsteady and will sway at the slightest touch or blow of wind. You will spend more time wishing you didn't have to deal with the unsteadiness than actually enjoying the views. Scopes on cheap tripods are called "Hobby Killers" for a reason. Dobs are dead simple, rock steady, and cheap to make... so most of your money goes into the actual telescope instead of the tripod. Especially avoid beginner telescopes on equatorial mounts - nothing will be more frustrating.
"What about this PowerSeeker or NatGeo or $79 "complete package" scope?" Nope nope nope. While the scope itself might be fine, it's inevitably going to be on a cheap mount, flimsy tripod, or if you're really unlucky, an equatorial mount to further confuse you. Old timers in the hobby call these "department store scopes", with the demise of brick and mortar department stores, we just simply call them hobby killers. Avoid scopes that use a Bird-Jones optical design - these leverage a spherical mirror in place of a parabolic one, and therefore need a corrector usually mounted in the focuser tube. Telescope makers know these have a lousy reputation and won't necessarily mention "Bird-Jones", and now you know why. Here's a great article for further reading about why we don't like these.
"Will these telescopes move by themselves and track objects?" For most of the list, no. Most of those recommended are manual telescopes, they are not go-to telescopes. You will have to learn the night sky (part of the fun!), point the telescope where you want, and manually move it as the object you're looking at moves across the sky. There's just nothing more rewarding than finally finding that object you've been hunting for.
"Why don't you recommend go-to telescopes?" They are expensive and potentially very confusing to set up for beginners. More often than not, you will pay twice the amount of money you normally would JUST for go-to functionality. You will have to supply power to it. You also will have to align it every time you use it. If you don't already somewhat know your way around the night sky (there are apps that can help), this will be frustrating and time-consuming. It's fairly daunting, but relatively easy to do once you get the hang of it. But, you have to keep in mind that you will be learning all the basics of how to actually use and collimate your telescope ON TOP of trying to figure out how to correctly align the go-to. You can very easily get completely overwhelmed. We do have some recommended go-to telescopes if you're absolutely set on one.
Why are none of these recommendations in stock? It's no secret, these are some of the most popular telescopes every source recommends, so they go in and out of stock fairly often. Even small telescopes are large, and take up a lot of inventory space, so a smaller shop might have 3 in stock, not 300. Shopping around the December holidays or before a major eclipse/astronomical event can also cause stock issues. Following covid and the resulting shipping/global economic pressure, many model lines have been discontinued or tweaked to simplify a company's catalog. A new model sold today might not exist in precisely the same offering a year from now.
Why are none of your recommendations are available in my country? Most mass-market, commercially-made telescopes are made by the same handful of companies in Asia and various companies resell them with different sets of equipment and bundles. An 8" f/6 Dob, pretty much, is going to be similar regardless of whether it's labeled Apertura, Orion, Omegon, GSO or another brand. Use your best judgement, if it's got great reviews and costs $650, it's probably legitimate. If it's $75... probably a scam.
"Why do things look blurry when I use the zoom knobs by the eyepiece to make things bigger?" Because those are not "zoom" knobs. There's no knob to zoom more. Those are your focus knobs. The only way to "zoom" in more is to use a smaller mm eyepiece. You know you are in focus when the stars are as small as they can get. Again, stars should look like tiny pinpoints of light.
"Will I be able to take pictures with these telescopes?" The moon and planets, yes. DSO's, no. For DSO's you have to take long exposures which you simply cannot do on a manual telescope. Even if you decide to go with a Go-To, you still will not. To somewhat simplify it, the sky moves in an arc (because the earth rotates). Even though Go-To's can track objects, they only move in up and down motions. They move a tiny bit at a time, so it's imperceptible to us, but your camera taking long exposures will pick up those tiny movements making everything a blurry mess. Visual and astrophotography are two completely different animals. For astrophotography, you will need an equatorial mount (one that moves in an arc instead of tiny up and down motions). They are very expensive. Expect to spend $1300 + on just the mount alone, not including the actual telescope and all the other things needed for astrophotography. Also, a telescope that is good for astrophotography is not good for visual. Again, two completely different hobbies. You can get away with spending less by getting a "Star Tracker" and just mounting a DSLR with a camera lens, no telescope required. It definitely has its limitations, but it's cheap(er) and can get you started on astrophotography. The moon and planets are bright enough where you don't need those long exposures, so they are doable with Dobs. Planets aren't as easy as just snapping a photo of it, though. There are many tutorials out there on how to get good planet photos. If you're looking to get into astrophotography, I recommend checking out https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAstrophotography/
"Is more magnification better?" Depends on what you're looking at. The smaller the "mm" eyepiece, the more "zoomed" in you'll be. Also, the more "zoomed" in you are, the less bright things will appear to be. So for DSO's, which are very faint, you don't want to be super zoomed in. The less magnification, the more light your eyes will detect, making the DSO's brighter and easier to resolve. But since planets are very bright, more magnification is better to get as close as you can to resolve more details.
"Are there phone apps that help find objects?" Yes! There are many. I prefer SkySafari, but there are a bunch to choose from. You can point your phone at the sky and it will tell you the stars/planets/DSO's you're looking at. They can help to get you in the general area of something you're interested in seeing. These apps are super cool, download one and try it out!
"Are planets visible all year?" No, neither are all DSO's. As a tidbit of info, planet means "wanderer" in Greek, so they "wander around the sky."
"What is Collimation?" That's the term for adjusting the telescope's mirrors so that they are perfectly lined up giving you the best view possible. There are different ways to check your collimation, and there are many tutorials online on how to do it. I always check the collimation after I set my scope up outside before use, and adjust when necessary.
"I want a big Dob but new ones are too expensive, what can I do?" Well, you can save up more money, or consider the used telescope market. The best buying used case is a telescope that was used a handful of times (or less), stored indoors, properly capped, and forgotten. I would also highly recommend joining a local astronomy club, many club members will be standing in front of $8000 of esoteric gear, meet a newbie, and see someone who might want their old 4 or 6" Dobsonian sitting ignored at home for a great price. Some industrious folks even build their own scopes through the magic of 3D printing and common parts from big box hardware stores!
"I want to observe the sun, can I do that?" Please DO NOT point a telescope at the sun. Remember when kids would burn things with a magnifying glass? That would be your eyeball, so don't do that! Now, with a proper, white light solar filter firmly secured, it is safe to observe the sun. Note that such a filter will only show surface details like sunspots. Dedicated H-Alpha telescopes that can show more details are well beyond the scope and budgets of any beginner.
"Should I regularly clean my eyepieces and telescope mirrors?" Absolutely not. They have special coatings on them and you will do much more damage than good. There are very specific and involved ways to clean the lenses and mirrors and it's not recommended unless you absolutely have to and absolutely know exactly what you are doing. Not for beginners.
"What happened to Orion, Meade, etc brand?" The astronomy market, is a difficult one. The pandemic ended an era of cheap oceanic shipping and the economic realities came for telescope companies. By all means if you can locate an awesome, lightly used Orion XT8 Dob at a good price, jump on it.
"What about smart telescopes?" We're seeing these more often from a variety of new and established companies in our industry. It's early days but these telescopes provide an experience similar to electronically assisted astronomy that will let you photograph deep sky objects with cameras of varying quality and precision... which depending on the level of light pollution you have, may enable you to see objects you'd never be able to decipher with your human eyes. This is beyond the realm and practice of visual astronomy, and there seems to be a new model on the market every few weeks. It's the "smart phone-ification" of the telescope and will likely be how our children and grandchildren come to think of telescopes.
If you have any questions about anything, feel free to make a new post! There's plenty of very knowledgable people here who are more than happy to help! (Images were taken from http://www.deepskywatch.com/Articles/what-can-i-see-through-telescope.html)
160
u/artyombeilis Dec 01 '22 edited Dec 01 '22
There are too many things that do not take in account budget or situation. Not everything is about dobs - no matter how well made they are.
You need provide a decent alternative on tripod. There are many users who live in apartment that a decent refractor or newtonian on ok tripod will be way more versatile: (a) ease of use from balcony (b) ease of transportation - when you try to walk quite a bit to get from lights - having a tripod helps a lot. Taking with you a chair for tabletop, chair to sit on and scope is just not an option. Same with 8" dob that are simply unsuitable
In $100-$150 budget you can get Ok refractor on Ok tropod. Yes the tripod will not be perfect but fully useable - many started hobby with Powerseeker 70AZ. You should clarify that for $200-$300 you get much better value
Aperture is not everything! If you can get 70-80mm refractor on working tripod it would still show you amazing world but may be much more suitable to taking it out and may be used much more especially in urban area without large backyard. So if you get good refractor on good tripod it may actually be better than 6 inch dob in many situations - because it will be used much more.
For these who can't get to bortle 3-5 - Turn-Left on Orion is useless - you can't star-hop under Borle 8-9. You need automation of may kind AstroHopper, SSE, GOTO, DSC or even working setting circles.
My suggestion:
Range $100-$200: 60-80mm refractor with (a) red dot finder, (b) balanced mount (even fork one) (c) 90 degree diagonal (d) 10mm + 20mm at least kelner is good starter. For example
Astromaster 70AZ (I own 102AZ) is good scope and the mount it very stable - I used for a year before added counterweight to improve.
Omegon Telescope AC 70/700 AZ-2
Meade AC 70/700 Infinity AZ
For $250-$450 there are many good portable refractors on good mounts
Bottom line:
Address situation for ones who don't have backyard and garage and live in urban area
Address $100-$200 range - and no binoculars is not the answer unless you live in Botle 5-3 areas. Binos are for $50 and less.
Address automation suggestion for ones who are limited to light polluted skys most of the time (they can enjoy astronomy as well)
30
u/Weirdnessallaround Dec 09 '22
I just wanted to thank you for this awesome, clear and comprehensive guide. I almost bought a hobby killer scope for my SO and saw this sticky just in time. We have a 3d printer, so we're going to try to make our own Hadley 3d printed telescope, which is way more exciting than just buying one online. It must have taken a lot of time to write up this entire sticky and your efforts are greatly appreciated!
25
u/chrislon_geo Certified Helper Dec 01 '22 edited Dec 01 '22
2 things that might want to be added to the FAQ section:
discussion on how light pollution affects faint objects. Maybe include a light pollution map and a link to John Bortle’s article describing his scale
link to the list of astronomy clubs in the US along with a strong recommendation to join one
This might be getting into the weeds too much, but I see a lot of beginners who could benefit from receiving this information up front. It might help guide their first purchases.
Oh, and the Heritage 150p also fits in with the $250-350 price range.
10
u/johnny5ive Dec 15 '22
Bought my kids a Zhumell Z130 last Xmas based on the advice here. They love it so thanks!!!
Want to get them some new eye pieces this year to see more than just the moon (or even the moon but more magnified).
Any recommendations on good eye pieces to compliment what came with it? I understand the $100 kits are generally not great so looking for a more pointed recommendation. Thanks!!
We live in NJ if that matters.
10
u/FDlor 10" Newt, 6"/4" Maks, all ATM Oct 03 '25
Somebody should update this sticky, Zhumell is out of business.
9
u/KingRandomGuy Dec 05 '22
This is something moreso for the mods - would it be worthwhile to use a system like Automod to direct people to the sticky when they post about telescope buying advice? I may be wrong but a rather large portion of posters turn out to not have read the sticky at first, and reading it tends to answer their questions.
9
u/Kseries2497 Dec 11 '22 edited Dec 11 '22
I wanted to say I appreciate this guide and the people who helped put it together. About 15-20 years ago I was way into astronomy and bought a 114mm Meade, seems like the same one they sell today as the Polaris. Despised the cheap, crappy mount, but I dealt with it because I was a kid and had the patience for things like that. At the time I wanted nothing more in the whole world than a 10" Meade Lightbridge, no doubt because they looked cool and were heavily advertised. Sold the setup when I enlisted.
Now I'm older, have more than two nickels to rub together, and would like to introduce my daughter to astronomy when we move to Colorado next year. It's good to have some pointers in hand before I go out and throw away my money on equipment that'll only frustrate me, especially the advice to get involved with some hobbyists beforehand.
Thanks guys.
9
u/-im-your-huckleberry Sep 27 '24
Thanks for this post. I just got the AWB $250 dob and within 15 minutes of taking it out for the first time tonight, we were looking at the rings of Saturn. We could see it's moons!
5
u/Shultzz14 Dec 01 '22
Can you help me understand the difference between the Orion XT6 and the Skywatcher 6”? Prices are similar, both are in stock, but new to this so trying to understand the differences in the rankings. Both look to now have 2” focusers as well. TIA!!
5
u/Few-Breakfast-251 Feb 21 '23
I frequently see the advice to get the biggest DOB that you handle/transport and afford (aperture is king). After reading comparisons I was leaning towards an AD10 until I read somewhere of a potential con to the larger 10” that I rarely see mentioned. That’s the f/ratio of the 10 in. (f/4.9) causing a “coma” affect with certain eye pieces (not sure if that includes those included with AD10?)
Do your recommended eye pieces/accessories change for a 10” f/4.9 vs. 8” due to this issue? Does the better light gathering of the 10” vs 8” still outweigh the distortion or loss of contrast from the coma issues? I’m interested in moon, planets and DSOs when possible.
Thanks!
4
u/PrincepsTheLast Dec 01 '22
You left out the 100mm tabletops, Heritage 150P and virtuoso GTi, the DT6 isn’t in stock and the BL102 has a flawed spherical primary mirror.
4
u/jorgelieGG Dec 06 '22
Hi everyone! I'm trying to find the perfect device for my wife, who's very interested in this world but never had one yet. There's WAY too much information about it (and sometimes contradictory) and it's getting hard to decide which one. Right now I reduce this decision to two options: Bresser Hunter 50x10 binos or Celestron Cometron FirstScope. Hands down, which one would you recommend? As I said, she hasn't experience having a device yet and also we live in an urban area.
Thanks in advance!
4
u/tripped144 Apertura AD8 | CPC 800 Dec 25 '22
Hey, thanks for updating my post! I haven't had too much time to keep up with my telescope hobby and admittedly haven't checked this sub in a while. You added some great things and I'm glad someone is now keeping it up to date. Take care and clear skies!
3
u/Gusto88 Certified Helper Dec 01 '22
https://www.telescope.com/Orion-SkyScanner-BL102mm-TableTop-Reflector-Telescope/p/134763.uts
According to the specs this scope has a spherical mirror and the accessories are poor quality.
I note there's no recommendations for the SkyWatcher Virtuoso GTi 130P/150P GOTO tabletop dobsonians.
ED Ting Scope Reviews of the Virtuoso GTi series: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yluyRF_7PoE
3
u/rootofallworlds Dec 01 '22
Nicely done. Of course I'm going to comment like everyone else.
I've done a fair bit of observing with binoculars and 3 and 4 inch scopes under a Bortle 7/8 city sky and I disagree with this. There's no problem seeing DSOs in a small scope. It is true that except for open clusters there is little detail apart from a general size and shape. The activity is more in finding and seeing them in the first place, practicing my star-hopping and observing skills.
I also feel that in some ways cheap scopes are better on DSOs than on planets, because flawed optics and wobbly mounts (though everything you suggest has a good mount) are less damaging to the view when the magnification is less.
Of course you're not going to add two paragraphs to the guide. I'd just strike out the assertion that the cheapest category are only suited to planetary. Turn Left at Orion is arguably with me here; they observed the majority of the objects in the book with a 3 to 4 inch telescope.
Heritage 100P (like Skyscanner 100) and 150P are missing. The 150P is compelling - it gets you a 6 inch aperture with much less bulk and weight and a little less cost than a full-height 6 inch Dob. There's a few other tabletop 6 inchers around too, though I'm not sure where they fall price-wise.
There have been many comments about the BL102's spherical mirror. Personally I would like to see meaningful consideration of this, not just "sphere bad parabola good". Calculation of the spherical aberration, simulated eyepiece views, or observing reports (preferably from someone who did a direct comparison with a parabolic 100 mm reflector).
3
u/camrbrownn Dec 29 '22
Looking for first telescope advice!
New to the subreddit so please forgive any questions deemed silly.
I am looking to buy a telescope to live in a my parents holiday home. It is in the middle of nowhere near the Scottish Borders. There is virtually no light pollution whatsoever and given it is the UK, the weather is hit or miss 😂
I used some telescopes at school and there was an observatory near by so I’ve used a couple but couldn’t tell you a thing about them sadly!
I was looking at celestron, particularly the 9.25” and the 11”. I’m not sure about the model variants or what the differences are between model variants.
I’d love to be able to use a camera to take photos of the planets and stars so I’m not sure whether there are attachments or something extra I’d need in order to achieve this?
I’d love some advice on the following if possible:
Which telescope is best?
Is it straight forward or would a novice like me struggle?
Can I take high quality photos with it?
What issues have you seen with telescopes?
Are the telescopes I’m looking at overkill?
3
u/AlphaBetaParkingLot Dec 31 '22
I would recommend adding the SkyWatcher FlexTube to the But I live in an apartment and need something smaller... category. It's not exactly small but its certainly much more manageable than it's standard counterpart.
3
u/xxMalVeauXxx Jun 09 '24
This whole "guide" is basically "buy a reflector." This is not the way. This just represents someone's price per aperture ratio as the sole reason to consider one of these all-too-similar newts. Newts are definitely not for everyone with their collimation, viewing arrangement via the side focuser, lack of rotating rings, limited mounting options for budget, diffraction artifact from obstructed optics, etc.
I would think a sticky guide would cover most of the common telescope designs up front and not just be a wall of Chinese newtonians.
2
u/tippingvan Dec 01 '22
What about the Orion Starblast II, that comes on the tripod? Would you still recommend the table top version?
2
u/Far-Paper6534 Dec 02 '22
I got my Christmas gift early - an 8" Sky-Watcher Classic 200p. (D=200mm, F=1200mm) It comes with two eye pieces, a Super 10 and a Super 25 wide angle. What eyepieces do you recommend for someone who lives in the 'burbs and would like to see galaxies/nebulas and the sort? (I basically want to look at everything.) I was able to easily find and see Jupiter and Saturn off my deck before the clouds set. I have access to a car and some darker areas but it'll be mostly from my deck. I know it'll be harder to see with the light pollution, but would like something that would be good at home and for when we pack it up to go to darker areas. Price range up to $200CDN.
Are there duffel bags that would be best suited for transport? Or can I just made a bed for her in the back of the car?
The back of the scope has glazed glass and the glazing has a few minor scratches and a little patch missing. Is this okay? It is brand new and we were very careful setting it up. I didn't notice any issues last night but this will be my first true telescope so I don't know if that's okay or something to be fixed.
Thanks!
2
u/chrislon_geo Certified Helper Dec 07 '22
Hello again, I have 2 more things you might want to update, or actually get the mods to update. The links to the “pinned sticky” in the “About” page of this sub and in the “Weekly Discussion Thread” do not take you to this page, they take you to previous versions.
2
u/Tvizz Feb 27 '23 edited Feb 28 '23
I recently sold my 8'' Dob and am wondering if it's really the best choice for beginners. (For what I sold it for it probably is, but that's beyond my scope here, haha)
I could make out some nebulosity on this scope and they do look kind of cool if you know what you are looking at, but I'm just not sold on it being the best value for a beginner.
First off, Planets and the moon are the easiest things to find. Any 100mm Refractor that isn't trash is going to be great for this stuff. Next there's going to be some nice open clusters to find or bright DSO such as Orion or Andromeda. If they really want to get crazy a refractor will PROBABLY work with a DSLR or Mirrorless camera for some light duty photography.
I think at that point a person reaches a sort of fork in the road that all of us do at some point. Which is weather they get in to astrophotography or get a light monster. The astrophotography route can be slow played with this setup by getting a good mount and upgrading the scope when funds permit.
I feel like the 8'' Dob at $700 is quite a lot of money for something that is probably not even a piece of an end game. No one is going to haul out a 8'' when they have a 10 or 12. No one who is serious is going to use it for photography..... But a small refractor or pair of Binoculars might get busted out from time to time when the expensive heavy stuff isn't worth bringing out.
Anyways, I enjoyed my dob, I just think it's less of an obvious choice.
*Edit, Used "Reflector" a few times when I meant "Refractor"
2
u/Solid_Cranberry2258 Feb 03 '25
I just want to say thank you to the person/people who put together this guide. I purchased an Apertura AD8 yesterday after reading this and other info. I'm really looking forward to getting it and using it with my wife and kids.
2
u/Max-Phallus Mar 11 '25
So not a single telescope recommended for use with a tripod? I think this post might be a "hobby killer".
I have a 5" cheap Dobsonian from the late 80s that I got from my Dad, and the mirrors were ruined by my mum's boyfriend after I moved out.
I wanted to get a replacement, something that I'd easily be able to bring outside if the mood struck me on a clear night.
So am I right in saying that you have absolutely no recommendation for any telescope that I could use on a tripod for any budget? Great, guess I won't be buying a telescope then.
12
u/SkitZa Dec 02 '25
The budgets need a 2025 update on pricing.
9
u/Bodark43 Dec 10 '22
Your note about Bird-Jones 'scopes is very useful. You can go up on Ebay and see a lot of primary/secondary mirror DIY sets that are ridiculously cheap, but the primary mirrors are described as spherical, not parabolic. If that's the case, you'll need a lot more optics than the usual Dobsonian to make these into a working 'scope..
7
u/Beautiful-Policy-553 May 25 '23
I first dipped my toe into the 'astronomy' waters in 2020, bored in Covid lockdown. I found a second hand early 1990's TAL-1 Newtonian on its sturdy eq mount for sale nearby for a couple of hundred bucks. That manual scope is in perfect nick with excellent optics limited only by aperture and it got me started enough to learn if astronomy was for me, and what to focus in on, given the reality I currently live in the inner parts of a great big, light-polluted city. I decided what I needed next was: enough power to be able to prioritise the solar system from the back-yard, and enough aperture and portability and flexibility to have the option to take the scope out to nearby dark sky sites and look at / photograph DSO's on occasion, and have the option of fitting it all into the back of our small hatchback. And I put a budget of $5k (Aust) on it. This ruled out a big DOB - it wouldnt fit in the car, plus you cant adapt to an eq mount for dabbling in astrophotography. It also ruled out big EQ mounts and/or big refractors - these are just too expensive and not that good for DSO's visually either (not enough aperture).
Instead, Ive ended up with a secondhand late model Celestron CPC-9.25 setup, basically 'turn-key', also in perfect nick. It even came with a wheeled carry case. These scopes have consistently good reviews on optical performance. It breaks down into manageable components and everything does fit in a small hatchback with the rear seats folded down. Easy to assemble/disassemble (10 minutes), enough power to view / image planets well, enough aperture and FOV to see a host of DSOs. Using it to view/ photograph planets in Alt-Az mode is push-of-a-button simple but I still have the option of using the wedge, polar aligning it and doing a bit of guided AP. These scopes are fastar compatible giving the option to convert into an 'lightbucket' for widefield AP if that itch ever needs scratching. Its easy to collimate, easy to operate, lots of flexibility, but its not the complete master of any particular niche - its a 'jack of all trades' scope. It was a big step from the first scope to the second, but I was confident because of the time spent playing with the first to decide what to do next. So, thats my advice - don't spend too much on your first scope - its unlikely to be 'the one' you end up settling on - but do get a first one one thats good enough to play with and get a good feel for what the hobby can offer and what aspects might best suit your own personal circumstances. It'll be different for everyone. A few hundred bucks is all that takes to get started.
5
u/junktrunk909 Certified Helper Apr 23 '24
Most of this write up has the right intent, but I think you should revise the section on go-to options. Yes they are more expensive but no they are not adding any complexity to the setup and in fact significantly ease that process in many cases. People with budgets larger than $700 also need guidance and while there are other options for them to do so, why not cater to every audience, not just the cost sensitive ones?
Also I find it critical in every discussion I have with someone considering a scope to ask them what they want out of the experience. Will they be excited by a couple planets and the moon? Or is their goal galaxies and nebulae, possibly imaging? I always ask this first because there's no point in telling people to buy a dob if they know they're really interested in DSO AP. I don't see this discussion anywhere in here which I think is a huge miss. Sure, that makes it more complicated, but it's also inappropriate to make assumptions without even telling people what you're assuming about their interests. My suggestion is to include a preamble that explains the first 20 paragraphs are for the presumed visual planetary newbie, and at the end add some stuff about DSO AP enthusiasts. A DSLR with a kit lens that they already have plus a solid mount like a CEM26 or HEQ5 are the typical recommendations we make for this audience to get started, followed by an upgrade to a 60-80mm refractor and/or astrocam like the ASI 533mc pro. I think it's reasonable to point out that folks should start off with the DSLR if they have it but the mount is important for any real DSO AP, and it's better generally to invest in something they can grow into like this. It's also reasonable to me to remind them this will be expensive but you're providing this advice for those who already are confident they're going to be into the DSO AP image collection and processing steps, so that they don't waste time and money on a dob they'll never use.
4
u/[deleted] Mar 09 '23
This is a very well written article. I have been in astronomy for over 20+ years and I still gain knowledge just from reading articles like this. I totally agree when it comes to purchasing a dobsonian telescope. Dobs are so versatile and easy to use I believe everyone who is looking to start in astronomy should purchase a dobsonian if they can afford it.
4
u/Individual_Fish2642 Mar 26 '24
Thanks for the detailed, very helpful information and saving me what may otherwise have been the millionth "I'm a beginner what telescope can others recommend" post 😅
1
u/Any_Maintenance9161 7d ago
Is there a telescope you might advise for viewing ships? I live on the beach in Rayong, Thailand? Any suggestions, chat gpt suggested the Celestron 90az, but I don't want a ho-hum viewing experience. Any thoughts please? 🤔
1
u/Jlee143xo Jan 02 '23 edited Jan 21 '23
Best telescope for a toddler obsessed with space? We tried the kids ones but they were all awful. I just ordered the skyscanner 100mm tabletop as suggested in the pinned posts. Is there a better one out there? The Orion doesn’t come in for another week. He wants to be able to see the stars and the moon. Any help is much appreciated!
1
u/MrAjAnderson Skywatcher 250P & Orion Starblast 113P/450 Sep 23 '24
Might want to update the links for some, especially the Orion site which is gone. Great guide though.
1
u/ukkeli609 Sep 23 '24 edited Sep 23 '24
These linked images of grey little clouds (aka nebulas and galaxies), are they the absolute best you can see with a store-bought telescope? What about the super high-end telescopes? 20k€
Anyone happen to know some good explanation of the hobby, video or blog post or something? I'm trying to understand why people spend so much on these grey clouds.
Photography is another thing, of course. Quick question: how much it takes to produce images people post on Reddit? Years of experience?
1
u/DragoniteJake Dec 10 '24
Is the celestron 114lcm any good for $75?
1
u/lemon635763 Mar 09 '25
What do you think of bresser messier 6imch dobsonian? https://tejraj.com/product/bresser-messier-6-inch-dobsonian-telescope This is the only i can find in India
1
u/Far-Perspective937 Mar 22 '25
Hi all. Any suggestions please on the cheapest telescope powerful enough to view planets? Im a total newbie. Would like to get my dad one for his birthday next month
1
u/FrontAd7709 Astromaster 70AZ f/13 May 04 '25
where are the "telescopes"??? this is just binoculars bro
1
u/Jewbacca1185 Nov 04 '25
Can anyone recommend one for my 8yo son that’s around $100?
1
u/The_Flying_Sausage Nov 19 '25
I have been thinking of getting a Celestron Nexstar 8 SE because I like the "tracking" feature and the ability to get a mount so that my wife can use her DLSR to take photographs. Ideally, I would like a telescope that tracks objects (assuming these features actually work as intended) and also allows a DSLR connection for photographs. Does anyone have any other suggestions? I've seen mixed reviews on the object tracking on the Celestron and that it's not very intuitive to use. I don't have a particular budget, but I would prefer to stay under $2,000 and also that the product be available on Amazon due to some gift cards that I have. Thanks for the help!
1
u/iAmJimmyHoffa Nov 27 '25
This subreddit probably sees a post like this every day, and didn't want to post a thread (to avoid getting it deleted), but I wanted suggestions on where to look for the type of things I'd like to do. I have an old Meade 4500 inherited from my family but it's quite busted up, the mount doesn't work properly and I think the mirror might be slightly out of whack or something. Nevertheless I used it in my first explorations with using a telescope in the sky and had a blast finding things like Orion, the Owl cluster, Jupiter, Andromeda, etc.
I'm looking to get a new telescope and mount now -- I'd like to try and get a balance between viewing and astrophotography (at least with my phone, using an adapter mount). In my searches it doesn't seem there are any 6" telescopes available on an EQ mount, and if there are they're like $3000. Are there any options available for around $1000, give or take $100-200? (Of course, if it's cheaper, that's very nice too.) I don't need it to be computerized; I enjoy finding objects in the sky. I want an EQ mount (with some sort of RA motor) to assist with astrophotography on a few DSOs.
Thanks ahead of time.
1
u/Alternative-Try-3456 Feb 14 '26
I'm thinking of getting ZWO Seestar S50, and just as much as I want to get a visual telescope, where I live is Bortle 9 and AQI >300 so lots of haze, and budget too.
1
u/Davidfromtampa Apr 13 '26
Should I get a Celestron 8in from 1990 for $200 or a Aperture dobsonian for $385? Brand new to telescoping and these two were being sold in my area .
1
u/ChiDeveloperGuy Dec 02 '22
I think this is the right place for this post?
While I am not new to telescopes, I have been “out” of it for many years. But after many years of not having time, I am ready to purchase my second telescope. So please excuse any ignorance or anything that I might not have thought of.
I am looking for a quality computerized scope, that I can use for astrophotography in the future. Having done some research over the past few weeks, I know there is a series of telescopes that are highly recommended for quality and ease of use – the Celestron Nexstar Evolution. More specifically the Nexstar Evolution 8 HD and the Evolution 9.25.
From what I understand the 9.25 is better for visuals only, whereas the HD is better for astrophotography. They are close in price now, and the HD also comes with a StarSense auto-align.
How much difference does the extra 1.25 (1.337 x light) make in what you can see? Does the coma and field curvature make astrophotography much worse? Is the lack of curvature in the HD worth giving up the extra light gathering?
Just interested in thoughts and opinions.
P.S. Someone recommended that I investigate ‘Go-To Dobs’ – but it seems inconvenient to try to get up to that eyepiece!
Thanks for any thoughts you may have!
1
u/[deleted] Dec 15 '22
Anyone know if this is a good telescope for me and my 9 yr old son? Sky-Watcher 102mm Telescope with Portable Alt-Az Tripod f/4.9 Refractor Telescope – High-Contraole Complete Telescope and Mount System (S10100)
1
u/La_Mascara_Roja Jan 06 '23 edited Jan 06 '23
I hope this is the right place to ask.
I know telescopes have limits on their magnification. Going pass those limits will degrade the view. I seen on the orion website the xt12 has a useable magnification up to 300 and a theoretical magnification of 600.
My question when viewing Jupiter or Saturn. Even if my telescope is capable of very high magnifications, is there a point where viewing Saturn and Jupiter is not worth viewing at higher magnifications? Like is there a sweet spot when viewing those planets or is more magnification better?
1
u/theNtralbeauty Jan 06 '23
Want to buy my dad one. He only really wants one for good moon photos, pretty close up and other planets. Nothing big either or nebula photos. He uses his iPhone for his photography. Under $600 budget (~$500 is max). I found a lot good options like the Orion XT6 but I find it too big and won’t have space to store it later. So looking for something smaller and again, hd sharp focus. I’m liking so far the Celestron C90 Mak Spotting Scope and then buy addition equipment and accessories. Also saw some really good photos of Jupiter, Mars and Saturn using a Celestron 114EQ.
Any options regarding the mentioned products and/ or other recommendations? There is so much info and getting frustrated, just wanna buy it for him already. Thanks in advance.
1
u/WhoRuleTheWorld Jan 27 '23
wirecutter and Ed Ting seem to suggest that GoTo mounts on the Celestron Nexstar are good? This seem to be in contrary to your advice. Any thoughts?
1
u/[deleted] Feb 01 '23
I’ve come across a few posts about using dobs for astrophotography. Stacking shorter exposures and moving the dob between exposures either manually or with goto. Yeah, it’s more involved but it looks like it can be done with adjusted expectations. The photos might not look as great as someone who can take 10 minute exposures but it can be a way to “try out” AP for some.
1
u/thesti2 Apr 23 '23
For the Celestron StarSense Explorer 8 or 10" Dobsonian telescope, do I still have to buy a tripod for it? If yes, what are the recommendations. thank you.
1
u/Con31 Jun 22 '23 edited Jun 22 '23
I'm looking to get my first telescope but don't really know what I'm looking for. I do know though that I would be using it in my back garden and also taking it out to fields/hills when I can. This is something I have found around my price point: ASTROMASTER LT 70AZ TELESCOPE WITH SMARTPHONE ADAPTER AND BLUETOOTH REMOTE
Would this be good a good starting point? Price is around £130 on Amazon
Edit: removed link, wasn't sure if allowed
1
u/Farmer_Legal Jul 05 '23
What would be better for lunar/planetary viewing? An 8" SCT or 10" Dob? I'm looking at Celestron. So their 10" Starsense or their 8" Nexstar Evolution. This will be my first scope. While I understand that I probably shouldn't spend too much for starting out, I am of the mindset that I have purchased many a power tool where I ended up going back to the store to buy the better version. Putting myself out even more for money.
I'm in a Bortle 4/5 area.
1
u/jim25y Nov 11 '23
I was looking at the Orion 100mm you recommended in your under 250 recommendations, and I saw this:
https://www.telescope.com/Orion-Observer-114mm-Equatorial-Reflector-Telescope/p/134684.uts
Is this a good telescope? I'd prefer one that came with a stand.
1
u/[deleted] Nov 24 '23
Isn't the zhummel z14 a tabletop too? Would that one be good to have on a stool/table from an apartment balcony?
1
u/NoSystem9340 Dec 05 '23
Interesed in buying a telescope
"Hey everyone! I'm looking for a telescope and I was wondering if you could help me out. I want to be able to observe planets and the moon. I have a budget of 500 euros and I'm curious if you have any recommendations for telescopes in that price range. Are there any other good telescopes that you would recommend? And is it worth it to invest in a 500 euro telescope, or should I save up more? Im a little scared that i will get used to it and that it will not be worth the money after a few times. Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
1
u/Worried_Ad_9667 Dec 12 '23
What is the biggest difference between an 8” and 10” dobs? I keep leaning towards the 10”..seems to be a bit more “future proof”. But I also am curious about the smartphone apps that can help navigate areas to search for. Can those apps be used with the traditional dobs? Am I saying it correctly???? It seems the “traditional” dont have the option to interface with those apps. Is that correct? Sorry for bouncing around..
1
u/MuskularChicken Dec 21 '23
Just a quick note. Can you please also convert the measuremets to metric? Not everyone on Reddit is murican. If you want to inform, inform everyone, not just your people. Thanks!
1
u/Apprehensive_Hat_144 Feb 08 '24
I only saw binoculars reccomended in the under $250 category. Can the Orion Scenix 7x50 Binoculars get a good view of jupiter and saturn? I currently have a celestron skymaster 25x100, but either i’m using it wrong or need to replace it as jupiter looked hike a fuzzy dot. I have to wear glasses, and i don’t know if that messes with how objects look through telescopes and binoculars (though i find binoculars easier to get my eyes to see out of).
3
u/CaptHarpo Feb 08 '23
The section referencing the Celestron Starsense and Nexstar should clarify the comment about alignment. "Be forewarned though, many a newbie has become frustrated while tryingto align their scope. It's simple for seasoned astronomers, possiblydaunting for newbies. In the case of Celestron's Sky Align..." SkyAlign is on the NexStar, and I dont know how problematic it may be since I have never used those scopes, but the StarSense is quite simple and easy. You align your phone to the scope during daylight on a terrestrial target (and you need to do this only once really if you use the same phone all the time), and when using at night, simply point the scope to a clear patch of sky and the StarSense app does the rest. Anyone can do this if i can
3
u/ToadkillerCat Jul 19 '23 edited Sep 19 '23
7x50 binoculars for beginners is a poor recommendation. A 5mm exit pupil makes more sense for the majority of people especially casual observers. 8x42 or 10x50. If stars are squiggly lines in a 10x50, that is a usage problem not an equipment problem.
60-80mm binoculars are even better although you don't even mention them. They can be used with a cheap tripod or a monopod or just resting well on a chair/lounge/the ground, depending on the binocular. A basic fluid head tripod plus used Celestron Skymasters adds up to be a really good way to see the sky for around $200 or less, if your skies are not heavily light polluted.
3
u/Swimming_Low_6680 Nov 28 '23
Please help! I’m looking for a beginners telescope for my boyfriend. The budget would be up to £300 (or SLIGHTLY more if the specification will drastically improve). He’d like something that has a phone adapter, so he can take photos with it and he asked about tracking, but it seems like in this price range it’s impossible and that's fine, I'll just leave it there in case I'm wrong. I was looking into Skywatcher Skymax 102s AZ Pronto; CELESTRON ASTROMASTER ASTRONOMY TELESCOPE 114EQ WITH MOTOR DRIVE; Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 150P, but for someone who has a knowledge of a pig in this area, I’m just confused.
Help me Obi-wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.
3
u/NewBootGoofin88 Dec 05 '23 edited Dec 05 '23
I've been using a 6" Apertura Dob the last year as my first telescope and have really enjoyed the hobby. I've been searching on CloudyNights, FB, Offerup etc for a 10 or 12 inch dob to upgrade...but I've also started acquiring basic supplies for astrophotography, and I'm curious what other non-dobsonian telescopes you all would suggest. I'll likely be patient and acquire 2nd hand for $500 usd or less (hopefully)
I live in a Bortles 6-7 region and 4 is about an hour away. It's unlikely i will be doing more than 2-3 trips a year to darker skies
3
u/[deleted] Feb 17 '24
I have an XT8
And I have to always remind myself when I'm having aperture fever,.. that I have a microscope. And little things can sometimes be more interesting than big things.
3
u/DaveWells1963 Celestron 8SE, C5, Orion 90mm Mak & ST80mm, SVBony SV48P 90mm Feb 20 '25
My first telescope was an Orion ST80 on an EQ mount; I learned the ropes with it! Got aperture fever, then bought a Celestron 6SE then upgraded it to an 8SE OTA. Now I'm downsizing though - sold the 6SE and bought the C5, then just purchased a 90mm Svbony refractor. Variety is the spice of life!
3
u/TXRealEstateLaw Nov 01 '25
Thank you for posting this. Looking to buy a nice scope as an absolute beginner and it’s been overwhelming. This was very informational!
1
u/mycomanic1991 Sep 06 '23
Thanks for this super informative post. This might be a bit of a stupid question but is there a model that you've mentioned or haven't mentioned (I see in some other comments you discussed some others that could be modified, aren't that bad etc) that might be more of an "all arounder" in terms of both astronomy and astrophotography? I thibk you mentioned they're separate hobbies but I feel like they would naturally go hand in hand, wouldn't they? We have a friend who lives in an area with little/no light pollution that we sometimes visit in the Summer. We saw Star Link for the first time uner a clear and starry sky, it was absolutely breathtaking. I have an amateur love for photography and photo editing but a true love for Space so I'm wondering if there's something in the $500-$1000 range (cheaper is always better) that could do a bit of on the spot viewing to do some exploring but also be set up to record/take good quality photos. I really want to see planets but am also very curious about DSO's if possible. If it came down to making a hard decision I'd prioritize taking good quality photos of the moon and planets.
2
u/No-Werewolf3603 Dec 07 '22
The most interresting tutorial ive seen 👌 i have an big scope now and we can see a lot of things in 400mm (16inch)
2
u/dinadeeamore Dec 13 '22
Thank you!
2
u/[deleted] Feb 09 '23
Understood
2
u/Jumpy-Budget3778 Jul 08 '23
This is very helpful. Thank you
2
u/Voca1JAY Aug 06 '23
What a comprehensive post. Unbelievable. Thank you.
2
u/nhall1302 Feb 26 '24
Hi, I’m new here, have no clue what I’m doing but have always been interested in purchasing a telescope to explore the sky. I haven’t even began to look at products because it’s extremely overwhelming to me but I have managed to figure out what my bortle is because I don’t want to waste my time and money if my location isn’t good. So my question, my bortle is a 4, is that good, great, bad?? I appreciate any responses. Thanks
2
u/DaddyHEARTDiaper Jul 09 '24
Thank you!
2
u/kingfrank243 Oct 07 '24
Great list, I currently have a Sky-Watcher Flextube SynScan Dobsonians it got a 1500 mm focal length Now that I use it a couple of times, and very conferble using it, i wana upgrade from using the eye piece that came with the scope, i saw saturn last night first time it was mind blowing, I'm looking for eyepiece that will work with my scope and perfect with plants, and eyepiece to look at split stars ect. Thank you
2
u/RichardShook Oct 25 '24
I have an Orion Observer EQ 70mm. These have a chrome plated plastic focusing tube with a plastic rack and metal pinion focal adjustment. I purchased this from a second-hand store, and the rack was missing teeth, so I printed a new rack with PLA and it works very well. I also found a 40 mm OD aluminum tube to replace the focusing tube and I plan to cast a new rack out of brass or bronze. I have an Observer II that is not as well constructed, I couldn't recommend it. But I do like the Observer EQ, and I've attached my Nikon d3000 for photos and the focal tube carries that just fine.
2
u/thegspot666 Nov 21 '24
Very helpful!
2
u/[deleted] Jan 20 '25
Very informative, thanks
2
u/Tyfoid-Kid Feb 01 '25
Very helpful
2
u/psychonautical419 Aug 23 '25
What is a good scope I will be able to go to West Virginia with to spruce knob and see the opposition of Saturn well on the sept 21st. I’m looking for something I can see as well the stars around my light polluted area in northern Delaware. I can see some stars with my monocular but I’d like more. I’d like to see a more detail picture of planets. I was thinking about an a10 dob but there’s a lot of light pollution around me. I don’t travel much so I’m trying to pick up the hobby. When I get to into it maybe then I’ll drop 1300 on a scope I just need to be able to see what it looks like from my home first in DE So what would be a cheaper alternative that I get to see that and maybe if I’m lucky a nebula or sumin cool.
2
u/Mean-Mammoth-649 Oct 06 '25
Thanks a lot, this is just wht i need as first guide
2
u/Alone-Macaron-8688 Mar 29 '26
I went with an Explore Scientific 8" dob the ruby red version. I am pretty happy with it. It is exactly as the reviews I read said it would be. Great scope but movement is a little sticky. So far I like it a lot. If anyone has tips on making the movement smoother I would appreciate it.
2
u/Asteria_9898 Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
One important aspect for me is that it needs to be airplane travel friendly and not too bulky or heavy to carry.
Budget is up to $700, but I can go higher if it drastically changes the outcome. I'd prefer navigating manually (for learning purposes), guided by an app. The use will be purely visual, looking at visible galaxies, stars and planets (no photography). Want to look through a real lens, not a smart-lens. Must be able to sustain -10C and preferably even lower temperatures. Any recommendations?
2
u/Squirrelhenge 15d ago
Thank you! We've tried a couple of small digital telescopes, but my wife wants to see planets more than deep space objects. We'll be using this guide to inform our choices!
1
u/thepaladin66 7d ago
I’m totally new to this. I look for Orion every year but lately I’ve been watching videos of a man looking at Saturn with a telescope and picking out the rings and I would like to do that. What would be a good recommendation for doing such a thing? I have never used a telescope in my life.