Your content is a vital resource for anyone wanting to get into this hobby. Earlier this week I saw Mercury for the first time ever, and a couple of months back I saw 2 of Jupiter's cloud belts very clearly. There is just something about seeing it for yourself looking through your own telescope. One thing I would add is that filters can sometimes make a big difference. I live in a Bortle 5 area and really could not see much when looking at M42 through a 4" refractor. I picked up a Svbony UHC filter and was stunned at the detail that became visible. A neutral or moon filter can really bring out a lot of detail on the moon as well.
@@hmuphilly9129 Yeah, that's why I said "most of the time", what I mean is, if your goal is to go see galaxies (plural) then it's best to find dark skies. I can generally make out M31, M81, and M82 from Bortle 7, but the views are not great at all compared to a dark sky.
@@LearnToStargaze not even my bortle 5 skies are good enough to see anything and cars keep driving past by and a cop just has to come to my spot and bother me i have to drive about 3 hrs to get to at least a bortle 4 but with inflation of gas.. And the amount of dangerous drivers in my state. Not worth it Speaking of M81 im having trouble locating with binoculars but with my celestron starsense I can point to it once aligned. Weird right?
NOT ABOUT THIS VIDEO……I was hoping to find someone to walk me through set up and operating a reflector EQ telescope. In short order I found you are the that someone. Heaven help me I have purchased a 130mm reflector EQ telescope. Now I stand a chance of using this contraption!
I am now starting this hobby under the Philippine skies. Started with Binocular astronomy then leveling up to Telescope. Thanks for the Great Info. Awesome insights. Clear skies!
How did you get on with the binoculars? I love looking up at the stars, they're incredible. I'm a beginner, looking for a telescope but I've only just considered binoculars.
As someone with very weak eye-sight, I recently scrounged up my passed father's old "telescope" (it's nothing more than a spotting scope, but I've decided to give stargazing a go). I've never been able to see the stars, and after trying tonight, I still couldn't see them, even though my mother told me that she could see them clearly (she tried viewing them through the scope, and also couldn't see them. I've decided that it might be that the scope is just to weak, or that the light pollution is just too bad, but in a couple of days the moon while rise early enough for me to go take a view. I can't wait, and hope that this hobby might become part of me.
@@LearnToStargaze That is what I was thinking. I could never see the moon well with the naked eye, it just looks like a white speck to me, so I'm very excited to see it from up close!
@@ThePhoenixSlayerhave you considered star field binoculars? They typically have 2x magnification. I have pretty bad eye sight and they really enhance what I can see in the night sky. You can adjust the diopter on each eye allowing me to use them without my glasses. I also use a pair of fixed focus binoculars which are the only optics I can comfortably use with my glasses on. They’re a pair of celestron nf (non focus) 7x50 binoculars
I have a "hobby killer" from when I was in high school, but I'm very fortunate to have grown up near a museum with a great planetarium and observatory, and even more fortunate to have a great dad who was willing to take me to watch (almost) the same planetarium show every Friday and look through their telescopes. I care much more about the learning and the seeing than I do the quality of gear, so the bad mount and almost-stripped-out adjustment screws are only a mild inconvenience. One of these days I'll invest in a better one so hopefully I can share my love of the sky with my son! Thanks so much for your awesome videos, they have really helped me out lately!!
Thank you for all your videos, it's super helpful! I've just bought my first telescope (Celestron Inspire 100 AZ) and I live in a tiny village, with great views of the sky at night. Your videos have been of great help to get me all set up and I've really enjoyed the experience.
When I was younger, I was always jealous that my brother received science gifts like a telescope. As an adult, I bought my own telescope so much fun. Remember, parents girls might like a telescope too.
Went stargazing last night early morning at a bortle 3 site. Have been watching your channel since I got into the hobby over a year ago. Always have a copy of you 110 Things book with me while observing. While not part of the list this morning i caught an ISS Passover and noticed something trailing it close behind during the entire pass. Then later nasa posted they had just released the Cygnus cargo craft from the station and it would burn up during re-entry later in the day. Love seeing unexpected sights while stargazing!
Wish I could give you 1000 likes, just picked up a pretty decent telescope with a motorized mount (not working) at the local goodwill and had no idea what the different eye pieces were for. I definitely would have tried the smallest one first. Thanks to your guidance here, I just got to truly see Jupiter for the first time in my life. Adjusting here and there and getting the feel of the trajectory, seeing it drift across the lens was well worth the 2 hours I spent cursing my unsteady hands... in short, thank you! Subbed!
I got one a year ago, and love the 102 az! You can see the moon, planets, the sun WITH PROPER FILTER, nebula, clusters and land targets. It is a wonderful telescope!
2:48, i have just got a telescope with an exact mount as that, at first it was absolute shite, breathing on it would cause it to shake, i took it apart and lubrucated all the rotation points and put it back together tight, its is now very good, its a lot better as long as you have shock pads under the mount legs, just putting this for anyone who was unfortunate enough to get one of these poorly put together mounts.
@ I used a special wd40 for metal, I sprayed a lot between each joint, I also put needle roller thrust bearings which helped with friction, it’s still really smooth over a year after buying it
Not all heroes wear capes…some have telescopes attached at the hip and share their vast knowledge on TH-cam 🙌🏻. I have been losing my mind trying to setup the telescope my son (9) received as a gift as was about to launch IT into space! Thought I’d do one last google search for help and came across your channel just in time to give me some hope I can nut this out! From what I can gather, on our hands we have a hobby killer/buzz killer/absolute drainer and frustrating piece of shit that’s anything but the easy to use & kid friendly telescope it was marked as, but at least now I know what we’re dealing with and can hopefully put it to use to capture the amazing night sky we’re experiencing in Australia right now! Thank you so much, your knowledge and the amount of it has blown my mind, and that you’re able to speak of so much technical ‘stuff’ so quickly yet make it understandable for noobs like myself, is seriously impressive 🙌🏻
Solid video. I just picked up and successfully collimated my new Orion xt8 plus. Was hoping to get it out today but the rain got in the way. I too have 1 zoom eyepiece. A 8-24 1.25, even though I have a 2 inch Crawford. Makes it easier to kinda see whats up before I either put my cam on it or slap on a 28 or 32 superwide 2 in. I had a 150 newt on an eq before this. Learned a lot from that one. Hopefully at some point I can get my 8 on a go-to mount and just be able to swap between that and a rc. It's definitely fun to learn all this stuff. I like not having to worry about anything but just me pointing a scope and look and photograph whatever I fancy at the time. Very peaceful. I have a tiny custom webcam I out on a little tiny mount that's fun to mess around with when catfishing at night as well.
@@LearnToStargaze Thank you for all the great content. I have learned so much passively watching your videos. You have helped a lot of people. Of that I'm sure.
Just got my first telescope for Xmas. Nothing fancy or powerful, but this video is going to help me enjoy it to the fullest, starting with the moon. Thank you.
Here's one tip for beginners: Don't spend more than $300 on your first telescope. If you find you really enjoy using it for a decent period of time, and are seriously interested in Astrophotography, don't spend less than $2000 (brand new) on your next one. Make it at least a 10" Schmidt Cassegrain or equivalent refractor type. Don't inch up in sizes - you'll end up wasting money and time. Go all in and get a clock driven, professional grade scope. If astrophotgraphy isn't your interest, don't buy another scope at all, as that's all they are good for.
@@LearnToStargaze awesome, thank you for the input. I knew next to zero about telescopes prior to about a week ago, so its been a bit overwhelming to try and learn the different fields/practices and whatnot. Super excited to get started
Hi, I bought a Celestron astromaster 130 EQ from the used market. after Assembling, found that the image is inverted and at an angle too. Can you please advise why this is so.
It’s not technically inverted, you’re using a concave mirror (like a spoon) to collect light and another flat mirror to reflect the image into the eyepiece. This results in a 180 degree rotation. The angle is because you’re viewing from the side.
Okay. So for years and years I had a Nextron refractor lying around that I got as a kid and never used. I thought it was broken but didn’t have to heart to tell my parents or grandparents. Then at some point I decided to give it a try, and while I had no idea how to align the red dot, I managed to get the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn with a huge amount of effort. My base lens is a 10mm and I’ve got a 5mm that I just found. So I thought that was higher zoom because all I was seeing was tiny white discs barely bigger than what I figured I’d see with my binoculars. Turns out I saw EXACTLY what I should be expecting. I think the bug issue is that everything oversells what space actually looks like. So I’ve been going “if only I could see it bigger, I’d see it better.” When in reality I’m probably just setting myself up for a huge headache. But at least now I know that I somehow managed to do everything right by sheer luck, and more importantly, that the present my grandparents got me all those years ago didn’t go to waste.
That said! How do you keep track of planets? They move, quite quickly. Saturn zipped through the field of view every 40 seconds, and Jupiter wasn’t much better. I’m hoping to see a comet and I’m worried about being able to catch it, especially since my view appears to be inverted on both axes. So most of the time all I’m seeing if anything is tiny brief flashes of stuff going by. I’m hoping calibrating my red dot will help so I won’t have to spend an hour trying to find anything smaller than the moon. And nebulae and galaxies are a no go considering I live in a brightly lit apartment complex that can be seen from Mars.
Hello, i would like to ask if you have any recommendations for a beginner telescope that can look at both planetary objects, and deep skies? (Great video btw!)
Hi! This is all budget dependent. Great at both might be a Celestron Evolution 8, but that’s not the right fit for everyone’s budget. An 8 inch Dobsonian is another great option (but these are also getting up there).
I would love to see a comparison between 2 newtonain telescopes that have the same stats, for example I recently saw a massive dubsonian mounted 8" f5 telescope but then I found a newtonian telescope that's way shorter (half the length) and is still 8" f5. It would be nice to see a comparison using same eye peices and how they differ from eachother.
@LearnToStargaze I did more digging and I was wrong the docal ratios are different in some way. Im super new to this and it would still be interesting to see how much of a difference it would be to have a newtonian with different focal ratios for example how much of a difference it would be having a f/4 vs for example a f/6 focal ratio for visual astronomy. I was always at the assumption that the mirror size is the most important thing to be able to see dim objects
@@gladperson116 hi! I did a bit of a comparison in my Explore Firstlight 114 video. The biggest determinant in seeing dim objects is the darkness of your skies. Aperture increases resolution, and makes it easier to use increased magnification. Seeing dim galaxies also has to do with the signal to noise ratio of the light entering your eye, which has to do with matching the exit pupil of your telescope to the size of your actual pupil (about 3mm seems to be ideal).
Hey man, just wanted to say your videos are the main reason why I got into stargazing. I got a Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ for Christmas, and so far its been great. Do you have any suggestions for an upgrade around the 400~600 CAD price range? Thanks!!
Hi! If you’re scratching with the idea of astrophotography, you should start with the Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTI as a platform and then add gear as your budget allows. An AZ-GTi could also be used, but modifications would be required for astrophotography (I have videos on how to do this).
@@LearnToStargaze I just took a look at the Skywatcher Star Adventure GTi, and I noticed that It is (not to sound rude) a bit out of my budget that I can afford. Would a Computerized/GoTo Telescope be good choice for just starting out in astrophotography, Since I can take long exposures? Thanks!
@@owenhurley5820 No, most go-to mounts are AZ and would have field rotation. The AZ-GTi (on a wedge) is pretty much the lowest cost mount that has enough accuracy to take a photo. The Star Adventurer is nice because it does not require any modifications to get it to take photos.
I got a second hand homemade 14 inch dobsonian for 50 bucks and love it. My only complaint is too heavy to take somewhere remote so usually only use it in my yard
Very new to star gazing but have always found it fascinating. the other night I did find the tsuchinshan-atlas comet with it. Would really love to get a good view of Andromeda and Saturn. It seems so small and blurry and a little frustrating.
@@yasirgd Low/medium magnification targets are for what it's decent. As usual for all these supermarket telescopes, mount is simply flimsy and shaky to use high magnifications. And even if mount was ok, optics is total scam design and incapable to image sharpness/magnifications that aperture should give. Except for various Cassegrains, tube of reflector is always about as long as focal length. Anything else tells it's Barlowed blur generator made by fraudsters. And Celestron is basically run by those with anything not Schmidt-Cassegrain at best average for the price and many are pure scams.
Thanks for this great video. My son and I bought a Celestron Astromaster 130EQ some weeks ago, and we barely manage to get anything out of it. 99% of the time it is impossible to get anything useful in view, and if we find anything from the telescope dancing around, it is so hard to find focus. Unfortunately my son have given up. I can already now say it is a mistake for a total noob, to buy a telescope with a EQ mount, which is impossible to move around by hand. But I will learn it. What else are dad´s for. Now I will find your EQ video. Thanks.
Actually good equatorial mount head and tripod indeed cost far more than whole beginner telescope. Also optics of that Astromaster are most of the time likely bad with cheapo spherical mirror. So even if mount was actually decent, you would unlikely to be proper higher magnification views of the Moon and planets. Celestron is basically run by scammers frauding consumers with brand sticker when it comes to non Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
That AZ 102 Celestron I found the chromatic aberration is taken care of with a #8 light yellow filter or a #11 light yellow/green planetary filters if the blue fringe is a problem. It usually is only a problem for really bright objects like the Moon or Venus. Venus in my son's Celestron 127 Maksutov was so bright he was surprised and I only had a 25mm eyepiece in it, I set my polarizing filter in it at its lightest setting and he was surprised to see Venus so sharp. A polarizing filter only costs about $20 or so.
I have a qestion does the noise you see in space is due to phone and camera which used to record or it also capture the noise when we see in the telescope with naked eye?
Sometimes, especially when viewing dim objects at high magnification. That said, at low shutter speeds, the cameras are far, far, noisier. Bright objects like planets have no noise in the human eye, but can be quite noisy on camera.
Hey, sorry to sound crazy but I know the exact place this was filmed as I drive by there very often and I live close by! I actually just recently as of yesterday purchased a 6" skywatcher 150p. I am brand new to this stargazing stuff, and I am using a lot of your videos for information. if you are still in the area, i'd love to learn more from you !
i just got a Meade DS-2102, without any mount or accessories, it has an eyepiece DS super plossl 26mm that i cannot see through yet, i am going to try and mount it to my generic tripod and see if i can see anything in the nighttime Hawaiian sky, any tips or recommendations? please
Hi. I live in central Copenhagen but have a great view of the moon an sky from my livingroom. Will I be able to see clear image and record it in 4k with any setup?
Your phone is 4K, but the telescope itself with have a resolution related to its aperture. Capturing the Moon is very easy, you can use a phone and a telescope. Just make sure you’re outside and there are no window between the telescope and the Moon.
Is past midnight really the best time to view the night sky? I do also like my sleep so I usually view the sky just after the sun sets. But I feel like I am missing out on possible spectacles. I did learn my street lights DO not turn off after Midnight so welp.
I almost never stargaze past midnight, but the best time is after astronomical twilight, which is a function of how low the sun is below the horizon (you can Google the astronomical twilight time for your location).
@@LearnToStargaze i heard about that term still puzzles me even when searching it though I am in the northern horizon and im guessing moonless nights are the best in general
@@LearnToStargazeIm getting it aswell, its a plain white dot with intersecting lines, idk if its focus or something else, some help or tips would be nice please!
I'm a beginner, living in the country. I want to have something decent, that doesn't make me want to upgrade too quickly. I've been on your website and looked at the chart, to see what is recommended for me. Would binoculars work well? I never considered that.
Hi! Binoculars are great for star clusters (like the Pleiades) in dark skies (and the Andromeda Galaxy). There is a lot to see with binoculars for sure, if you know where to look.
@@LearnToStargaze Depends on usage. It's used mainly on chat boards. In this case "Top KEK!" means superb excellent or well done. Hope that helps. Peace be with you.
Most of the telescopes in this video were purchased used! The key is to know exactly what Telescope you want before you look for it on the market, especially the used market.
Which lens do I use on my samsung Galaxy s23 ultra for taking photos? I hook it up with the adapter, and of course, after I lose the object or the phones to heavy and move the telescope
Align the finder to the telescope during the day. Point the finder at the planet, look in the eyepiece. Make sure the telescope is in focus. View the planet.
Hello, I have just ordered Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ, but someone told me that the stand is unstable and a bit difficult to use. Please suggest me if I should return and get another one. Thank you,
Hi! I don’t think I’ll review that scope, it’s not good for beginners, and it’s not good for connecting a camera. telescopicwatch.com/celestron-astromaster-130eq-telescope-review/
Hi, I just got my Dianfan 150EQ Telescope put together. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet as it’s been cloudy and rainy. My question is, is it okay to take it outside even though it’s 32 degrees F out? I worry when I bring it in the lens will fog up and cause condensation and ruin it. Any tips would be appreciated! ✨
For an “HD” image you want to budget around $3k for large objects like andromeda, $5k for more compact nebulae, and $10-$15k for closeup galaxy photos. There really are no shortcuts.
Hi I'm new to stargazing any advice on eyepieces on my celestron starsense dx6 sct I have a 40mm and a 10mm which came with the scope. Thanks in advance and thanks for the content 👍.
If I recall, I think these scopes can be upgraded to two inch diagonals. Just need a two inch visual back and a two inch diagonal. I’ll go test this later today if I remember, haha.
@LearnToStargaze thanks for the response and you're right this scope can take 2" diagonal, would I be better off spending money on the 2 inch eyepieces etc ? And if so would any work or what would the scopes restrictions be.
@@seanmk2firefly600 I only have a 22mm ultra wide and a 25mm eyepiece in the 2 inch variety. All I can say is that I haven’t had any issues with FOV or achieving focus with either of these eyepieces in any of my telescopes.
I’ve only used the Astromaster 70mm eq, I only know the Astromaster 130 by it’s poor reputation. If you are good at using an EQ mount, the optics are probably fine.
Can you suggest me a budget telescope for Deep Sky Objects and which can track them? The reason for a telescope which can track objects is because I live in a light polluted city and not much guide stars are available. Please suggest me like 2 or 4 so that I can choose within them.
Hi! Great video for a beginner like me! You said in the video that a telescope's maximum useful magnification is twice it's apperture in mm. I have a Celestron inspire 100az and on the manufacturer's website it states 241x maximum useful magnification. Is it only marketing/mistake? Cause the 100az has 100mm aperture which would result in 200x maximum useful magnification. Also what is your opinion about light pollution filters?
Hello Stargazers! John Read here again, to take your stargazing to the next level, check out 110 Things to See with a Telescope, available on Amazon: www.amazon.com/110-Things-See-Telescope-Stargazing/dp/1777451752
I recommend the telescope you’re going to use the most for what you want to accomplish. I’m currently designing an RCT (telescope) for a spacecraft, this is the ideal design for that purpose. If you want to take photos, a small APO refractor is a great place to start. If you want to stargaze, a Dobsonian is the way to go.
@jw-ij2dj: Refractor or Maksutov for moon & planets, reflector for deep-sky objects. Best all-round scope would be a large-aperture Maksutov or a Dobsonian.
Yeh, I noticed that after I published. My classmates at JH are working on both a Jupiter probe and a Titan probe, which we had been talking about a fair bit when I recorded the video. I think my brain linked the two bodies together as a result (Clipper and Dragonfly are the current APL interplanetary missions).
Hi, i'm about to buy my first telescope but i'm undecided between the celestron 130 slt and the omegon advanced 150/750 eq-320. My indecision lies in the fact that I would also like to use it to take some pictures but I'm afraid that with the second one, being manual, these could come out badly? What do you say? Is a telescope with goto or a manual better? Thank you
Pictures would be the astrophotography hobby. An entry level mount would be the Skyhunter or Star Adventurer GTi, combined with a small refractor like the Sharpstar 61 (assuming you want colourful images of nebula).
On your website you mention the celestron omni az 102 (the scope I own) for deep sky / planets.. how can I achieve deep sky objects? I don't own anything more than what came in the box other than a 5mm celestron eye piece (one you suggested to me previously actually). I am still learning all these things about stargazing and I was hoping you could help me understand how you feel this scope can be used for deep sky ? So far, I've been able to see things like the beehive cluster but haven't been able to see more than that
Hi! Deep sky objects are largely independent on the size of the telescope, and far more dependent on the darkness of your skies. I use a 24 or 25 mm eyepiece for viewing almost all deep sky objects.
I've just got my first telescope i brought a Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 127AZ Telescope. Is this ok? And what are the realistic things I'll see please advise
No. That scope has a lot of red flags. But you can make the best of it by starting with Saturn and the Moon. I’ve found it to be optically challenged when it comes to deep sky objects like star clusters.
Thank you for the tip. I found your video and the one for the 114 lt helpful I just assumed mine being the 127 it was as near as the same so crossed it over. I'll apologize now if I have future silly questions
Hi John, I am a beginner and wanted to observe planets. I have got 2 eyepieces 25mm and 10mm with my 102AZ starsense telescope. I am confused whether to buy a 2x barlow or a 5mm eyepiece. Please help me resolve my confusion
Hi! A nice 5mm eyepiece will tend to provide much better views than a barlowed eyepiece. Examples include the Celestron X-Cel, Baader Hyperion 5mm, or for the ultimate views, 5mm Tele Vue. I have a video on this topic coming out soon!
Hello. Im using celestron 15X70 binoculars, want to upgrade to telescope. Due to space constrain in my home i cant keep telescope mounted on stand for days together. Im looking for telescope which i/my kids can easily mount on stand and once viewing is done then fold stand and keep it in cupboard. Which types of telescopes are easiest to mount.? Thanks Kalpesh
What would be the most easiest to use telescope that finds planets, that’s got a simple set up for a person who has absolutely no experience or patience in searching for long periods of time ? Thankyou
Hi! A Dobsonian is by far the easier design to use. These scopes are available in most budgets, but the larger aperture the better. I find the 6 inch version (all brands) the most versatile, the 8 inch version to best all around, and the 12 inch version amazing for deep sky views. You can often find these used on B&H photo, or in my case, I’ve picked a 6 inch version up on Facebook Marketplace for $150 (though this was a few years ago).
@@LearnToStargaze would i still be able to enjoy looking at galaxys and star clusters through the telescope? or should i actually just get binoculars/another telescope instead
@@LearnToStargaze got it, thanks. and what telescope would you recommend for a beginner who’s looking for something that can last even when they get more experienced with a budget of around $300? i’ve looked at your website but im having trouble picking which one.
@@SfIsCoolcan you stretch your budget and get something like this? www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/803040702-USE/celestron_11049_nexstar_4se_102mm_f_13.html
Hello! I had a question that I couldn’t find an answer anywhere. I am looking forward to getting a telescope to view constellations. I want a scope that will make the invisible stars (due to light pollution), visible. However, I am concerned it may not be possible since field of view is too narrow. Is it actually the case? Which telescope would you recommend for viewing constellations? Is it plausible, difficult or straight up impossible to view at least a sections of constellations?
Hi! Constellations take up huge portions of the sky. Most are larger then your outstretched hand. Even binoculars are far too powerful. What you would need for constellations are 2X binos like these: www.amazon.com/SVBONY-Binocular-2-1x42mm-observing-Theater/dp/B0822QRLKJ
HSL Reflector Telescope,76mm Aperture 700mm Focal Length Astronomy Reflector Telescopes (35X-875X) for Adults and Kids-with 3 Eyepieces,5X Barlow Lens,Moon Filter and Smartphone Adapter Is this a good one to buy?
I have no idea what im doing :( i Bought a Celestron Astromaster Az and tried to focus on some stars but they were blurry, i finally focused on a star but it wasn't any better than what i can see with my own eyes 😢, ive been Astronomy since i was little and i dont want to get discouraged because i finally had the funds to purchase a telescope and heard this one was great for beginners, not sure where to start :(
Practice on the Moon. Use the 25mm eyepiece only. Once you’ve mastered identifying specific craters, move onto star clusters from the Messier list or double stars. Good luck!
Borderline. There are several versions of this scope. I have two 114mm Newtonians, and the views are not great, but on an AZ mount they’re easy to use for little kids.
I got an EQ 700mm telescope for Mother’s Day and it is indeed a hobby killer, I cannot focus it to save my life and I just want to give up😫 I’ve watched your videos on how to use one but I am giving up, any suggestions?
See if you can trade it for an Omni 102AZ? If you’re really hoping to get into the hobby, it might be best to go to a local astronomy event and see what others are doing. You’ll find that there are usually many people who are happy to help you get the most out of whatever gear you have.
Only just found out that small telescopes can still see really far and make great shots of the night sky since my parents bought my sister and I a powerseeker 127EQ as kids 😭😭😭 I always wanted to (and still want to) see the night sky and all that, but I thought it was all over since I could barely see Jupiter at all because quality was so bad 😭😭😭
Damn, the telescope i was looking to get for a first one falls into the Bird Feeder category :/ Any recommendations for 100-200aud telescopes for a complete beginner?
You may need to go used, but all the 102mm refractors seem pretty good. You may be able to find a 6 inch Dobsonian on Facebook marketplace. Mine was listed at $250, I offered $150, and it was accepted.
I got one for my daughter. We absolutely cannot see anything. Iv hard the hardest time getting it to focus with the 10mm and 20mm. Its a solomark 70-700.
I had to google that one. This telescope looks more decorative then practical, I can see why using it would be a challenge. A Z100 or Orion Skyscanner would be about the same price, but far easier to use.
I need to change the battery CR2032 on finder on my CeleStrone Nextstar 102 SLT. Anyone knows how to change it? I can see the CR2032 battery but I don’t know how to open up and change. Can someone help me?
Your content is a vital resource for anyone wanting to get into this hobby. Earlier this week I saw Mercury for the first time ever, and a couple of months back I saw 2 of Jupiter's cloud belts very clearly. There is just something about seeing it for yourself looking through your own telescope. One thing I would add is that filters can sometimes make a big difference. I live in a Bortle 5 area and really could not see much when looking at M42 through a 4" refractor. I picked up a Svbony UHC filter and was stunned at the detail that became visible. A neutral or moon filter can really bring out a lot of detail on the moon as well.
Good call about the filters. I’ll talk about that in a future video.
Bortle 5? You should be able to at least make out andromeda galaxy i believe.
@@hmuphilly9129 Yeah, that's why I said "most of the time", what I mean is, if your goal is to go see galaxies (plural) then it's best to find dark skies. I can generally make out M31, M81, and M82 from Bortle 7, but the views are not great at all compared to a dark sky.
@@LearnToStargaze not even my bortle 5 skies are good enough to see anything and cars keep driving past by and a cop just has to come to my spot and bother me i have to drive about 3 hrs to get to at least a bortle 4 but with inflation of gas.. And the amount of dangerous drivers in my state. Not worth it
Speaking of M81 im having trouble locating with binoculars but with my celestron starsense I can point to it once aligned. Weird right?
NOT ABOUT THIS VIDEO……I was hoping to find someone to walk me through set up and operating a reflector EQ telescope. In short order I found you are the that someone. Heaven help me I have purchased a 130mm reflector EQ telescope. Now I stand a chance of using this contraption!
As long as you have a laser collimator and practice with the EQ, you should have success with that scope.
I am now starting this hobby under the Philippine skies. Started with Binocular astronomy then leveling up to Telescope. Thanks for the Great Info. Awesome insights. Clear skies!
Thanks!
How did you get on with the binoculars? I love looking up at the stars, they're incredible. I'm a beginner, looking for a telescope but I've only just considered binoculars.
As someone with very weak eye-sight, I recently scrounged up my passed father's old "telescope" (it's nothing more than a spotting scope, but I've decided to give stargazing a go). I've never been able to see the stars, and after trying tonight, I still couldn't see them, even though my mother told me that she could see them clearly (she tried viewing them through the scope, and also couldn't see them. I've decided that it might be that the scope is just to weak, or that the light pollution is just too bad, but in a couple of days the moon while rise early enough for me to go take a view. I can't wait, and hope that this hobby might become part of me.
You might want to start with the Moon. There is a lot to see on the lunar surface.
@@LearnToStargaze That is what I was thinking. I could never see the moon well with the naked eye, it just looks like a white speck to me, so I'm very excited to see it from up close!
@@ThePhoenixSlayerhave you considered star field binoculars? They typically have 2x magnification. I have pretty bad eye sight and they really enhance what I can see in the night sky. You can adjust the diopter on each eye allowing me to use them without my glasses. I also use a pair of fixed focus binoculars which are the only optics I can comfortably use with my glasses on. They’re a pair of celestron nf (non focus) 7x50 binoculars
@@dutchbeef8920 No, I haven't even heard of this before. I'll definetely look it up and see if I can give it a go. Thanks for the suggestion!
I have a "hobby killer" from when I was in high school, but I'm very fortunate to have grown up near a museum with a great planetarium and observatory, and even more fortunate to have a great dad who was willing to take me to watch (almost) the same planetarium show every Friday and look through their telescopes. I care much more about the learning and the seeing than I do the quality of gear, so the bad mount and almost-stripped-out adjustment screws are only a mild inconvenience. One of these days I'll invest in a better one so hopefully I can share my love of the sky with my son! Thanks so much for your awesome videos, they have really helped me out lately!!
Thanks for the great comment!
Thank you for all your videos, it's super helpful! I've just bought my first telescope (Celestron Inspire 100 AZ) and I live in a tiny village, with great views of the sky at night. Your videos have been of great help to get me all set up and I've really enjoyed the experience.
Thanks for the wonderful comment!
When I was younger, I was always jealous that my brother received science gifts like a telescope. As an adult, I bought my own telescope so much fun. Remember, parents girls might like a telescope too.
Went stargazing last night early morning at a bortle 3 site. Have been watching your channel since I got into the hobby over a year ago. Always have a copy of you 110 Things book with me while observing. While not part of the list this morning i caught an ISS Passover and noticed something trailing it close behind during the entire pass. Then later nasa posted they had just released the Cygnus cargo craft from the station and it would burn up during re-entry later in the day. Love seeing unexpected sights while stargazing!
So cool to catch Cygnus! I think the last time I saw the ISS with another spacecraft in formation was back in the Space Shuttle days ~2011 I think.
Wish I could give you 1000 likes, just picked up a pretty decent telescope with a motorized mount (not working) at the local goodwill and had no idea what the different eye pieces were for. I definitely would have tried the smallest one first. Thanks to your guidance here, I just got to truly see Jupiter for the first time in my life. Adjusting here and there and getting the feel of the trajectory, seeing it drift across the lens was well worth the 2 hours I spent cursing my unsteady hands... in short, thank you! Subbed!
Thanks!
I just got the Omni AZ 102, and I’m so excited to use it! I’ve wanted one for so long and I’m making sure to check all your videos about it!
Wonderful!
I got one a year ago, and love the 102 az! You can see the moon, planets, the sun WITH PROPER FILTER, nebula, clusters and land targets. It is a wonderful telescope!
2:48, i have just got a telescope with an exact mount as that, at first it was absolute shite, breathing on it would cause it to shake, i took it apart and lubrucated all the rotation points and put it back together tight, its is now very good, its a lot better as long as you have shock pads under the mount legs, just putting this for anyone who was unfortunate enough to get one of these poorly put together mounts.
Me too! But I didn’t lubricate anything. Could you go more in depth about this or no?
@ I used a special wd40 for metal, I sprayed a lot between each joint, I also put needle roller thrust bearings which helped with friction, it’s still really smooth over a year after buying it
Not all heroes wear capes…some have telescopes attached at the hip and share their vast knowledge on TH-cam 🙌🏻. I have been losing my mind trying to setup the telescope my son (9) received as a gift as was about to launch IT into space! Thought I’d do one last google search for help and came across your channel just in time to give me some hope I can nut this out! From what I can gather, on our hands we have a hobby killer/buzz killer/absolute drainer and frustrating piece of shit that’s anything but the easy to use & kid friendly telescope it was marked as, but at least now I know what we’re dealing with and can hopefully put it to use to capture the amazing night sky we’re experiencing in Australia right now! Thank you so much, your knowledge and the amount of it has blown my mind, and that you’re able to speak of so much technical ‘stuff’ so quickly yet make it understandable for noobs like myself, is seriously impressive 🙌🏻
Thanks for the wonderful feedback, Emma! Good luck getting the telescope working and have fun in with the hobby and enjoy those southern skies!
This is incredibly helpful! I struggled through figuring our how to use my microscope. Knew I was coming into something with my new telescope.
I have just bought my first scope an 8 inch dob so hope I can learn the basics from people like yourself!
Congrats! That’s a wonderful telescope!
Finnaly you are back with awesome video
Perfect timing! My first telescope will arrive on Tuesday!
Congrats!
Fun fact: if you point your telescope at the sun, and hold paper up to the eyepiece, it can burn a hole in the paper.
And if you look at the paper, you’ll damage your eyes.
And if your eyes get damaged, you will go blind
@@LearnToStargazereally well I mean I gotta try it not gonna look at it but will I ruined my telescope if I do that
@@LearnToStargazeplease
Solid video. I just picked up and successfully collimated my new Orion xt8 plus. Was hoping to get it out today but the rain got in the way. I too have 1 zoom eyepiece. A 8-24 1.25, even though I have a 2 inch Crawford. Makes it easier to kinda see whats up before I either put my cam on it or slap on a 28 or 32 superwide 2 in. I had a 150 newt on an eq before this. Learned a lot from that one. Hopefully at some point I can get my 8 on a go-to mount and just be able to swap between that and a rc. It's definitely fun to learn all this stuff. I like not having to worry about anything but just me pointing a scope and look and photograph whatever I fancy at the time. Very peaceful. I have a tiny custom webcam I out on a little tiny mount that's fun to mess around with when catfishing at night as well.
Great comment! Thanks!
@@LearnToStargaze Thank you for all the great content. I have learned so much passively watching your videos. You have helped a lot of people. Of that I'm sure.
@@hashtaglobotomy2655 thanks!
Just got my first telescope for Xmas. Nothing fancy or powerful, but this video is going to help me enjoy it to the fullest, starting with the moon. Thank you.
Welcome to the hobby!
Here's one tip for beginners: Don't spend more than $300 on your first telescope. If you find you really enjoy using it for a decent period of time, and are seriously interested in Astrophotography, don't spend less than $2000 (brand new) on your next one. Make it at least a 10" Schmidt Cassegrain or equivalent refractor type. Don't inch up in sizes - you'll end up wasting money and time. Go all in and get a clock driven, professional grade scope. If astrophotgraphy isn't your interest, don't buy another scope at all, as that's all they are good for.
Can you provide some examples of sub $150 telescopes that meet the 5 minimum requirements for a basic beginner telescope?
@@LearnToStargaze I cannot. I actually edited my comment to say $300, as I was thinking in terms of 1980s economics.
I've been looking at an 8" dob for my first scope
@@mikeh8848 that’s the best first scope for sure!
@@LearnToStargaze awesome, thank you for the input. I knew next to zero about telescopes prior to about a week ago, so its been a bit overwhelming to try and learn the different fields/practices and whatnot. Super excited to get started
Thankyou so much for this video ...i've just bought a Skywatcher .. total beginner 😊
You’re welcome!
thanks for putting up this amazing introductory video :)
Thanks for watching!
All great advice. Thanks!
Thank you!
Excellent advisory video to the world of telescope.
I wish that battery-powered finders had an timed auto-off option.
Yup.
I know right mine died out now it's very hard to find objects
Hi, I bought a Celestron astromaster 130 EQ from the used market. after Assembling, found that the image is inverted and at an angle too. Can you please advise why this is so.
It’s not technically inverted, you’re using a concave mirror (like a spoon) to collect light and another flat mirror to reflect the image into the eyepiece. This results in a 180 degree rotation. The angle is because you’re viewing from the side.
are you satisfied with your telescope, thinking about buying it
Really helpful thanks 😊
Outstanding
Okay. So for years and years I had a Nextron refractor lying around that I got as a kid and never used. I thought it was broken but didn’t have to heart to tell my parents or grandparents. Then at some point I decided to give it a try, and while I had no idea how to align the red dot, I managed to get the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn with a huge amount of effort. My base lens is a 10mm and I’ve got a 5mm that I just found. So I thought that was higher zoom because all I was seeing was tiny white discs barely bigger than what I figured I’d see with my binoculars. Turns out I saw EXACTLY what I should be expecting. I think the bug issue is that everything oversells what space actually looks like. So I’ve been going “if only I could see it bigger, I’d see it better.” When in reality I’m probably just setting myself up for a huge headache.
But at least now I know that I somehow managed to do everything right by sheer luck, and more importantly, that the present my grandparents got me all those years ago didn’t go to waste.
That said!
How do you keep track of planets? They move, quite quickly. Saturn zipped through the field of view every 40 seconds, and Jupiter wasn’t much better. I’m hoping to see a comet and I’m worried about being able to catch it, especially since my view appears to be inverted on both axes. So most of the time all I’m seeing if anything is tiny brief flashes of stuff going by. I’m hoping calibrating my red dot will help so I won’t have to spend an hour trying to find anything smaller than the moon.
And nebulae and galaxies are a no go considering I live in a brightly lit apartment complex that can be seen from Mars.
Less magnification will slow how fast objects move across your FOV.
Hello, i would like to ask if you have any recommendations for a beginner telescope that can look at both planetary objects, and deep skies? (Great video btw!)
Hi! This is all budget dependent. Great at both might be a Celestron Evolution 8, but that’s not the right fit for everyone’s budget. An 8 inch Dobsonian is another great option (but these are also getting up there).
Thanks for making this video 👍
Thanks!!!
I would love to see a comparison between 2 newtonain telescopes that have the same stats, for example I recently saw a massive dubsonian mounted 8" f5 telescope but then I found a newtonian telescope that's way shorter (half the length) and is still 8" f5. It would be nice to see a comparison using same eye peices and how they differ from eachother.
If it’s half the length are you sure they’re both newtonians? Do you have links?
@LearnToStargaze I did more digging and I was wrong the docal ratios are different in some way. Im super new to this and it would still be interesting to see how much of a difference it would be to have a newtonian with different focal ratios for example how much of a difference it would be having a f/4 vs for example a f/6 focal ratio for visual astronomy. I was always at the assumption that the mirror size is the most important thing to be able to see dim objects
@@gladperson116 hi! I did a bit of a comparison in my Explore Firstlight 114 video. The biggest determinant in seeing dim objects is the darkness of your skies. Aperture increases resolution, and makes it easier to use increased magnification. Seeing dim galaxies also has to do with the signal to noise ratio of the light entering your eye, which has to do with matching the exit pupil of your telescope to the size of your actual pupil (about 3mm seems to be ideal).
Hey man, just wanted to say your videos are the main reason why I got into stargazing. I got a Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ for Christmas, and so far its been great. Do you have any suggestions for an upgrade around the 400~600 CAD price range? Thanks!!
Add on: I've also started scratching the Surface of Astrophotography, in its most bare-bone version, with my NeXYZ adapter.
Hi! If you’re scratching with the idea of astrophotography, you should start with the Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTI as a platform and then add gear as your budget allows. An AZ-GTi could also be used, but modifications would be required for astrophotography (I have videos on how to do this).
@@LearnToStargaze Thanks, I will definitely look into it
@@LearnToStargaze I just took a look at the Skywatcher Star Adventure GTi, and I noticed that It is (not to sound rude) a bit out of my budget that I can afford. Would a Computerized/GoTo Telescope be good choice for just starting out in astrophotography, Since I can take long exposures? Thanks!
@@owenhurley5820 No, most go-to mounts are AZ and would have field rotation. The AZ-GTi (on a wedge) is pretty much the lowest cost mount that has enough accuracy to take a photo. The Star Adventurer is nice because it does not require any modifications to get it to take photos.
I got a second hand homemade 14 inch dobsonian for 50 bucks and love it. My only complaint is too heavy to take somewhere remote so usually only use it in my yard
$50? That’s amazing! I bet Saturn looks great these days!
Very new to star gazing but have always found it fascinating. the other night I did find the tsuchinshan-atlas comet with it. Would really love to get a good view of Andromeda and Saturn. It seems so small and blurry and a little frustrating.
Dark skies (bortle 1-2) and binoculars are best for andromeda.
I have Celestrone Astromaster 114eq. This is my first telescope. I think is not bad with a Barlow lens.
What have you been looking at? I think the combination would only look good on Jupiter the Moon and Saturn.
@@LearnToStargaze Maybe Andromeda Galaxy tho or some other bright Nebulas
@@yasirgd Low/medium magnification targets are for what it's decent.
As usual for all these supermarket telescopes, mount is simply flimsy and shaky to use high magnifications.
And even if mount was ok, optics is total scam design and incapable to image sharpness/magnifications that aperture should give.
Except for various Cassegrains, tube of reflector is always about as long as focal length. Anything else tells it's Barlowed blur generator made by fraudsters.
And Celestron is basically run by those with anything not Schmidt-Cassegrain at best average for the price and many are pure scams.
Thanks for this great video. My son and I bought a Celestron Astromaster 130EQ some weeks ago, and we barely manage to get anything out of it. 99% of the time it is impossible to get anything useful in view, and if we find anything from the telescope dancing around, it is so hard to find focus. Unfortunately my son have given up. I can already now say it is a mistake for a total noob, to buy a telescope with a EQ mount, which is impossible to move around by hand. But I will learn it. What else are dad´s for. Now I will find your EQ video. Thanks.
I hope you find joy in the telescope! Thanks for the comment!
Actually good equatorial mount head and tripod indeed cost far more than whole beginner telescope.
Also optics of that Astromaster are most of the time likely bad with cheapo spherical mirror.
So even if mount was actually decent, you would unlikely to be proper higher magnification views of the Moon and planets.
Celestron is basically run by scammers frauding consumers with brand sticker when it comes to non Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.
Thank you for the video very educational and helpful.
Thanks for the kind comment!
Wonderful video, thank you
Thanks!
That AZ 102 Celestron I found the chromatic aberration is taken care of with a #8 light yellow filter or a #11 light yellow/green planetary filters if the blue fringe is a problem. It usually is only a problem for really bright objects like the Moon or Venus. Venus in my son's Celestron 127 Maksutov was so bright he was surprised and I only had a 25mm eyepiece in it, I set my polarizing filter in it at its lightest setting and he was surprised to see Venus so sharp. A polarizing filter only costs about $20 or so.
any tips for a Celestron 5SE?
What do you mean when you say if the sky's are steady?
Twickly stats mean unsteady air, which reduces the detail you see
Should I get a Celestron nexstar Evolution 6 or should I get a Celestron nexstar abs
That was a messed up comment
I have a qestion does the noise you see in space is due to phone and camera which used to record or it also capture the noise when we see in the telescope with naked eye?
Sometimes, especially when viewing dim objects at high magnification. That said, at low shutter speeds, the cameras are far, far, noisier. Bright objects like planets have no noise in the human eye, but can be quite noisy on camera.
@@LearnToStargaze ohk thanks for that i am starting this hobby soon 💗Love from india🇮🇳💗
Thank you so much. You are awesome!
most reliable video ever thanks for helping :D
Thanks! That’s why we made it! It took several months to film.
@@LearnToStargaze keep up the great work!
Great video! One question - loving in the southern hemisphere (Australia), what star do you align to if you have an EQ mount?
There is no bright star. You use the south celestial pole.
Just line it up true south and put your latitude number in to get the height.
I'm down in Dunedin, NZ, that's what I do.
Hey, sorry to sound crazy but I know the exact place this was filmed as I drive by there very often and I live close by! I actually just recently as of yesterday purchased a 6" skywatcher 150p. I am brand new to this stargazing stuff, and I am using a lot of your videos for information. if you are still in the area, i'd love to learn more from you !
I’m still here!
i just got a Meade DS-2102, without any mount or accessories, it has an eyepiece DS super plossl 26mm that i cannot see through yet, i am going to try and mount it to my generic tripod and see if i can see anything in the nighttime Hawaiian sky, any tips or recommendations? please
Hi. I live in central Copenhagen but have a great view of the moon an sky from my livingroom. Will I be able to see clear image and record it in 4k with any setup?
Your phone is 4K, but the telescope itself with have a resolution related to its aperture. Capturing the Moon is very easy, you can use a phone and a telescope. Just make sure you’re outside and there are no window between the telescope and the Moon.
Is past midnight really the best time to view the night sky? I do also like my sleep so I usually view the sky just after the sun sets.
But I feel like I am missing out on possible spectacles.
I did learn my street lights DO not turn off after Midnight so welp.
I almost never stargaze past midnight, but the best time is after astronomical twilight, which is a function of how low the sun is below the horizon (you can Google the astronomical twilight time for your location).
@@LearnToStargaze i heard about that term still puzzles me even when searching it though I am in the northern horizon and im guessing moonless nights are the best in general
@@hmuphilly9129 If you use a website like time and date, astronomical twilight has its own column: www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/philadelphia
Super helpful video thanks
Glad to help!
Can someone give me a tip, I was tryna see Jupiter and all I saw was a white dot and a weird vertical line through it
Are you sure that wasn’t Saturn?
@@LearnToStargazeIm getting it aswell, its a plain white dot with intersecting lines, idk if its focus or something else, some help or tips would be nice please!
Great video
Thank you for this video. I just rushed to cancel my order of the exact same Celestron travel telescope you showed. 😅
What will you get instead?
@@LearnToStargaze I'm going to follow your advice and get at least four inches of aperture. Thinking of a smaller "light bucket"....?
I'm a beginner, living in the country. I want to have something decent, that doesn't make me want to upgrade too quickly. I've been on your website and looked at the chart, to see what is recommended for me. Would binoculars work well? I never considered that.
Hi! Binoculars are great for star clusters (like the Pleiades) in dark skies (and the Andromeda Galaxy). There is a lot to see with binoculars for sure, if you know where to look.
@LearnToStargaze thankyou
Best information
I want to learn how to use a telescope which video is your best explanation. Send me a link. I am from India
This is by far the best video in that regard.
Thanks for this. I just started and now have a better idea of what to do!😅
Just got my 1st telescope today. I dont know what im doing yet. Haven't even got a chance to open the box. Im excited to hopefully find a new hobby.
Congrats!
Solid!
Top KEK!
Peace be with you.
What’s a KEK?
@@LearnToStargaze Depends on usage. It's used mainly on chat boards. In this case "Top KEK!" means superb excellent or well done.
Hope that helps.
Peace be with you.
Is the Celestron Omni AZ102 one the finest telescope for the beginners?
Under $200 yes.
@ I am not able to find this telescope in UK (looks like not available). Can you suggest something similar to it?
@@rishimehta1004 a 6 inch tabletop dobsonian from Bresser UK.
@ specifications please or a link?
@@rishimehta1004 www.bresseruk.com/p/bresser-messier-6-dobson-4716415?srsltid=AfmBOooQu8tOrxdWZ9WZExefTzMdy7wAbnuULJvxg0QwYXuVk-xFulzk
any comment about used teleskop.second hand teleskops?
Most of the telescopes in this video were purchased used! The key is to know exactly what Telescope you want before you look for it on the market, especially the used market.
Which lens do I use on my samsung Galaxy s23 ultra for taking photos? I hook it up with the adapter, and of course, after I lose the object or the phones to heavy and move the telescope
I’m not familiar with that phone, sorry.
How do you see planets with a galaxy tracker telescope?
Align the finder to the telescope during the day. Point the finder at the planet, look in the eyepiece. Make sure the telescope is in focus. View the planet.
@ :D TYSM
i have a 8" dobsonian telescope and i wondering if its possible to see planets through it, and if so what lense i would need.
Of course! Use a 10mm eyepiece. I think only Jupiter will be visible for the next month or so (I’d need to check on Venus etc)
Hello,
I have just ordered Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ, but someone told me that the stand is unstable and a bit difficult to use.
Please suggest me if I should return and get another one.
Thank you,
Yes, I’d swap that for a Starsense 130DX.
Hello, I was wondering what you think of the Celestron 130eq and how to take pictures with a dslr on it?
Hi! I don’t think I’ll review that scope, it’s not good for beginners, and it’s not good for connecting a camera. telescopicwatch.com/celestron-astromaster-130eq-telescope-review/
Hi, I just got my Dianfan 150EQ Telescope put together. I haven’t had a chance to use it yet as it’s been cloudy and rainy. My question is, is it okay to take it outside even though it’s 32 degrees F out? I worry when I bring it in the lens will fog up and cause condensation and ruin it. Any tips would be appreciated! ✨
I’ve never had an issue with condensation causing damage.
Okay, thank you!
What telescope would you suggest for a beginner, that is pretty decent and not too cheap please
I really like the Starsense 8inch Dobsonian. It really depends on what you plan to observe.
So can a budget telescope get a really good high definition image?
For an “HD” image you want to budget around $3k for large objects like andromeda, $5k for more compact nebulae, and $10-$15k for closeup galaxy photos. There really are no shortcuts.
Hi I'm new to stargazing any advice on eyepieces on my celestron starsense dx6 sct I have a 40mm and a 10mm which came with the scope. Thanks in advance and thanks for the content 👍.
If I recall, I think these scopes can be upgraded to two inch diagonals. Just need a two inch visual back and a two inch diagonal. I’ll go test this later today if I remember, haha.
@LearnToStargaze thanks for the response and you're right this scope can take 2" diagonal, would I be better off spending money on the 2 inch eyepieces etc ? And if so would any work or what would the scopes restrictions be.
@@seanmk2firefly600 I only have a 22mm ultra wide and a 25mm eyepiece in the 2 inch variety. All I can say is that I haven’t had any issues with FOV or achieving focus with either of these eyepieces in any of my telescopes.
Is Celestron Astromaster 130 eq a good option as I know how to use equatorial mount?
I’ve only used the Astromaster 70mm eq, I only know the Astromaster 130 by it’s poor reputation. If you are good at using an EQ mount, the optics are probably fine.
Can you suggest me a budget telescope for Deep Sky Objects and which can track them?
The reason for a telescope which can track objects is because I live in a light polluted city and not much guide stars are available.
Please suggest me like 2 or 4 so that I can choose within them.
Starsense 130DX Starsense DX8, NexStar 102, Celestron 6SE
Can I remove the bird Jones lense on a starsense explorer LT 114AZ???
Even the 127az??
Maybe, but the reason it’s there is to compensate for a spherical and possibly poor quality primary mirror. So you may not have solved the problem.
@@LearnToStargaze 😭😭 a better telescope is outta my budget
Hi! Great video for a beginner like me! You said in the video that a telescope's maximum useful magnification is twice it's apperture in mm. I have a Celestron inspire 100az and on the manufacturer's website it states 241x maximum useful magnification. Is it only marketing/mistake? Cause the 100az has 100mm aperture which would result in 200x maximum useful magnification. Also what is your opinion about light pollution filters?
Yeah, sounds like marketing. A UHC filter for light pollution will provide subjective results unless you are using an astrophotography rig.
Hello Stargazers! John Read here again, to take your stargazing to the next level, check out 110 Things to See with a Telescope, available on Amazon: www.amazon.com/110-Things-See-Telescope-Stargazing/dp/1777451752
Would you suggest a refractor or reflector telescope?
I recommend the telescope you’re going to use the most for what you want to accomplish. I’m currently designing an RCT (telescope) for a spacecraft, this is the ideal design for that purpose. If you want to take photos, a small APO refractor is a great place to start. If you want to stargaze, a Dobsonian is the way to go.
@jw-ij2dj: Refractor or Maksutov for moon & planets, reflector for deep-sky objects. Best all-round scope would be a large-aperture Maksutov or a Dobsonian.
14:57, slight correction, Titan is one of Saturn's moons, not Jupiter's
Yeh, I noticed that after I published. My classmates at JH are working on both a Jupiter probe and a Titan probe, which we had been talking about a fair bit when I recorded the video. I think my brain linked the two bodies together as a result (Clipper and Dragonfly are the current APL interplanetary missions).
Hi, i'm about to buy my first telescope but i'm undecided between the celestron 130 slt and the omegon advanced 150/750 eq-320.
My indecision lies in the fact that I would also like to use it to take some pictures but I'm afraid that with the second one, being manual, these could come out badly? What do you say? Is a telescope with goto or a manual better? Thank you
Pictures would be the astrophotography hobby. An entry level mount would be the Skyhunter or Star Adventurer GTi, combined with a small refractor like the Sharpstar 61 (assuming you want colourful images of nebula).
Is the LeapFrog Magic Adventures telescope any good for 4 year old kids and up.
Looking to buy for xmas.
It’s not really a telescope, more like a video game / video player will a built in camera for the Moon or birds. Seems like a fun toy though.
can you do a video about celestron sctw 80 pleaseee
I don’t think so, this scope is below my typical minimum requirements for a beginner telescope. Not even sure if we can get them here in Canada.
Great vid. I would add, buy a moon filter.
I wonder if John ever found the allen key included with his Omni 102...
I guess we’ll never know.
On your website you mention the celestron omni az 102 (the scope I own) for deep sky / planets.. how can I achieve deep sky objects? I don't own anything more than what came in the box other than a 5mm celestron eye piece (one you suggested to me previously actually).
I am still learning all these things about stargazing and I was hoping you could help me understand how you feel this scope can be used for deep sky ?
So far, I've been able to see things like the beehive cluster but haven't been able to see more than that
Hi! Deep sky objects are largely independent on the size of the telescope, and far more dependent on the darkness of your skies. I use a 24 or 25 mm eyepiece for viewing almost all deep sky objects.
@@LearnToStargaze so the ideal scenario is to have a super dark sky so you can see the DSO's.... Gotcha
@@darksanity yup, you can see about a dozen DSOs from the city, maybe 50 from the suburbs, and hundreds from the country.
I've just got my first telescope i brought a Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 127AZ Telescope. Is this ok? And what are the realistic things I'll see please advise
No. That scope has a lot of red flags. But you can make the best of it by starting with Saturn and the Moon. I’ve found it to be optically challenged when it comes to deep sky objects like star clusters.
I'm hoping more for planets so should be a good start? And maybe with practice a few deep objects ? But a good start?
@@matthewmcgrath8886you’ll need dark skies for deep sky objects. You can try double stars like mizar and Albireo.
Thank you for the tip. I found your video and the one for the 114 lt helpful I just assumed mine being the 127 it was as near as the same so crossed it over. I'll apologize now if I have future silly questions
Is ESSENWI 114EQ Reflector Telescope 900mm a good telescope in terms of quality, ease of use and ability to view planets etc?
I assume this is a joke. Did you watch the video?
Hi John, I am a beginner and wanted to observe planets. I have got 2 eyepieces 25mm and 10mm with my 102AZ starsense telescope. I am confused whether to buy a 2x barlow or a 5mm eyepiece. Please help me resolve my confusion
Hi! A nice 5mm eyepiece will tend to provide much better views than a barlowed eyepiece. Examples include the Celestron X-Cel, Baader Hyperion 5mm, or for the ultimate views, 5mm Tele Vue. I have a video on this topic coming out soon!
Thanks :)
Hello. Im using celestron 15X70 binoculars, want to upgrade to telescope. Due to space constrain in my home i cant keep telescope mounted on stand for days together. Im looking for telescope which i/my kids can easily mount on stand and once viewing is done then fold stand and keep it in cupboard. Which types of telescopes are easiest to mount.?
Thanks
Kalpesh
If you have kids, the Orion Skyscanner or Zhummel Z100 would work best. These hardly take up any space at all.
@@LearnToStargaze ....thanks for your suggestions!
What would be the most easiest to use telescope that finds planets, that’s got a simple set up for a person who has absolutely no experience or patience in searching for long periods of time ? Thankyou
Hi! A Dobsonian is by far the easier design to use. These scopes are available in most budgets, but the larger aperture the better. I find the 6 inch version (all brands) the most versatile, the 8 inch version to best all around, and the 12 inch version amazing for deep sky views. You can often find these used on B&H photo, or in my case, I’ve picked a 6 inch version up on Facebook Marketplace for $150 (though this was a few years ago).
What telescope should I get
If I want to see the planets and possibly andromeda Galaxy
And it’s on Amazon
This is an Amazing deal. www.amazon.com/Celestron-StarSense-Smartphone-App-Enabled-Compatible/dp/B09TWWZ5DR
if it weren’t for the loose mounts, would the power seeker 70eq be good?
With the exception of the Moon and planets, binoculars would be better. The aperture is just so tiny tiny, and that’s what matters.
@@LearnToStargaze would i still be able to enjoy looking at galaxys and star clusters through the telescope? or should i actually just get binoculars/another telescope instead
@@SfIsCoolyou need dark skies for galaxies, but yes a better telescope or binoculars would be ideal.
@@LearnToStargaze got it, thanks. and what telescope would you recommend for a beginner who’s looking for something that can last even when they get more experienced with a budget of around $300? i’ve looked at your website but im having trouble picking which one.
@@SfIsCoolcan you stretch your budget and get something like this? www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/803040702-USE/celestron_11049_nexstar_4se_102mm_f_13.html
Hello! I had a question that I couldn’t find an answer anywhere.
I am looking forward to getting a telescope to view constellations.
I want a scope that will make the invisible stars (due to light pollution), visible. However, I am concerned it may not be possible since field of view is too narrow.
Is it actually the case? Which telescope would you recommend for viewing constellations? Is it plausible, difficult or straight up impossible to view at least a sections of constellations?
Hi! Constellations take up huge portions of the sky. Most are larger then your outstretched hand. Even binoculars are far too powerful. What you would need for constellations are 2X binos like these: www.amazon.com/SVBONY-Binocular-2-1x42mm-observing-Theater/dp/B0822QRLKJ
@@LearnToStargaze Thank you so much for the response! Have been really trying to figure this out past couple of days, thank you
@@Mr_B0nzthey’re great, love mine highly recommend
HSL Reflector Telescope,76mm Aperture 700mm Focal Length Astronomy Reflector Telescopes (35X-875X) for Adults and Kids-with 3 Eyepieces,5X Barlow Lens,Moon Filter and Smartphone Adapter
Is this a good one to buy?
Sounds like a giant list of red flags.
I have no idea what im doing :( i Bought a Celestron Astromaster Az and tried to focus on some stars but they were blurry, i finally focused on a star but it wasn't any better than what i can see with my own eyes 😢, ive been Astronomy since i was little and i dont want to get discouraged because i finally had the funds to purchase a telescope and heard this one was great for beginners, not sure where to start :(
Practice on the Moon. Use the 25mm eyepiece only. Once you’ve mastered identifying specific craters, move onto star clusters from the Messier list or double stars. Good luck!
Thank you so much! I finally was able to see the moon close up! I was in awe! Thanks for the tip and replying! ❤
Hi, I'm planning to buy a Celestron Astromaster LT 70AZ..what is your experience on that? As a beginner I thought of going for a basic one..
Thanks
Is the NatGeo 114mm Newtonian Reflector a hobby killer?
Borderline. There are several versions of this scope. I have two 114mm Newtonians, and the views are not great, but on an AZ mount they’re easy to use for little kids.
I got an EQ 700mm telescope for Mother’s Day and it is indeed a hobby killer, I cannot focus it to save my life and I just want to give up😫 I’ve watched your videos on how to use one but I am giving up, any suggestions?
See if you can trade it for an Omni 102AZ? If you’re really hoping to get into the hobby, it might be best to go to a local astronomy event and see what others are doing. You’ll find that there are usually many people who are happy to help you get the most out of whatever gear you have.
Thank you
Only just found out that small telescopes can still see really far and make great shots of the night sky since my parents bought my sister and I a powerseeker 127EQ as kids 😭😭😭
I always wanted to (and still want to) see the night sky and all that, but I thought it was all over since I could barely see Jupiter at all because quality was so bad 😭😭😭
Yes, that is this telescope: th-cam.com/video/IXfR7YTF5a4/w-d-xo.htmlsi=EfW71JB8f74j9M_s
Damn, the telescope i was looking to get for a first one falls into the Bird Feeder category :/
Any recommendations for 100-200aud telescopes for a complete beginner?
You may need to go used, but all the 102mm refractors seem pretty good. You may be able to find a 6 inch Dobsonian on Facebook marketplace. Mine was listed at $250, I offered $150, and it was accepted.
@@LearnToStargaze Thank you for the quick reply and info, i'll see what i can find online. If i have any more questions i'll come to you!
I got one for my daughter. We absolutely cannot see anything. Iv hard the hardest time getting it to focus with the 10mm and 20mm. Its a solomark 70-700.
I had to google that one. This telescope looks more decorative then practical, I can see why using it would be a challenge. A Z100 or Orion Skyscanner would be about the same price, but far easier to use.
Hello sir, im going to buy kson 135mm telescope, can i observe the sombrero galaxy with eyepiece? i live in a city, not too big not small city.
Yes, the sombrero galaxy looks like a small dim grey line from just outside the city.
@@LearnToStargaze Thanks.
I need to change the battery CR2032 on finder on my CeleStrone Nextstar 102 SLT. Anyone knows how to change it? I can see the CR2032 battery but I don’t know how to open up and change. Can someone help me?
It’s usually just a slot that you push on the side of the finder.
@@LearnToStargaze Thanks. I also can’t align this telescope
@@satishcpatelit probably requires a 2 star align.