Reddit reviews Sky Watcher Classic 150 Dobsonian 6-inch Aperature Telescope – Solid-Tube – Simple, Traditional Design – Easy to Use, Perfect for Beginners, White (S11600)
We found 7 Reddit comments about Sky Watcher Classic 150 Dobsonian 6-inch Aperature Telescope – Solid-Tube – Simple, Traditional Design – Easy to Use, Perfect for Beginners, White (S11600). Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
LARGE APERTURE: Get a bright, bold viewing experience at a fraction of the cost of other optical designs.PROPRIETARY TENSION CONTROL HANDLES: These patented handles allow for accurate movement without the need for perfect balance.94% REFLECTIVE MIRRORS: Fully multi-coated borosilicate primary and secondary mirrors deliver exceptional views.TEFLON BEARINGS: Proprietary Teflon bearings ensure smooth azimuth movement.COMES COMPLETE: All accessories such as, 2-inch Rack-and-Pinion focuser with 1 1/4-inch adapter, two super wide-angle eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), and 6x30 straight-through finder scope are included with purchase.STURDY AND LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: When fully assembled, the Dobsonian weighs only 40 pounds fully assembled (15 pound tube, 25 pound base)Max focal length: 1200
Hello :-)
A lot of great advice so far :-)
Aperture is key- here are links on what to expect in different telescope aperture sizes
As for portability-> size links
Under/Around $100: Binoculars. Perhaps the Skyscanner 100, but it's limited.
$200: AWB Onesky (or Zhumell z130, Meade Lightbridge mini 130), or, if it's available, the "2nd" (used/refurbished) xt4.5 or xt6. Also check the classifieds for a used 8" dobsonian :-)
$300 - New, the Skywatcher 6" is the best choice. It has a better focuser and finder than the Orion XT.
$300 - The Zhumell z8 - Best overall deal due to it's good accessories (rare with most telescope sets), even better than the xt8 plus.
Imaging through a manual telescope is possible, at least regarding planets and with enough patience. See this example.
In general, astrophotography isn't as simple as you may think. While visually, aperture is the main factor, for imaging, it's a precision tracking mount. Also see
Clear skies!
Stretch your budget or you will likely end up disappointed.
If $200 is your max. AWB OneSky
If you can stretch a bit Skywatcher 6" Dobsonian or if you're willing to second hand, an 8" inch dobsonian can be had for around $200-$250.
These will get you the best views of Jupiter and Saturn you can get for the money. But check your expectations. Through an 8 inch dob with a planetary eyepiece(which is usually bought separately) under dark mountain skies you can roughly expect visual results like this:
Jupiter
Saturn
Under light polluted town skies, the views will be approximately the same size but fuzzier and with much less detail.
It's never really a good choice to get a scope that tries to deliver both terrestrial and astronomical viewing. The only way to get an astronomical scope to see terrestrial images right side up and not mirrored or angled is to use a refractor or cassegrain scope with an Erect Image Diagonal inserted before the eyepiece. Unfortunately to get a quality refractor or cassegrain with as much visual bang for the buck as a Newtonian reflector you have to spend considerably more money.
Erect image diagonals don't work on Newtonians
So in short, it's often more affordable and definitely more satisfying to get one scope for astronomy and then something else like a birding monocular or a good pair of binoculars for terrestrial viewing.
Hope that helps.
The 114AZ isn't a bad scope per se. It's NOT a Bird-Jones scope like the 127EQ is. It's a long focal ratio reflector with a spherical mirror. However, the long focal ratio means the spherical mirror behaves about as well as a parabolic mirror, so views are comparable to a similar aperture scope with parabolic mirror.
The main issue is the mount is REALLY wobbly, and it prevents the scope from pointing vertically in certain orientations thanks to the tripod legs. Optically, it's not a bad scope for $82, but the mount makes me question whether or not it would be too frustrating an experience to get much value out of it.
Realistically, I don't recommend any scopes less than about $300 because they all have problems that can lead to a frustrating experience if you don't know how to overcome them. The bare minimum scope I would recommend is the Zhumell Z130 table-top dobsonian, but you have to understand that you're getting a small scope that has to be placed on a very sturdy table that won't move, else you'll have similar problems with view stability.
What I often recommend is a 6" full-sized dobsonian like the SkyWatcher 6" Traditional for $285. The long focal ratio is much more beginner friendly, the full size dob base means it can be placed on the ground and you can sit in a chair to observe through it, and the extra aperture will really show a lot of detail on the planets and moon on a night when the atmosphere is steady.
So the #1 thing I need you to keep in mind is that no earthbound telescope is going to get you a “Hubble” image.
I don’t personally have experience with the 130p but from a much smaller telescope I could still see jupiter/its bands and it’s moons, the gap between Saturn and its rings. With the dobsonian, those details will be enhanced and the magnification capabilities are much greater.
The planets are cool, but the treat with the dobsonian is the nebulae. Orion is big and bright so you can realistically see it with your naked eye if it was dark enough... but look at it with an 8 inch dobsonian and it will change your life. Other nebulae that aren’t as bright become very visible with wide aperture (the width of the tube) telescopes.
All of this being said, the 130p has 5 inches of aperture vs my first telescopes 3 ish inches - so you’d get a better view at first than I did, and brighter nebulae will still be a treat. I would also consider a 6 inch dobsonian mount. Less of an increase in price, wider aperture than the 130p, and has the full length the 8 inch you were shown has (longer tube, more magnification).
Sorry for the Amazon link but I’m at work and it’s the easiest way for me to show you what I mean;
SkyWatcher S11600 Traditional Dobsonian 6-Inch (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00Z4G3D22/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Vo-1Db3FP8Y00
Yes. A skywatcher 6" dobsonian.
I was considering this at first Orion starblast II 4.5 EQ reflector
But mu friend told me that it doesn’t have an autotracker so now I’m considering buying Sky watcher S11600 traditional dobsonian 5”
I do want to observe planets and the moon atm and no for obeserving the milky way I’ll have to travel to other cities.
Thanks again!
Zhumell z8: You mean below ones? I am ready to splurge more, if its worth it.
https://www.telescopesplus.com/products/zhumell-z8-deluxe-dobsonian-reflector-telescope
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B002UPSPX2/
Skywatcher 6" dobsonian :
https://www.amazon.com/SkyWatcher-S11600-Traditional-Dobsonian-6-Inch/dp/B00Z4G3D22
As of now I am looking either at the
Orion 27193 XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
or Zhumell z8 if that good
Binoculars : any recommendations.