Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian I found this 6” for a good price. Is this similar to yours (but smaller) and can you add a iPhone camera to it ?
Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_EMJ0JQC1MFKESS1ZBWDP
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. 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
Good luck!
6" Dobsonians are cheap (relatively), and SUPER easy to operate. You literally just point and look, and they have great results.
I picked up mine, a 6" like the one pictured, for $299 brand new.
Super fun, easy to move around, fun at parties (not a joke)
This thing? It's funny how I go down to the comparison, and the no.1 best seller is, you guessed it, a powerseeker.
Maybe people get it cause it looks cooler?
For tripod mounts, what's your recommendation? For the far, far future.. of course.
Spend $30 less and get a full size 6" Dob or ditto what everyone else is saying - save a bit more for the 8".
If your interest lies mostly in galaxies and Nebula, to avoid disappointment just keep on saving until you can get a 10 or 12" dob, especially if your skies are light polluted.
Would an 8" dob be better than http://www.amazon.com/8944-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW ? I only ask because it is a bit cheaper and I am on a pretty strict budget, but I would be willing to pay the extra 100 bucks or so if it would give me much better results. And would I need a mount for either of these? Sorry for all of these dumb questions, I have absolutely NO idea about any of this stuff and I can't really get any concrete answers. Thank you.
EDIT: I'm an idiot. I linked an 8" dob without even realizing it. Disregard said link.
Something like this would be a good starter. Look on Craigslist, as /u/gbimmer suggested.
Avoid cheapo refractor telescopes like the plague. The crap you see in local stores is going to be cheap crap.
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
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
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! :-)
Hello :-)
Check the classifieds. Telescope.com often has refurbished ("2nd") xt6 or xt8 for a good price (not recently though).
For $250 new, check out the xt4.5. It has a bit less aperture than the 5" table-tops (Meade Lightbridge Mini 130, Zhumell z130, AWB Onesky/Heritage130p) but it's easier to reach higher magnification.
There's a set for the xt4.5 with barlow, IMHO get a dedicated eyepiece instead to get the best image regarding planets. (5mm, 4.5mm - don't push magnification beyond that, the image will get dim and dull)
IF you can stretch your budget, do get the xt6. It's longer, making it easier to observe standing (though seated is the way to go), it's easier and cheaper to reach high magnification (6mm gold-line eyepiece for $18 at Aliexpress or $40 at Amazon). It's larger aperture results in a higher resolution and higher useful magnification. Sadly the Skywatcher 6" has gotten more expensive, it has a better focuser and finder.
If your budget is low, check out the Meade Lightbridge Mini 130, and get a 4mm Planetary (From $26 at Aliexpress, $40 at Amazon).
Do not get a cheap Plössl, the short ones have horrible eye-relief.
> not as a color blob
You do have to get your expectations straight. Seeing Saturn like this will never happen, especially through a small telescope.
IF atmospheric seeing allows, and if the telescope is set up properly, you can see the shadow of the rings on the planetary disc, the Cassini division of the rings, and some cloud structure - But it will be more subtle than most expect. Observing is a process. Some observe for half an hour or longer, until they perceive all possible detail. Especially when sketching, it's common to observe long, occasionally switch magnifications, or even use filters to slightly enhance contrast. But filters have marginal effect. With the right instrument and patience, amazing details can be perceived - But often, you'll just see this^,possibly smaller.
All images you see from planets are processed in one way or another. Cameras work differently than our eyes. And computer software is capable of stacking dozens or hundreds of frames to combine details and reduce noise, resulting in astonishing images, even with small telescopes.
Hello :-)
Great advice so far!
3 and 6 is quite young; At that age, the moon is most interesting (can be fascinating in almost any telescope) and the planets of course. The smaller telescopes are very limited for planets. Only three show noteworthy detail and aren't always up. They are not as big and high contrast as pictures may make it seem.
Deep-sky objects appear as faint fuzzies (see links at the bottom).
That said, a friend's daughter was super into astronomy at young age, so it really depends on the kid :-)
Still, you don't just point it at a star and see something. You need where to look == They need guidance. It's important to speak with them about what you observe (e.g. that faint nebulae is where thousands of stars are born, that little smudge are the remains of a star that exploded long ago...).
The OneSky
I have the Onesky (Europe, Heritage 130p), it's a great portable telescope. It's not perfect, needs something to put it on (Box, Crate, ikea Bekväm), and is a good all-rounder that will beat the usual garbage in this price-range (Avoid 127eq, 114eq, 130eq despite Amazon best-seller status).
XT6
BUT: For $250 you can get the XT6 that will beat it in any regard. It's over your budget, but does not require something to put it on, and it's easier to reach higher magnification (While the Onesky/Mini requires a good $40+ planetary eyepiece, a ~$20 gold-line for the XT6 will do)
Sometimes for $200 at the "2nd"/clearance www.telescope.com/Sale/Clearance-Center/pc/6/777.uts?&refinementValueIds=4567
What to expect in different telescope aperture sizes
If you want two telescopes, the $99 Orion Funscope Dazzle is a nice budget solution, but even more limited.
Clear skies!
Great advice so far!
I'm not darkapollo1982, but if you can return it, you will be able to get something more sturdy with more aperture in the same price-range.
The EQ2 type mount of these sets is the weak spot. Almost all telescopes in this price range on tripod are not sturdy enough. A better EQ mount would double the price of these sets, so the manufacturers bundle it with the weakest they can get away with.
Amazon lists the 130eq-md for $250-$300 from third party vendors. Astronomics has it for $280, retail price is $299.
For $270 you can get a Orion XT6, refurbished even for less (telescope.com - clearance center - "2nd" telescopes ... Nothing at the moment though). If you can stretch your budget, consider a 8" dobsonian (Skywatcher from $369). It's the best bang for the buck, if you can manage it's size.
Size/Portability https://www.reddit.com/r/telescopes/comments/4ldauj/need_help_identifying_a_good_telescope_to_buy_for/d3mr0xp
A larger aperture will show more (Simulations https://www.reddit.com/r/Astronomy/comments/3j2wjo/what_is_a_good_telescope_in_this_budget/cum0622/
Motor drive and equatorial mounts are nice, but only if it's stable. Do not rely on amazon reviews, many are amazed what these sets can show, but never used an actually good telescope.
The 6" dobsonian is a simple alt-az (updownleftright) mount, but is sturdy and moves smoothly. Though you will have to track manually in two directions. With a decent wide-angle (1) eyepiece that's not a big issue though with a few minutes of practice :-)
The 6" aperture will show more, and has less flaws than the short 5". The Astromaster in particular has a spherical mirror despite some stores stating otherwise (Celestron has it on their website). A spherical mirror with an aperture ratio of F/5 limits contrast greatly at high magnification!
Avoid sets like the 127eq or 114/1000 with short tube ("bird jones" type with several issues).
Clear skies!
I don't think so you can get the Orion 6-in XT for $299. Reading the details of the issues he had to fix I think it was basically just a good used price. https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW
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.
Hi :-) Great advice so far!
The Mini 130 is currently cheaper here.
I have the AWB Onesky (outside US: Skywatcher Heritage 130p) it's a nice telescope despite it's quirks.
Telescope.com sometimes has "2nd"/clearance/used/refurbished dobsonians, e.g. xt4.5 for $170, or xt6 for $200 or so.
What to expect in different telescope aperture sizes
Onesky/Heritage: Quirks & fixes
Almost all telescopes in the sub $200 range are not good. The 5" table-tops are a bit of a compromise, but decent all-rounders.
There's also the Dazzle 4.5, and it's quite cheap (Amazon $130). Though the 5" show a tad more, and their F/5 aperture ratio has some benefits regarding contrast.
For a bit more: https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW (Skywatcher 6" is a bit more expensive at the moment, but has a better finder and focuser. Though their 8" is cheap. But then, the z8 is just yet a bit more expensive and has even better accessories... A never ending money hole :-) ).
The larger dobsonians do not require a table/box/crate, and show noticeably more.
On a tripod, there's not much that's recommendable. As a good mount can easily double the cost of the set, most manufacturers bundle it with the weakest they can get away with. Something like the xlt 130 shows the same as the Mini 130, but costs about as much as the xt6. A smaller telescope on a half-way decent tripod (90mm refractor on EQ2 or an Infinity or Omni 102mm refractor) will show less overall.
Clear skies! :-)
Since you are looking at Amazon as the source? The cheapest good telescope is the 6" Dobsonian: https://www.amazon.ca/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=6%22+Dobsonian&qid=1593896453&s=electronics&sr=1-1
An 8" is better, but a 6" Dobsonian will have good optics, a solid base, pretty good ergonomics, etc. A little more expensive than the ones you've linked but it is far, far better IMHO.
I'd rather get the Sky-Watcher 6" Dobsonian or maybe even one made by GSO but I'm not sure you can get them OK there. The Sky-Watcher is listed but may not be for sale. The XT6 Plus is listed and I think is made by GSO but it does cost quite a bit more.
Seems like neither the Z130 nor the heritage 130p are currently available at Amazon;
Availability is a bit wonky due to the Covid crisis.
5"
Else, if you can afford it, the 6", not a table-top, more capable
(and for each, ideally, a planetary eypiece for $20-$30, e.g. the 6mm 66°)
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...
Is that the one you are considering now? Manual now?
Mini 130
https://www.highpointscientific.com/meade-lightbridge-mini-130mm-portable-dobsonian-telescope-203003
(Closed tube has contrast benefits if there's stray light)
OneSky
(Compact. Part of the money goes towards AWB projects)
Are the 6" and 8" dobsonians too big?
6"
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW
Shows more, easier to reach higher magnification for planets, aperture ratio and secondary mirror size have contrast benefits compared to the F/5 shorties.
(No table top. Large. Almost as expensive as the SW 8" that's currently on sale. Orion XT6 has a minimalist finder and focuser)
8"
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11610-Traditional-Dobsonian-8-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3PRK
(shows the most for the money)
//edit: Size/weight comparison: 6" on somewhat tolerable EQ mount ($400+) VS 8" dobsonian ($325+) ->
Hello :-)
> Is it good
Sadly, no.
As /u/GrassNinja139 already guessed, it's a "bird jones telescope" with a flawed spherical mirror and a corrector lens that just causes more issues than what it's worth.
You can get this or that for $100 new which should perform much better. They arenÄt perfect, but more rigid and more or less decent optics. The F/4 aperture ratio is not ideal (contrast/coma).
IF you can spend a bit more,
https://www.highpointscientific.com/meade-lightbridge-mini-130mm-portable-dobsonian-telescope-203003
Avoid the 114eq (114/1000), 130eq and 127eq (127/1000) (and similar) in this price-range, they all have stability and quality issues.
Clear skies!
Does this one come with a tripod?
I'm new to this too, but from what I've read and all the help I had choosing my first scope, for that budget it'll be hard to beat this as a first telescope.
That will give you a great observing capability, and you can make a DIY smartphone mount very easily. Alternatively you could get a tripod adapter for your S5, then mount that to a focuser smartphone adapter though that's more costly than DIY. You should be able to get decent shots of the moon and maybe some planets with that setup.
If you can stretch to an extra $80, get an Orion XT8 Dobsonian, that thing is a light bucket. I wish I'd had the cash for it, I ended up going for a 5" Skywatcher Dob but I can still see plenty.
Astrophotography is something you have to throw quite a bit of money at if you want nice shots of deep sky objects and star clusters etc. You'll really need a motorised equatorial mount if you want to do long exposures (to capture as much light as possible.) Those can easily cost as much as if not as lot more than your scope.
The wiki has a page about selection with more info. But personally, I'd say that if you're new to amateur astronomy in general like I am, get the biggest dobsonian telescope you can afford, a few eyepieces and a good barlow lens and then see what you can do with your smartphone. That will allow you to learn the sky, observe really cool things and take some basic photos.
You can move on to motorised EQ mounts and powerful catadioptric sopes when you've gone as far as you can photographing with your Dobsonian. The great thing about dobs is that they give you a big aperture (i.e ability to gather light and see fainter objects) at a very low cost. The downside is that big newtonian reflectors like that are a bit heavy to be mounted to anything but the most sturdy and expensive motorised mounts - which is why folks in advanced AP seem to elect to go with more expensive but lighter/compact catadioptric scopes.
I hope that helps, and I also hope I haven't just spouted a lot of BS. One of the regulars will give a better answer I'm sure :).
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW
Every single time...
With that instrument you can see some details on the Moon, the rings of Saturn, Jupiter's satellites, and that's about it. It's kind of small, and for that size I wouldn't pay $100.
The resolving power of any instrument is the radius of the objective measured in milimeters (or the diameter in milimeters divided by 2). In this case, it's 57x, provided that the objective is perfect and the atmosphere is very still. You can jack up magnification above this limit, and you will get bigger images, but you won't get more detail than this no matter what.
In practice, it's more comfortable to observe at magnifications 2x...4x above the resolving power. In this case, as you increase magnification, around 50x you stop getting more detail, 100x is probably pretty comfortable, up to 200x - after that it starts to look way too blurry.
See if you can find a 6" as your first telescope. Newtonian-Dobsonian is a good choice for a beginner. You can buy one brand new for about $280, I'm sure there are cheaper ones out there, maybe second hand. Beware, cheaper may mean it has some hidden issues.
http://www.reddit.com/r/space/comments/c43u6/reddit_whats_a_good_backyard_telescope/
http://www.netmoose.org/astronomy/8-things-to-know-when-buying-telescope/
EDIT: The motorized mount and the computerized thing don't mean shit - it's just dust thrown by manufacturers in the eyes of clueless customers. It's like buying a car with a crappy old engine, but with leather seats. Instead, spend the money on a mirror as big (and as precisely made) as possible. You don't need motorized mount. You don't need computer integration. A home-made Dobsonian mount (the most simple one possible) is enough for instruments much bigger than this.
> Its large 4.5" diameter outshines smaller scopes
Yeah, smaller scopes than this are called "naked eye", lol