What are /r/telescope's favorite Products & Services?

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Hey, I forgot to mention that you need a cellphone mount such as this one. I have exactly that one, and It works very well.

What do you want exactly? Do you want to just see the moon or the planets in high quality? This is my telescope and you can see the moon pretty well and kinda see the planets (I haven't had time or good weather where i live so i wasnt able to test it too well) hope this helps https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081RJ8DW1/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?keywords=Telescope&qid=1670953056&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=AX9VAVEQTJ1VC&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFSQVI5M0pKVTkwMVImZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1MDk2MDYzMTdPSlJUQlVQUzU5JmVuY...

It's a gskyer telescope here's the link https://www.amazon.com/Gskyer-Telescope-AZ-Astronomical-Refracting/dp/B081RJ8DW1/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=1T1A2COLHLD3E&keywords=Telescope&qid=1667688072&sprefix=telescope+%2Caps%2C540&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=AX9VAVEQTJ1VC

Better options are available near that price point. Looking at their website, every telescope option comes with what appears to be a junk tripod. They're likely to be frustrating. Here's a couple better options I found just browsing Amazon:

Zhumell 100/400 tabletop reflector. This is a much larger scope (vs. the 60mm)

Celestron 80mm refractor w/ EQ mount.

For a beginner on an absolute budget, I'd probably opt for the Zhumell. Much less intimidating to set up, and it has better light-gathering power if you want to take a look at some deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula, Andromeda Galaxy, globular clusters, etc. In my opinion, beginner scopes really shouldn't be paired with an equatorial mount (like the Celestron is). Those are more complex to learn to use, but they "look" more professional and it sells. The Celestron is going to allow for a bit higher magnification as it has a longer focal length.

Both of the above are also 'known' brands in the astronomy world.

I picked up a used astroscan a few years ago and they are great little scopes! I was lucky and mine came with 12mm and 28mm eyepieces that were purchased from Edmund Scientific with the Astroscan. The only eyepiece I purchased, on the advice of a redditor, was a 6mm goldline. It's great for viewing planets!

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Also here's a super helpful comment from when I posted about getting an Astroscan a few years ago. I also found out that if your Astroscan is poorly aligned, as of 2 years ago Scientific Direct was still servicing them if you didn't want to DIY it.

That's the diagonal. It does not have to be identical. The broken diagonal is in the focuser tube, remove and toss it.

https://www.amazon.com/SVBONY-Astronomical-Telescope-Cassegrain-Telescopes/dp/B00Y0NDOQK/ref=pd_lpo_2?pd_rd_i=B00Y0NDOQK&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/SVBONY-Telescopes-Eyepieces-Eyepiece-Degree/dp/B07C6MDT1B/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2F6U230A1NWZT&keywords=20mm+eyepiece&qid=1657569475&sprefix=20mm+eyepiece%2Caps%2C356&sr=8-4

Celsestron powerseeker 127eq About the best you can do in that price range I have seen every planet through it, as well as several of Jupiters moons and Saturns rings https://www.amazon.com/Celestron-21049-PowerSeeker-127EQ-Telescope/dp/B0007UQNKY

I second binoculars as well! One of the best things I’ve learned from astronomy books is that you don’t need an expensive pair of binoculars to see amazing things. 10 x 50 is ideal for astronomy, but these 7 x 50 would also be great to start with ($35 and by Celestron): https://smile.amazon.com/Celestron-71198-Cometron-Binoculars-Black/dp/B00DV6SI3Q/

How fun! ✨🔭 For the moon and planets, you won’t need something super powerful, but I’d consider something at least big enough to also view deep sky objects—they are super fun to find!

This short article gives an overview of the minimum aperture (mm) you should consider for a reflector or a refractor, gives an overview of the different types of telescopes as well as some important things to consider: https://www.savingourstars.org/astronomyresources

Dobsonians are great, but they’re large and heavy. Unless your daughter is already super serious into astronomy, I’d start with a lightweight refractor of at least 80mm (3”). This will keep her occupied for quite some time, and then if she gets hooked, then perhaps it might be time to consider something larger.

This would be a great, lightweight starter telescope for $129:

https://smile.amazon.com/Celestron-22030-Portable-Telescope-Smartphone/dp/B07J15P2N3/

I hope this helps, and I hope your daughter has a blast with whichever telescope you buy! ☺️🔭🎉

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00030VA6U?psc=1

That is an adjustable chair for your telescope. My wife and I bought two of these and a telrad. We alternate with one person on the telrad on the right side and one person on the eye piece on the left side while each of us sit comfortably in these chairs.

It's a cometron 114AZ. I noticed that I might be able to use something like this, possibly.

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B008MUHCHO/ref=ppx\_yo\_dt\_b\_asin\_title\_o01\_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

any advice?

Here is a good budget starter eyepiece kit. This kit used to be under $20, but I assume material shortages are the reason it's doubled in price, so you may be able to find it cheaper elsewhere.

I got the same exact model a few months ago. I purchased this set of eyepieces on Amazon and am happy with them:

SVBONY Telescope Eyepiece Fully Mutil Coated 1.25 inches Telescope Lens 66 Degree Ultra Wide Angle HD (6mm 9mm 15mm 20mm)

Thanx!

What do you think of this one? https://www.amazon.it/INTEY-Telescopio-Astronomico-Rifrazione-Regolabile/dp/B08CHGZ3G2/ref=sr_1_5?__mk_it_IT=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&crid=3S7CR48L34JNV&dchild=1&keywords=telescopio&qid=1606640866&sprefix=cavo+antenna%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-5

Yes. I saw Jupiter and its moons through a £150 telescope (Skywatcher Heritage 130p) but Saturn was really hard to see. You might want to spend a bit more. But the Skywatcher Heritage 130p is a great beginner telescope and you can get an adapter like the one below to hold your phone to the eyepiece to take pics and videos. https://www.amazon.co.uk/LAKWAR-360%C2%B0Rotatable-Binoculars-Microscope-Astronomical/dp/B07GXHLSY1/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=telescope+phone+adapter&qid=1606656438&sr=8-5

Also use Stellarium or a free app to find out where its.

Well depending on how much they want for that telescope, you won’t want for much - it’s a nice piece of equipment with intense magnification capabilities; your planetary view will be insane with the right eye pieces. If the other sub you’re referring to is r/astrophotography, they’re probably right - I haven’t looked too deep into AP on their level quite yet.

That being said, you don’t need an incredibly expensive telescope to get started, and astrophotography can be done on many levels. If you want to be able look at the Orion Nebula, but maybe be able to photograph Jupiter with a cell phone mounted to the eyepiece (after enjoying laying your own eyes on it, of course), this can be done for much less.

Hope that helps; reflectors are “cheap” (because they’re easy to make), if you aren’t sure about spending that much money to start out I definitely recommend going that rout - either a dobsonian: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_xf5wCbC5CSXBS

Or if you’d rather the computerized “GoTo” scene (which requires calibration by “marking” 2 or 3 stars in the sky so the scope knows where you are): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ZY9KOTE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_0i5wCb6HWP53C

Both of those were just examples, obviously you can spend what you want on what you will. I don’t disagree with other people on buying “anywhere but amazon”, but I can’t be a hypocrite ;I got my $100 special (celestron astromaster 70AZ refractor... which I love lol) and it’s great for searching what’s out there. Unfortunately they also tend to have the best price.

So the #1 thing I need you to keep in mind is that no earthbound telescope is going to get you a “Hubble” image.

I don’t personally have experience with the 130p but from a much smaller telescope I could still see jupiter/its bands and it’s moons, the gap between Saturn and its rings. With the dobsonian, those details will be enhanced and the magnification capabilities are much greater.

The planets are cool, but the treat with the dobsonian is the nebulae. Orion is big and bright so you can realistically see it with your naked eye if it was dark enough... but look at it with an 8 inch dobsonian and it will change your life. Other nebulae that aren’t as bright become very visible with wide aperture (the width of the tube) telescopes.

All of this being said, the 130p has 5 inches of aperture vs my first telescopes 3 ish inches - so you’d get a better view at first than I did, and brighter nebulae will still be a treat. I would also consider a 6 inch dobsonian mount. Less of an increase in price, wider aperture than the 130p, and has the full length the 8 inch you were shown has (longer tube, more magnification).

Sorry for the Amazon link but I’m at work and it’s the easiest way for me to show you what I mean;

SkyWatcher S11600 Traditional Dobsonian 6-Inch (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z4G3D22/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Vo-1Db3FP8Y00

It seems things are a lot more expensive here in Australia. That model is almost 3x the price. The shipping cost is the same as the facebook one. Seems the only close to this price are travel scopes like this one. https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B07VY3CDG7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fab_ILPBFbV5ECM44

Would not make that purchase... You can buy this or something like it on amazon, new, for less. If you can spare the extra 50 or so look at the awb onesky/heritage 130p, or the zhumell z130

Zhumell Z130 Portable Altazimuth Reflector Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRLSVWM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_fab_TAPBFb6MJ3TV9

Edit: link just for ref

New, you could get a 6 inch dob for around $300. For the under $200 range I’d only be parroting schorhr, here’s a link (Amazon for simplicity) to what one of those looks like. The table tops require a table or a stool of sorts but are much less cumbersome, no tripod issues like the ones I had with the refractor

Zhumell Z130 Portable Altazimuth Reflector Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BRLSVWM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_VrVjFb3DZCVHT

The thing is, I must buy from Amazon. I am from Mexico and Amazon has the cheapest deals ever, for example the same telescope from Amazon and now from another store the price skyrockets by a lot.

And to be honest I've like it so far, that is the only issue I've had with it, and such issue (I know it should not be any issue whatsoever) can be solve either by a better handle or lubricating the screws or even both!

Either way, thank you so much for your answer, it is my first telescope and for the budget and my location it was the best deal. :)

What’s your goal for the scope? Visually speaking a 6 inch dobsonian would be a better bang for your buck as a beginner.

While these aren’t good for photography, you can still play around with single shot photos (which might be enough to tide you over), and most astrophotographers have a visual scope and a photography scope... sometimes several of each.

SkyWatcher S11600 Traditional Dobsonian 6-Inch (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z4G3D22/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_rFvVEb8HCH0YJ

(Amazon for example)

I purchased a zhumell z8 from (slightly bigger, has a few cute bells and whistles) and have LOVED the dob experience over my starting tripod refractor. Easy to use, view is great, and you don’t need much if any set up at all. Put her down and point!

Schmidt Cassegrain telescopes are what are known as compound telescopes. They do get pricey, as they combine refractor lenses with mirrors to allow for insane focal lengths out of very compact telescopes (big magnification out of a short tube.)

Celestron CPC 925 StarBright XLT GPS Schmidt-Cassegrain 2350mm Telescope with Tripod and Tube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000ARDYPQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_eJ3wCb78JRFRS

This seems to be the current model, for reference of a similar product hot off the shelf.

What are your goals for using this telescope? There are several different kinds of scope, and they’re good for different things :)

Hey that’s great that you picked something up! I agree, get the most out of what you have... then decide how much you’ll spend and on what. Jupiter and Saturn will be at opposition in June!

Edit: I was looking at this: Orion StarSeeker IV 127mm GoTo Mak-Cass Telescope Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014EXH4WA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FIFvCbJ1AJ0XD

for the far future. That, or its big brother

Much appreciated!

Now, about eyepieces: How would you rate this 15mm Orion Expanse:

https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8922-Expanse-Telescope-Eyepiece/dp/B0000XMXYS/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1508101838&sr=1-1&keywords=orion+expanse+telescope+eyepiece

Thanks for the tip. I just bought this Collimation Eyepiece and will give that a try.

Glad to hear there is someone in the same boat as me! I will end up getting an additional eyepiece, but I would think that the one that comes with it would do way more than what I saw!

I'll take another look at the website when I have it here with me and just see what I can tell by just eyeballing it. Perhaps it is off far enough that I will be able to tell just by looking at it. Then I can fix it when the Collimation Eyepiece gets in.

Are you using Android/Skeye? You can mount a tablet anywhere you want at any angle with that app because you sync it with your eyepiece view. No adjusting the tablet position needed.