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If this is your first scope, I recommend getting one without a computer. Scout craigslist for scope under $100. Learn the ropes, feel the sky for your latitude. Any small scope will do. After you gauge your skill and hone in your forte, spend the money on a bigger scope (larger dia). Enjoying the night sky is not about click and see, its about dexterity and patience. Slow and steady is the way to go.
Depending on your location (latitude) you will need to get a planisphere. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320745 (30-40 degrees)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320753 (40-50 degrees)
Red headlamp to read the Planisphere and other maps/books in the night. The red light reduces eye strain.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XHZTL3C
After you get good at reading sky maps, locating celestial bodies etc. Spend the money on a jump scope (8" or higher). You will appreciate the quality of Celestron scopes much better. Dont make the the mistake I made of incremental sizes and collection 10 scopes you hardly use. Let the first one be small and non computerized. Then jump to the largest one you can afford.
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Budge is within 2k.
If this is your first scope, I recommend getting one without a computer. Scout craigslist for scope under $100. Learn the ropes, feel the sky for your latitude. Any small scope will do. After you gauge your skill and hone in your forte, spend the money on a bigger scope (larger dia). Enjoying the night sky is not about click and see, its about dexterity and patience. Slow and steady is the way to go.
Depending on your location (latitude) you will need to get a planisphere. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320745 (30-40 degrees)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320753 (40-50 degrees)
Red headlamp to read the Planisphere and other maps/books in the night. The red light reduces eye strain.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XHZTL3C
After you get good at reading sky maps, locating celestial bodies etc. Spend the money on a jump scope (8" or higher). You will appreciate the quality of Celestron scopes much better. Dont make the the mistake I made of incremental sizes and collection 10 scopes you hardly use. Let the first one be small and non computerized. Then jump to the largest one you can afford.
Thank you! Was about to buy this but will follow your steps
It's a nice little scope. I own it.
I got lucky when it first came out and amazon had a weird one-day sale -- got it for $375. It won't compare to larger dobs, but it's certainly much more portable.
Not so sure it's worth the current $600 price however. If going starsense, the 4" refractor (if still $400ish) probably is a better value. At $600+, we are into dob territory though.
Umm... no. That's ridiculous.
I've gotten decent views even with a small 3-4" refractor and in a pretty light polluted area. And an 8" dob will be fine for most people, all they will ever need.
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If you'll help your son lug it about, a 6-8" dob is sort of the recommended scope for most people. But it'll require a little maintenance (collimation), but that's pretty easy. At $500 you should be able to get a 6"er ... but an 8" model would be even better.
At under 10 however, that may be a bit overboard if you aren't certain he'll really use the thing. And he can't move it by himself (unless he's super muscular).
I'd probably either get him an astronomer's without borders $250 scope... or the Costco AZ 102 at $200ish. If you want starsense, Celestron makes a 4" refractor in the $400 range with it. The refractor would be easiest, and requires no maintenance.... also handy even if you wish to upgrade later. It's always useful to have a smaller scope for quick views and portability.
It's a decent scope, especially at that price. Mount is a little iffy, but scope is pretty good.
For first time people, especially children, I'd recommend one of:
Costco AZ 102 ($200ish) or
Celestron starsense version ($400ish). Starsense is pretty neat, worth getting if you can afford it.
And if you'll help him collimate, maybe the Astronomer's without borders tabletop ($250).
I have this exact telescope, you have to watch which cameras you use with this because it has a short focal plane and most DSLRs are both too heavy and cannot get close enough to achieve focus. You can get around this with a Barlow but it reduces your field of view and image quality. That being said if you get a Sony alpha or another small mirror-less camera and a short t-mount it will work well. I used a sony a6000 for a good while, inexpensive for a used camera to get started and takes great astro pics for the money! You can photograph galaxies and nebula and all kinds of things with that setup.
If this is your first scope, I recommend getting one without a computer. Scout craigslist for scope under $100. Learn the ropes, feel the sky for your latitude. Any small scope will do. After you gauge your skill and hone in your forte, spend the money on a bigger scope (larger dia). Enjoying the night sky is not about click and see, its about dexterity and patience. Slow and steady is the way to go.
Depending on your location (latitude) you will need to get a planisphere. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320745 (30-40 degrees)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0961320753 (40-50 degrees)
Red headlamp to read the Planisphere and other maps/books in the night. The red light reduces eye strain.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09XHZTL3C
After you get good at reading sky maps, locating celestial bodies etc. Spend the money on a jump scope (8" or higher). You will appreciate the quality of Celestron scopes much better. Dont make the the mistake I made of incremental sizes and collection 10 scopes you hardly use. Let the first one be small and non computerized. Then jump to the largest one you can afford.
This sounds like a waste of $100. Can I not learn the ropes with this bad boy and not have to buy more stuff than I need?
Edit: Can you let your bro borrow one of those 10 scopes you don't use?? 🤔😅
At under 10 however, that may be a bit overboard if you aren't certain he'll really use the thing. And he can't move it by himself (unless he's super muscular).
I'd probably either get him an astronomer's without borders $250 scope... or the Costco AZ 102 at $200ish. If you want starsense, Celestron makes a 4" refractor in the $400 range with it. The refractor would be easiest, and requires no maintenance.... also handy even if you wish to upgrade later. It's always useful to have a smaller scope for quick views and portability.
Zhumell Z114 Portable Altazimuth Reflector Telescope https://a.co/d/gKXmj3z
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"Don't buy this if you are serious about real astrophotography. Buy Orion or Zhumell brand for the best bang for the buck. Some of these also carry a decent price range to expensive ones. Experts have youtube videos on them.
"Top 3 Beginner's Telescopes! Which one should you buy?"
or
"If I could have only ONE telescope...which one would it be??"
or
"Best Telescopes/Scope Combos at $200, $500, $1,000, $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 and $50,000 in 2022"
by Ed Ting on youtube.
2x Barlow lens is a must buy for your telescope separately. "
Thanks!
His channel
https://youtube.com/@edting