Reddit reviews Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope

Don't buy either of those. Not great.

If your budget is around $200 get an AWB OneSky

If you can stretch to $250-300 get a 6" Dobsonian

If you can stretch to $400-450 get an 8" Dobsonian

Hello :-)

If you aren't in a hurry, you can regularly get a refurbished/2nd XT6 and XT8 for $200-$285 over at https://www.telescope.com/Sale/Clearance-Center/pc/6/777.uts?&refinementValueIds=4567. If you check the used market, you might get one for even less.

 


New, the Orion XT6 costs $279. New, a 8" costs $350 (that's a sale currently, with one that has much better accessories than the XT8)for a much better price.

Within your budget, the only things worthwhile are the OneSky and Mini 130. The OneSky is very compact, the Mini has contrast benefits (closed tube, possibly thinner secondary hodlers) and a regular focuser.

Outside the US, the OneSky is sold as SkyWatcher Heritage 130p, and another one is the Bresser Messier 5". The Mini is more expensive here.

 

The XT4.5 has slight contrast benefits due to it's "more relaxed" aperture ratio (->possibly mirror aberrations, coma... Easier to reach higher magnifications with cheap eyepieces). The set comes with a lot of stuff (though a cheap barlow isn't ideal). It has a slightly smaller aperture than the OneSKy/Mini130 though.

For the price-difference of the XT4.5 and XT6, the XT6 is very much worth it. The increase of aperture shows noticeably more detail, and it's height makes it easier to observe standing/seated.


Speaking of, for the OneSKy, I use a Ikea Bekväm.

It still beats any of the sets on tripod. The 127eq, 114eq, 130eq and similar all suffer from a mount that's not overly stable, bad accessories, and flawed optics (flawed "bird-jones" type or spherical mirror in case of the 130eq). Even though some of these have amazingly good reviews, they are not good at all. Beginners reviewing them are just happy to see the moon "up close".

 

> planetary viewing

Do keep in mind that only three planets show noteworthy detail and aren't even up all the time. So a larger aperture for some deep-sky observing is always a good idea :-)

Links on what to expect in different telescope aperture sizes

Size/Portability

 

All telescopes require one or more eyepieces to get the most out of it. But recommendations depend on the telescope you choose. Avoid eyepiece sets, they are never worth it (overpriced, mediocre, Plössl-type eyepieces under 10mm have horrible eye-relief).

 


Clear skies! :-)

https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1497733605&sr=1-2&keywords=dobsonian+telescope+6+inch

This! Aperture is king. Has a 25mm eyepiece.

PLEASE listen to the AutoModerator bot post. Those of us who spend a lot of time on here answering these kinds of questions ALL agree with it (which is why it posts what it does).

None of those that you list are worth the money. They are all low-quality scopes that will do more to discourage you than support your interest.

Your price-point is a tricky one. $300 USD would be a little better. But there's still some good options. The SkyWatcher Heritage 130P is your best bet around that price point. If you can push a little further, though, even better would be the Orion XT6 Dobsonian. I cannot recommend ANY motorized/GoTo telescopes for even twice that price (though some people may disagree).

I recommend one of these.

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=sr_1_25?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1299640242&sr=1-25

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyScanner-TableTop-Reflector-Telescope/dp/B002MI8RXA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299640190&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-SkyQuest-Classic-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6/ref=sr_1_19?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1299640226&sr=1-19

Holy Batman this is an amazing response!
The 4 year old has used a telescope before, he's just absolutely fascinated by space right now. If it was just him, I'd definitely be getting the £50 type scopes. Due to my interest, I really don't believe any model I get will be a waste of money.


I had the Heritage in mind, but had never looked at that Skyliner 150p, which has lead me to the 200p....I'm sure you know the feeling!

Already purchased Turn Left at Orion, definitely want a moon filter/scope as well as a planetary one.
Finder scope is essential from what I've read.

I think I'm settled on either the Heritage 130p or the Skyliner 150p. Is there any justifiable reason to even consider the 200p? I'm fairly certain I'll go in the middle for the 150p, but always welcome opinions!
Yet this Orion StarMax and this Orion SkyQuest keep appearing in my research. It will be between those 4 for sure, if you have any specific advice on those along with any accessories I need I would be eternally grateful.

You can get a 6" Dobsonian for about $250. That's where I would start for visual observing. Astrophotography is a whole other kettle of fish and you'll need to stretch your budget by a factor of 5 to get started. The best way to get into astrophotography on a limited budget is to use your camera lenses and get wide field shots using a tracker like the Vixen Polarie.

Rule of thumb is avoid cheap refractors. With refractors you need top notch optics to get good results, and you will never find them on cheaper ones. Don't be fooled by the magnification number, 300x magnification is useless when your optics cannot produce good results to begin with. It's just a cheap trick they use to impress beginners


Your best bet, with a 200€ budget is to get a good pair of binoculars, something around 15x70 and a tripod. If you still want a telescope, what you need is a reflector. Check out the dobsonians in Amazon, they're great and pack a lot of power for what you pay for, best bang for your buck as a beginner. Example: Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_DsWCCb75RADY1

Telescopes are one thing where price does really matter though, it is advised to spend as much as you can on one, because quality and results obtained exponentially go up the pricier they are.

My suggestion would be to get a pair of nice binoculars, and if you like what you see thru them in the night sky (completely dark, away from City lights preferably) save up for a nice telescope. I've seen quite a few deep sky objects with just these cheap Olympus 10x50 ones, in completely dark skies. Olympus Trooper 10x50 DPS I Binocular (Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000AKGX3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_HIWCCb36S5DK2

Good luck!

This Orion has great reviews. I have a Skywatcher myself, which is slightly more expensive. Of course you can also go the second hand route, just have to take a good look at the state of the primary and secondary mirrors.

https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW

Comes highly recommended as one of the best affordable stater telescopes. I can throw my own personal experience behind that.

I'll check out James Web, thanks.

I actually just used my cell phone camera, but with the help of an Orion XT6. I've been getting into astrophotography a bit recently, but I still need a few parts before I can start taking really nice pictures.

If you don't mind tossing a bit more money on it this might be a better purchase if you want to keep things on the cheaper end.

Orion SkyQuest XT6

While it's not directly related to the telescope, if you are buying from amazon the Orion 27193 XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope and Beginner Barlow Kit isn't going to be in stock for another 3 weeks.

In my opinion you will not be missing much to get the one without the additional barlow lens+red light.

Instead I would spend that extra $20 the way u/schorhr's recommended to me by buying the book, Turn Left at Orion. It is an awesome book that teaches you a ton about all different aspects of astronomy including what you can see in a telescope, and where/when you can find it.

I've been searching for a telescope too lately. I'm a newbie, but what I'm finding out is that a lot of people really recommend the Orion XT6.


It has a 6" aperture so it collects a lot of light and is able to see a lot of distant and faint objects such as nebulae and galaxies. If you think your son is really into astronomy it might be worth is since a lot of people, even experienced amateur astronomers seem to keep these around. The advantage here is seeing distant objects and planetary ones as well as learning how to navigate the sky. The disadvantages being no go-to setup, it's larger size, and it's a little more pricey. Worse case scenario you could always resell it used and lose a little out of it.


However if you think it might be a phase your son is going through it might be advantageous to go with a "Go-To" computerized type scope. The advantage is it is easier to use, but the cons are the increased costed for the computerization, small aperture (loss in the ability to see distant objects), and not really learning the sky since the computer does it for you. The advantages being a smaller size and less learning involved to enjoy the skies.


Also, check out craigslist. I've been keeping an eye on there and there was a guy selling an Orion XT6 in good condition for only $190.

I have that sticker on my telescope. To be specific, this one: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DDW9UW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ok, so I guess I'll be getting this https://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/product-reviews/B001DDW9UW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_paging_btm_2?ie=UTF8&reviewerType=avp_only_reviews&sortBy=recent&pageNumber=2

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DDW9UW/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A1MX591ICBLWRE

this one right here. I just didn't know exactly what i need. When i google it i find so much information

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-10014-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B0000XMSNO

I got this one for my kids this Christmas, Pretty reasonable price and I can clearly make out the Cloud bands on Jupiter and the 4 Galilean moons. I guess I will find out about being able to see the spot and the shadows later this month. If I knew then what I know now I would have kicked in the extra $$ for the XT6... http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1420267036&sr=1-1&keywords=XT6

This was a great resource for me in trying to sort out how to best spend my money.

http://www.rocketroberts.com/astro/firstscopes.htm

Thanks. I spend a fair amount of both time and money on my hobby.

The scope I linked is a fairly good starter scope. The mount may look a little intimidating but is easy to get the hang of. A similar telscope on a simpler mount is called a Dobsonian. They are very easy mounts to use. Here is a good example of a decent starter dobsonian. I would recomend getting a free program called Stellarium for pc/mac/linux. That is a great way to start.

Mark

Based on the very little info you provided (and my advice for most amateurs) I'd recommend a dobsonian, because you will get the most bang for your buck if you're willing to spend some time learning the sky, and in the short term you will be able to see planets and the moon very clearly. You save money with a dobsonion because the technology is very simple-  it is essentially just a long metal tube, with two mirrors mounted on a simple pressboard mount. What you save on simplicity, you can put towards aperture. The aperture does two things- it allows more light to enter your eye allowing you to see fainter objects (such as nebula, galaxies, etc), and increases the highest useful magnification of the scope, which is better for planetary viewing. Overall, bigger= better so long as the optics are decent.  
One of the advantages of the dobsonian telescopes is the simple movements- it has an Altazimuth mount. That means there are two perpendicular axes for the mount, a vertical and a horizontal. It makes pointing the thing incredibly easy. "Equatorial" mounts are much less intuitive, they are set up to follow the arc of the sky and have adjustments that move the scope in counterintuitive ways. These mounts are much better for photography, but for simple viewing they are cumbersome in my opinion.
The disadvantage to the dobsonian is the lack of a motorized mount and the lack of a goto system (unless you spend much, much more). This means you will have to learn the sky, and once your skills improve, you will never be able to use this scope to photography deep sky objects. However, since they are so handy for quick viewing, even if you move on to different equipment, the scope will still be useful. I still use mine for photographing planets even though I have upgraded to an SCT, and just last week I used it to photography the International space station.


Anyways- so you can benchmark your price for this, here's a link to the amazon page for an Orion 6" dobsonian. https://www.amazon.com/Orion-894...  It's about the least amount you can spend without being disappointed by the scope as your hobby develops. If you can swing it- spend a bit more and get an 8" or 10". There are entire reddit communities devoted to this hobby you can check out, a lot of great advice about equipment there. The first link is good for someone that's on a budget, the second is good if you're curious about astrophotography.
https://www.reddit.com/r/telesco...
https://www.reddit.com/r/astroph...

So right now I'm deciding between these three telescopes, including the ones you recommended (thanks!).

http://www.amazon.com/Vixen-39951-A70Lf-Telescope-Porta/dp/B0027VSSU4

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8945-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9V6

Do you think that these are reasonable deals and prices?

For the planets viewing from your backyard will be fine because they are very bright, but for most DSO's you will need to go to a dark spot, use this http://www.jshine.net/astronomy/dark_sky/

Id go with a 6 inch dobsonian because you have the aperature to see DSOs but is small enough that you can actually take it to a dark site where you can view them.
http://www.amazon.com/Orion-XT-6-Classic/dp/B001DDW9UW/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1331787043&sr=8-2

Now for eyepieces:
You take the focal length of the scope, and divide it by the focal length of the eyepiece and you get the magnification it will provide.
For example the 6" scope I linked has a focal length of 1200mm, so with a 10 mm eyepiece you will get 120x.

Tthe best views of the planets are going to to be about 180-200x when you factor in seeing conditions and having to adjust the scope for the planets moving(move faster at higher mags).
For DSOs you want to use lower magnifications because they are very faint, so you will want from 40-100 depending on what you are looking at.
The orion sirius plossl eyepieces I have give great crisp clear images so im sure you will be happy with them, and they are not very expensive at about 40-50 each.
Barlows basically double your scopes focal length, so when used with an eyepiece it doubles the magnification. They effectively double your eyepiece collection so consider them when you are picking eyepieces.
Also download http://www.stellarium.org/ it is free and will teach you the constellations and will show you how to find anything you want.

Edit: also learn to collimate whatever scope you get or else you wont see anything good.

Just have Takahashi custom build you one of these for ~$300,000

http://www.takahashi-europe.com/en/FET-300.php (yes, that's a 12" apochromat)

And you'll be all set :D

On a more serious note, I would take the time to save up to $350-400 dollars. That might be easier said than done, but it opens up a solid class of telescopes for you that will be more rewarding and enjoyable to use.

As others have said, an 8" dobsonian is perfect for a beginner. It's easy to use, easy to set up, and gives excellent aperture for your dollar. Great general-purpose telescope.

If you want to stay at $300, then an Orion 6" SkyQuest Classic is a solid purchase:

http://www.amazon.com/Orion-8944-SkyQuest-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B001DDW9UW

You can get a 6" Dobsonian for about $300. This only comes with a single eyepiece, so to get higher magnification views of the Moon and planets you may also want a second eyepiece and a Barlow lens. For $400 you can get the telescope with both, or for $430, an 8" Dobsonian with both. You'll be able to see more with the 8" telescope, but it's also a little heavier and less portable.

Also look at the sidebar of /r/astronomy. There are some guides for buying your first telescope there.

As mentioned in a previous post, most scopes in this price range on a tripod will not provide pleasing views. If you want to see things with as much clarity and detail as possible, you need to get a Dobsonian telescope and get the largest aperture (the diameter of the telescope) as you can afford. This scope will be your best bet within your budget.