Recommended First Scope???

I know this has been asked 10^10 times, but I am at a lose as to what scope I should get for a beginner. I have always been interested in astronomy, but this is my first try at researching for a first scope. I would like something portable. I would also like to spend no more then $300. I am not to worried about ease of use being I am pretty mechnically inclined. I do not have access to any astro clubs, so I can not get a feel for a scope and have to rely on what I have read so far. I have been looking at the following scopes:

Orion SpaceProbe 130 EQ
Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ
Orion SkyQuest XT 6 Dob

Any thoughts on these? Any other scopes recommended? Thanks in advance!!!

Most everyone will probably say the 6" dob. It's easy to use, easy to care for and inexpensive for the size scope you get.

If you'd like some sort of tracking, then one of the EQ mounts would be ok, but unfortunately the mounts are always undersized and shake a lot. A dob is probably the best type for someone on a budget. A decent mount for a decent scope usually costs about the same as the scope or more.

Mark:

I concur with the other guys - XT-6 is the way to go. I got one for my son and we both use it quite a bit. It maintains collimation pretty well, is very portable, and give fantastic views of the planets. I've seen them (used) here on AstroMart for around $200...

Pat

Absolutely the DOB is the way to go. You might like this article by telescope reviewer, tester & guru Ed Ting:

http://www.buytelescopes.com/container.asp?dest=/manufacturers/scopereviews/beginner.htm

I disagree with his advice to start right out subscribing to one of the astro mags, and the eyepiece info is a little dated. Most likely anything you'd be seriously interested in today from Orion or one of the other major mfg.s will come with low end plossls, so you don't need to worry too much about Ramdens and Huygenians. But check out what he thinks is the ideal beginner scope. It's a conclusion that a lot of us have come to after much searching and trying of lots of other stuff.

6" DOBs regularly occur used here on Astromart for around $200. That would leave you room in the budget for another eyepiece, some type of collimator (homemade or storebought), a star chart or planisphere, a red light (can be homemade) and a folding stool (Walmart). Keep in mind that you are going to need those items anyway. However, I realize that it can be quite daunting (and sometimes ill-advised) for a beginner to even think about starting off with an unknown used scope. If you can possibly bump up the budget to around $400 you could get started pretty well with new equipment and a return policy. Only you can decide which of those paths you're the most comfortable with.

Mike Swaim

6" Dob. Enough aperture for deep-sky, enough f-ratio (usually f/8) for excellent planetary and lunar views, and portable enough. My 6 incher is one of my favorite scopes.

If you want something driven, look at the Orion AstroView 90. I just got one and I love it. $342 with drive. But for my only scope I'd go with the Dob.

The only place I'd offer any different advice than what is already here would be to try and scrape up the money for an 8" dob instead of the 6" if possible. Not that you can't see plenty in the 6"; you can. It will also likely be of longer f/ratio and thus less touchy in collimation. But there is a sizeable jump in performance from 6" to 8", the 8" is not much more effort to move around than the 6" and, my main thought really, in the case of the current model Orions the 8" comes with a 2" focuser. That won't matter at first but it will later. The newer "Intelliscope" version also comes with a 9x50 finder, a useful upgrade.

Any thoughts on these? Any other scopes recommended? Thanks in advance!!!

1. Space Probe 130. F6.9, this scope has a spherical mirror, too fast to be diffraction limited with a spherical, needs a parabolic.

2. Space Probe 130ST. I have one of these OTAs in my collection. Mine has a 2 inch focuser. I like this scope and consider it a sleeper, at 650mm focal length it does some nice wide field views, barlowed up, I have gotten some very sharp views of Saturn, the Cassini all the way and sharp, detail on the body 250X). On double stars I have taken it to over 500x, double barlowed (on good nights and I was seeing nice round airy disc's. I use mine on a EQ-3 mount, the eq-2 mount is marginal in my view but optically this scope reminds me of a half-pin 10inch Asian DOB, nice...

XT-6. Probably the scope of choice, good on the planets, good on DSOs, collimation is going to be easy. THe mount will be solid and the scope easy to use. If you can see your way to a 8 inch DOB, you will have a killer scope. I have an XT-8 and it is a great scope, easy to handle, gives nice sharp images and really does well on DSOs.


I don't see the 90mm F10 refractor as comparable. on a good night, the XT-6 should best it comfortably on the planets, on DSOs the fact that the XT-6 has almost 3 times the mirror area will light up the sky in comparison. The comment that the sky was blacker in the smaller scope, this is always the case, especially when there is any light pollution at all. The light pollution is magnified and collected just like the starlight. But the larger aperture will see more regardless. Normally my backyard sky is pretty grey in my 12.5 inch until I reach 200X or more, but I am seeing more detail and fainter objects none the less.

The advantage of the refractor is it is pretty fool proof, though refractors can need collimation just like Newtonians. And achromatic refractors do suffer from false color, even relatively slow ones like the 90mm F10 will have some, a Newtonian is perfect in this regard.

But as someone else pointed out, the best thing to do is get out there as see for yourself. Don't be satified with a look at the Orion Nebula, its a grand view in any scope I have ever used. Make the scope work, check out M46 and see if you can spot the hidden planetary, check out M93 and see how bright it looks and how many stars are there to see...

Of the scopes you suggested, I think the XT-6 would probably be your best bet, the SpaceProbe 130ST, is certainly an option and can provide widefield views that are not possible in most other scopes. Fitted with a 2 inch focuser, it will do something like 3.5 degrees at 20X, pretty amazing, the summer Milky Way explodes in valleys and rivers of nebulosity at 20X....

Best wishes to all,

Jon Isaacs

Orion XT 6. Dobs always make great first scopes for beginners seeing as how they're really easy to move around and really smooth, and with this particular scope, you can just pick it up by the handle and bring it out, virtually no set up. Plus 6 in. is definately enough that you'll be able to pick out all of the major gems of the sky and then a lot of the fainter fuzzies too. Well, there's my two cents.Clear skies and good luck on making your decision.

Of the 3 the XT6, is the right choice. If you can possilby spring for an 8" though I think it's a bigger jump in performance than it is in price. Used ones can often be had for $300. Note that Guan Sheng makes scopes no longer branded Orion. Those can be found at SeansAstronomyShop Hardin Antares and a number of other re-sellers. They all put their sticker on the asian Dobs, as does Orion, but Orion's sticker costs a little more (yes they have good customer service, but so do all of the above).
Enjoy.
Tom.

The problem with the $300 budget is that you don't have the money to buy a ready-made scope with a good mount, and basic books and sky map info.

Going ready-made: a pair of 9x63 binoculars from Orion, a decent tripod, and books: Nightwatch, Finding the Constellations, and either Touring the Universe through Binoculars or Binocular Astronomy.

9x63's are $189 list; a tripod and adapter go around $60; the books maybe another $70. Close enough.

The tripod will work best with a parallelogram balanced holder, but that's $250 ready-made. ($25 do-it-yourself.)

Going do-it-yourself: Buy a mirror off eBay. Built a Dobson scope from Sidewalk Astronomer plans. Borrow lots of idea from this Forum. Get books, too.

6" mirror's all of $35 with shipping. 8" gets you close to $80 total. Other hardware costs $50 or 75. Bill of materials for the tube, pivots, base maybe $50 asuming you have/can beg use of tools. Call it $200 for the 8" scope.

Eyepieces come up here and eBay, cheap. You're not likely to be using more than 200x with a beginner scope. For the 8" f/6 (FL 1200mm) that's a 6mm. Buy a 12mm, a 40mm and a 2x Barlow. (We all have extras.....) $20 each is fine for starters. You'll find out what's next......

And buy books. nightwatch, finding the constellations, and a map book. Or download map information.

>>>> $300 is a challenge. Buy a $300 boat and see what happens...... ;^)