54 replies to this topic

[SporadicGazer]

The worst thing about these long mirror scopes is precisely their support, since, as vtornado has said, from the optical point of view, although the mirror is spherical, at F/8 its performance can already be quite decent in a good portion of the visual field, without an alarming spherical aberration.

 

However, if we forget about the original mount and build a solid Dobsonian one, you will end up with a great entry-level telescope. The eyepieces won't be very good, but until you can upgrade them they will do the trick. In these same forums you can find ideas for assembly (DIY section) like this one https://www.cloudyni...ove-the-mount/? hl=%2Bdiy+%2Bdobsonian+%2Bmount#entry13084465 .

Actually a good part of a Dobson mount can be created from recycled materials and using, above all, a lot of inventiveness, so the cost does not have to be high.

Fixed the link:

 

https://www.cloudyni...t#entry13084465

[Yield]

Hey Yield! It's even nicer that we're trying to advise a young one ;D

 

So, I've read the same review as Anony and the Powerseeker 114 could be an idea IF you could get it some better eyepieces at least. 

 

But: don't give in to haste, maybe you can find something better if you keep looking and putting some money on the side. Spending all your budget on a telescope that has a problematic mount and problematic accessories is not great. When a better one comes along you'll have spent all your money. 

 

I love the suggestion made by vtornado. If you could find that scope, used, it would be great. It's true that refractors are easier to use than other types of telescope, and that one has good aperture and very decent optics and accessories. 

 

Fingers crossed!

 

Unfortunately, I cannot find a different telescope. Even Celestron PowerSeeker telescopes are a bit difficult to find in my country. I don't think I can find the telescope you suggested.

 

Sometimes we tend to make proposals based on what we consider most convenient, but under the conditions of our environment (market, prices, etc.). However, since you said that you live in Turkey, I wanted to inform myself and look for decent entry-level telescopes that may be available in your region, and within your budget.

 

I want to confirm that you are correct when you say that the supply available in Turkey is scarce, even through an international distribution platform such as Amazon. With your initial budget of approx. 150$ (about 4,800 TL), apart from your proposal for the AstroMaster 80 AZS F/5, I could find little else. EQ mounts at that price level are extremely flimsy and unstable, and when used, they may no longer reach you in their best condition, resulting in large gaps and backlash in the machining. The AZ mounts are not much better at that level, but if they are new and do not have to support tubes that are too heavy or long, they can be used for basic observational initiation (this was the case of the first three telescopes that you proposed). Other than that, maybe this little Dob (which was slightly over budget), could be included on the list: https://turkey.deser...y-robert-reeves -features-a-superb-moon-astronomical-telescope-black-22016.

 

With your new budget of about 9,600 TL, the possibilities expand a little for you, I think for the better. It may not gain in aperture, but I think it can improve in general viewing quality, both because the tubes that I propose have higher focal ratios (which results in an improvement in the so-called chromatic aberration, typical of glasses), and because the supports are somewhat more suitable.

 

*https://www.durbundu...4-1000-teleskop. I don't know this brand or the quality of the product, but it seems to be a typical Newton with internal Barlow (false Jones-Bird)... They are designs with very controversial opinions, I have never had the opportunity to deal with one, so I can't say nothing firsthand, but it is likely that some of the things that have been said in this thread about the Celestron PowerSeeker 127 are applicable to this tube. Of the three proposals I make, this would be the one I would least recommend, despite being the most open. Here is Ed Ting's review of the controversial Celestron model: https://www.youtube...._channel=EdTing .

 

*https://turkey.deser...scope-dark-blue . It exceeds your budget a little. In appearance it is very similar to the AstroMaster 80 AZS (the support is the same), but in this case we are looking at an OTA F/10, which means that you will obtain a smaller field of view with the same eyepiece, but at the same time it will give you higher magnifications, and with a focal ratio of 10 in a tube of almost 3" the chromatic aberration will not be bothersome. I have observed through tubes with similar characteristics and I think they are a good starting point for all terrain observations. The package includes 2 eyepieces (20 and 10mm), red dot finder and star diagonal. The optical elements in these packages cannot be asked to be of good quality, but, once again, might be useful as a starting point until a future upgrade.

 

*https://astroshop.co...-700mm-teleskop. A very similar telescope to the previous one, although considerably cheaper. Personally I like Bresser optics. The focusers that they mount in their tubes are usually of good quality, although in this case we are not talking about their best-known design, which is the Hexafoc. The finishes, however, are sometimes the brand's weak suit (many plastic materials). The technical optical specs of this tube are the same as those of the previous one, only in this case the eyepiece with the shortest focal length is 9mm (it will provide a little more magnification in the image). I have used a mount similar to this on a 70mm Celestron StarSense, although it has a "slow motion" wheel it is not very useful (unless you live near the equator, which is not the case), but you may end up getting used to it. I couldn't tell you which one is better, this one or the previous one. The one on the AstroMaster has a control that, I imagine, in addition to moving the tube, will serve to fix the position of the OTA in height by rotating it. Maybe it's something more comfortable.

 

As for the Barlow lens, here is a link to a basic one that I think may be useful to you and, at least, it is from a trusted brand. But not particularly for the tubes that I have just proposed, but for the AstroMaster 80 AZS in case you decide on it and sacrifice a little observation quality with a certain magnification, for the enjoyment of the wide star fields: https://astroshop.co...-2x-barlow-lens . This 2x Barlow with the 10mm eyepiece will give you 80x on the Astromaster 80 AZS, but the viewing quality will not be as good as at 70x and 77x with the refractors that I have proposed. However, this always has a bit of personal appreciation, level of demand and expectations.

 

Good luck and welcome to the forum!

Thank you with all my sincerity. I'm currently in the process of selling an item I own, and if I can stretch my budget I'll take a look at the Bresser Nano AR-80 telescope you recommended. But for now the best deal in my area seems to be around the Celestron PowerSeeker 114 EQ + Celestron OMNI 2X Barlow lens + Svbony Sv170 10-30mm Zoom Lens. The seller is asking about $200 for all this.

 

Is the AWB one sky available in Turkey?  At an affordable price?

 

Unfortunately no.

 

 

Are there online classifieds available to you?

 

I can get National Geographic 76/350 which is bad. I'll probably get 114 EQ.

 

The other option, if the OP is handy with making stuff, is to buy that Powerseeker 114mm and turn it into a dob. Would require some know-how though... but if the OP is good with tools/woodworking by any chance, it should be doable. Would still require replacement eyepieces though.

 

I'll probably take the 114 EQ and convert it to dob. The telescope vendor offers the SVBONY SV170 and the Celestron OMNI 2X Barlow lens with the telescope.

 

 

 

Yesterday I spent a good while browsing the options that our friend has as if I was just another user from his country, and it is just as you say... It is not that there is no offer of advanced equipment, there is, but I imagine that due to the level of inflation in the country, they are much more expensive than in any other country in Europe or America, that I know of at least. That is to say, equipment that in Europe or North America may be valued at around €50, there at the local currency exchange rate would cost twice as much, which for the cost of living there could be almost unaffordable for many Turks (I'm thinking aloud).

 

On the other hand, the variety in terms of brands, designs, models and platforms and distribution chains is not remotely similar to what we are a little more used to in the West. It is not an easy situation, and I imagine that his financial effort to reach one of the equipments that he himself proposes or one of those that we propose him must be huge. As I said in my comment, this is an international forum (the most widespread in the world in terms of astronomy), but sometimes perhaps some of us err on the side of some kind of "localism", assuming that we can all have relatively easy access to a entry-level telescope.

 

The worst thing about these long mirror scopes is precisely their support, since, as vtornado has said, from the optical point of view, although the mirror is spherical, at F/8 its performance can already be quite decent in a good portion of the visual field, without an alarming spherical aberration.

 

However, if we forget about the original mount and build a solid Dobsonian one, you will end up with a great entry-level telescope. The eyepieces won't be very good, but until you can upgrade them they will do the trick. In these same forums you can find ideas for assembly (DIY section) like this one https://www.cloudyni...ove-the-mount/? hl=%2Bdiy+%2Bdobsonian+%2Bmount#entry13084465 .

Actually a good part of a Dobson mount can be created from recycled materials and using, above all, a lot of inventiveness, so the cost does not have to be high.

 

Everything you said is true. Access to telescopes and telescope equipment is quite limited here. Buying a used 114 EQ and improving it seems like the smartest idea. (I apologize if the translation is bad or the meaning is distorted, but this is the best I can do)

I want to leave a big heart here. I think that was the most logical interpretation of the whole matter. Thanks a lot.

Edited by Yield, 24 May 2024 - 01:53 PM.

[Freezout]

I think you go on the right way with this purchase, and thinking to convert to Dob if the mount annoys you too much.

You will read a lot of people telling you this is not a perfect scope, but you do the best out of what you can! Go for it.

[Japetus Eye]

I think you go on the right way with this purchase, and thinking to convert to Dob if the mount annoys you too much.

You will read a lot of people telling you this is not a perfect scope, but you do the best out of what you can! Go for it.

 

I'll probably take the 114 EQ and convert it to dob. The telescope vendor offers the SVBONY SV170 and the Celestron OMNI 2X Barlow lens with the telescope.

 

Everything you said is true. Access to telescopes and telescope equipment is quite limited here. Buying a used 114 EQ and improving it seems like the smartest idea. (I apologize if the translation is bad or the meaning is distorted, but this is the best I can do)

I want to leave a big heart here. I think that was the most logical interpretation of the whole matter. Thanks a lot.

That's right, with that scope and a more stable mount that you can build yourself for it, you'll be able to make great progress. In the end, what counts most to enjoy this hobby is the will, and it shows that you have plenty of it, so go ahead!

 

I think the lenses that the seller offers you along with the telescope are a good entry-level product, certainly better than the typical eyepieces that come with the sales kits of the telescopes we have been talking about. In any case, it is very likely that the Barlow 2x can only be used with the shorter focal lengths of the zoom eyepiece when observing very bright objects such as major planets or the Moon, due to the substantial loss of light in the image. And also keep in mind that by simultaneously using the 8mm zoom and the Barlow you will already be at the theoretical limit of magnification of the optical system, so these configurations will only be useful on nights with very good seeing. You will probably end up most of your observations without the Barlow.

 

Here I leave you a couple of links about these accessories, in case you want more information. I myself own several SvBony optical accessories and I must tell you that they have never let me down.

 

https://www.cloudyni...arlow-waste-of/

 

https://www.youtube....el=BogdanDamian

 

Keep us informed of your progress and know that here is your warm home of Astronomy.

 

Clear skies and good luck!

[radiofm74]

I think you go on the right way with this purchase, and thinking to convert to Dob if the mount annoys you too much.

You will read a lot of people telling you this is not a perfect scope, but you do the best out of what you can! Go for it.

+1! Go for it and try to make the very best use of what you get!

 

I'll tell you a secret: the Powerseeker 127 was terrible, but it still got me completely hooked to the hobby. Regardless of the crappy optics and mount , I still remember my first view of the Orion Nebula and of the Moon through that scope! Your 114 will be much better I'm sure and you'll be happy with it.

 

Oh: if you can spend a few dollars more, get yourself a good book telling you what to look at, and how to find it. Perhaps the most important accessory of all ;D The best book I know is Turn Left at Orion. It will keep you busy for a good year or two of observing!