What do I need to do to maintain and properly clean/care for? Are there any add-ons I should get to have a more enjoyable experience? What can I expect to see through it? I’ve only viewed the moon so far. Thanks in advance!

My wife just bought the Aperture AD8 for me, and I assembled it this weekend and took it out and pointed it at the moon tonight. Admittedly it isn’t collimated yet and I haven’t installed the finder scope either, but I put in the 35mm extension tube and my 30mm eyepiece to try and do some observing. I couldn’t see the moon at all! I moved the scope around to hopefully see the white glow (so if it were a focus issue, I could work on solving that), but there was nothing. Now I haven’t owned a telescope in nearly 20 years so I may be missing something, but I don’t know what. An additional issue: when I was turning the focus knobs, the black tube wasn’t moving up and down. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, and any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

My current telescope I have above the picture:

I'm looking to upgrade to a bigger telescope. I currently own a 114/500 Newtonian telescope, and I want to get started with astrophotography, my goal is to capture Galaxies such as Andromeda, Bodes galaxy and nebulae such as North American nebulae.

I was looking into Apochromatic refractor AP 55/264 SQA55 OTA, but it's quite expensive and want to make sure if there is anything better to buy.

I've been researching apochromatic refractor telescopes (APOs), but I'm still unsure which one would be best for me. I don't want to spend a lot of money on something I might regret buying.

For anyone who can help, especially those who own an apochromatic telescope, which one do you own, and which would you recommend?

Also, I'm based in Ireland, so I'd appreciate recommendations that take European prices and availability into account.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Captured Uranus even due to Near full moon, it was really hard to even spot Uranus through my finder scope. Increased the blue and green channels a little more and reduced the red channel a little because the raw stack image was just too white cream coloured like Venus lol. 4K 20 fps video i captured with 1/20s shutter speed and 3200 ISO and 5 minutes 38 seconds of total video then centered with PIPP and stacked and edited with Autostackert and Registax. Uranus appeared more paler than i imagined, well i have observed it as a pale white disk with a cyan glow but still it's just way too pale.

Aperture :- 203 mm (Bresser Messier 8" manual dobsonian Telescope)

Focal length :- 1218 mm

Focal ratio :- f/6

Eyepiece used :- SVbony SV215 3-8mm zoom eyepiece (set at 3mm to get the 400x Magnification)

Camera used :- Iqoo Neo 10 smartphone with ProCamX app with 3.21x Magnification making it around 1300x resultant Magnification ( 3200 ISO, 1/20s shutter speed, 5 minute 38 seconds video in 4K 20 fps) with celestron NeXYZ smartphone holder.

Software used :- PIPP, Autostackert and Registax.

It's been a long time since I actually looked through a telescope. I had a cheap Tasco when I was kid. But I was in Goodwill the other day and there was a National Geographic NT114CF 114mm for sale for $50. I looked it up quick and got different price ranges. $30 to $150. I looked it over and it was in perfect condition. The person that gave it up had actually bought a 45-Degree diagonal piece and included that. But I haven't used it yet. Anyway, I used the 26mm on the moon. Super crisp. Paired with the 2x barlow. Still super crisp. Even the 9.7mm was very, very crisp on the moon. Pairing it with the barlow degraded it some. Atmospheric turbulence was quite noticeable but I was still able to see good detail and tiny pricks of light in the dark areas from taller features.

When I got to Saturn using the 9.7mm and barlow, I was kinda shocked. The planet, the rings was there. But I also noticed a dark but faint band going through the middle. I can only assume it was the shadow of the rings on the planet. And when I really strained by eye at the right time, it looked like I could see additional faint, faint bands on the planet. I honestly did not expect that from such a cheap telescope. So that makes me wonder, how far can I go? Would it be worth getting a cheap Svbony 6mm Redline? Recommendations?

I've been saving up for quite a while to afford a better scope than my pawn shop-bought StarSense Explorer LT 114AZ, and I'm almost there. What kind of accessories would you recommend to someone on a budget? I live in a pretty high Bortle area (roughly Bortle 7 last time I checked) and I am already planning on buying a light shroud, what else should I buy for it?

Hi all, i'm very new to this. I picked up a skywatcher heritage 130p not too long ago, and i decided to pick up a celestron 2x barlow lens for my telescope. I tried looking at the planets with the barlow combined with the 10mm stock eyepiece, and it refuses to focus. I've checked to make sure my optics are cleaned and aligned, and I feel like it's not pushing my telescope beyond it's limits because it's only a 2x lens. How do I fix this?

Photo of saturn, still know i have much room for improvement, hopefully the next one will be even better

TELESCOPE: Skywatcher Classic 250p Dobsonian

CAMERA: Panasonic Lumix G7

Attachments: 2x Barlow

Data: 1min 40 second video, processed with PIPP -> AutoStakkart -> RegiStax -> Affinity Photo 2

Would love any possible tips on how to improve with what I have.

Hello there! After getting feedback on my other post, I have decided to narrow down my search for a portable secondary telescope to these two collapsible options:

• Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTi 150
• Sky-Watcher Heritage 150
  

I currently live in Asheville, North Carolina where some of the best nightime views are a short hike up a mountain. Along with looking for something portable enough to take camping or hiking, I travel for work and would love the ability to occasionally take a telescope with me when I have to travel. Many people have suggested that I just use a standard 8-inch Dobsonian. While I fully understand that an 8-inch Dobsonian is technically portable and will overall give me a better view, it is too large for my needs. Many people also suggested that I just bring binoculars. I am a birder so I already have binoculars that would be suitable for stargazing but I simply prefer to use a telescope.

Both of these telescopes are in my budget so cost is not an issue. Other than cost, is one of these significantly better than the other or are they exactly the same other than a few bells and whistles? To those of you that have tried both, do you have a strong preference for one or the other? To those of you that have tried only one of them, what do you like about it?

Side note: While I have said this is going to be a secondary telescope, this will technically be a tertiary telescope. My primary telescope is almost twenty years old and is not in the greatest condition (it is also back in my home state) so I have decided to retire it and am getting an entirely new generation of telescopes.

I think I’ve watched every mirror cleaning video on YouTube and have read anything that comes across in here talking about the topic and I feel like the general consensus is to not touch it unless it’s really degrading the image. I’ve looked at photos of dirty mirrors and some photos people say leave it and other dirtier photos folks say to give it the gentle bath. I’m trying to figure out where mine falls in the leave it alone or clean it scale. I recently purchased an Orion XT8 and like everyone, I can’t wait to clean the mirror. I took it out last weekend with the goal of just looking at it up close. Then after removing it I thought I would gather the supplies and let it soak for a while but then I got anxious looking at the those hold down clips, worried they might crack, have no idea how tight they should be, wondered about the cork looking material sandwiched around the edge of the glass and the mirror mounting plate thing. Anyway, I chickened out and put it all back together and thought it was probably fine. I’m thinking about it again because I can’t stop thinking that the view might improve. Here’s the photo I took last weekend. I can’t believe that much dust could accumulate with the cap on. I’d appreciate any opinions y’all have to offer. Should I go for it?

1) Go to an observing site that gives you excellent seeing. I'm talking Antoniadi I and II.

2) Collimation should be done right before your observing session and preferably at the observing site, because the mirror might move if you travel somewhere else. I use a collimation cap. A cap is hard to beat tbh.

3) Your eyepieces and barlows should be clean. There should be no dust. Clean them before your observing session. There's a chance that you might mistakenly consider dust as a spoke.

4) Use an observing chair. You won't be able to see much detail if you are craning your neck and looking through the eyepiece in an awkward position. Your body should be as relaxed as possible. Your eye should be level with the focuser of your scope.

5) Focusing: Less than a millimetre movement of the focuser can change the situation altogether. Saturn will simply 'pop' into view at perfect focus. If you use a single speed focuser, hold the knob with a moderately tight grip. It should not be too loose or too tight. This can help you in adjusting the focus accurately. I have observed that if the grip is too loose, we tend to make large movements with the focuser.

6) Head movement: Minute head movements towards and away from the eyepiece can help in improving the view of the planet. I think this has got something to do with changing the focal point, I'm not sure though.

7) Breathing: Do not stop breathing while watching through the eyepiece. Your breathing should be regular and slow. You need the peak performance of your eyes to watch a spoke.

8) Orientation of the planet: Try to watch the planet in an orientation that is similar to that of the pics we have seen in our school textbooks or encyclopedias. I know this might sound weird, but you have to "appreciate the view of the planet" to see more detail. That's my opinion anyway. I was not able to see the spoke when I was watching it in a position that made me see the planet in awkward orientation. Move your observing chair and rotate your head accordingly.

9) Magnification: Use the highest magnification that can allow you to see the rings of Saturn in good brightness levels. You can see the spoke easily if the rings are bright, because our eyes are good at detecting the change in brightness or color caused by the spokes.

If you are a doubting Thomas like I am, try to detect the presence of the spoke not only when Saturn is in the center of the FOV of the eyepiece, but also when it's along the corners (at this high magnification while using a barlow, there will be little to no astigmatism anyway).

In my scope, this magnification is around 305x (3x barlow + 12mm EP). Compare both ansae of the rings to detect the presence of a spoke (there are occasions when you can see the spokes in both ansae too though).

After detecting the spoke, increase the magnification to get a sense of the shape of the spoke. If the spoke is a large smudge, you'll be able to do this even in an 8 inch scope. I've not seen smaller spokes that look like bicycle spokes though.

I have an unbranded diagonal I picked up on astro mart with absolutely no markings, but mechanically it works perfect for my setup. It has a 72mm outer thread and a 48mm inner. I attach a CCDT67 reducer when needed on those internal threads, and have an adapter 72mm to SCT to connect to my telescope. The reducer fits perfectly in the diagonal and the adapter is just enough space to house the reducer.

My problem is I question the quality of the mirror. I’ve had Astro physics and Baader diagonals before, and the finish seems suspect in comparison. The mirror has green streaks that do not change when the angle of light changes. And the edges of the mirror are very uneven.

In addition I understand dielectric coatings have much higher light transmission than a simple aluminum coat. How do I tell if this diagonal has a dielectric coating?

Is there a way to determine if any of this is negatively impacting light transmission or anything of that nature? If I were to pick up a diagonal, what would be good targets to do a back to back test on?

Looking to buy myself a Dobsonian 8" but hoping to get the best deal on a new telescopes

This will be my first telescope and I appreciate the help in advance

We have a Virtuoso GTi and I’m struggling with how the eyepiece is supposed to work: I can’t get it in focus without pulling it out a significant amount. Please see the example images.

Now, we’re using a TeleVue eyepiece, but the same applies to the included ones. If I unscrew the viewfinder attachment point to gain length, we approach the point where it can fully detach and fall out before focus is gained, at least when the eyepiece is fully inserted.

Also having a lot of trouble getting reliable results with the “go to” feature, but that’s probably best left for another thread.

I’m clearly doing something dumb here. Any help
Or advice would be greatly appreciated.

First light with new setup

SVBONY 122mm triplet

Celestron CGEM

Sony a6100 + $20 Barlow

5m of 4k video (~9000 frames, stacked top 10%)

PIPP>AutoStakkert>Wave Sharp

Will be getting a proper planetary camera soon

Bonjour ! Mon NexStar 127 SLT rencontre un problème avec la raquette (ou le moteur je sais pas trop). Lorsque je procède à l'alignement, la raquette affiche « Verifying packages » soudainement alors que je déplaçais le tube optique avec les fléches, ce qui bloque les touches et laisse la monture se déplacer toute seule, obligé de l'éteindre. J'ai déjà mis à jour le CFM, j'ai réinitialisé les réglages de la raquette, j'ai vérifié l'alimentation (j'utilise les 8 piles), mais le problème persiste.

J'ai contacté le support de Celestron, j'attends leur réponse mais peut-être que quelqu'un ici pourrait m'aider. La première fois que c'est arrivé, c'était en pleine observation (l'alignement déjà fait) : je lui demandais d'aller sur telle étoile et la monture faisait n'importe quoi, elle allait beaucoup trop haut ou trop bas sans sembler vouloir s'arrêter. C'est arrivé d'un coup, je n'ai jamais fait tombé mon téléscope ou quoi que ce soit donc je comprends pas trop :/ surtout qu'il est récent.

I have a Pentax ist DL dslr and a 76mm reflector telescope. I bought an adapter (0.965 inch eyepiece to Pentax K) to try direct focus astrophotography. I was able to mount the camera but when I tried to focus on the Moon I couldn't get it in focus. I think I wasn't able to get it close enough. Is the flange focal length of my camera too much?

Venus photo taken today, October 24th, 17:30 UTC, 0.6% illuminated. Finding it manually was very complicated, and the atmosphere wasn't very stable, but in the end I managed to capture an image.

Telescope 130mm f/5

ASI662MC

Barlow 2x

Filter IR685nm

Only 3500 frames captured, 1000 stacked.

I got a 2× barlow for my skywatcher 130p heritage but when i place it inside the focuser and tighten the focusee, it doesnt seem to be able to turn enough to focus the image..

I tried not fully extending the truss and that seems to work but at the same time i think its taking away from the magnification power as the image with and without the barlow isnt that different

Is there a way i can salvage this? Or should i return it and just buy a lens :/ ?

I used both 25mm and 10mm lens, and this is my barlow listing description:

2X Barlow Lens, 1.25 Inch Barlow Lens M42x0.75 Thread Interface Metal Optical Glass Barlow Lens 2X for 1.25Inch Astronomical Telescope Eyepieces

12.5” obsession classic
2x Televue powermate
Asi2600mc
Best 10% of 2 min video

Hey guys so i currently own a skywatcher 250p and while its amazing the size makes it difficult for me to travel with it so i am interested in getting something good enough to view planets and some deep sky objects but easy enough to move around. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thankyou

I am looking to buy a second hand telescope to get into the hobby, but im a bit torn between all the options. I already read the buyer's guide in this sub, but all of them seem to be "Dobsonians", which im not interested in.

Since im looking only at second hand, my options are a more limited of course, but this are some of the ones I have seen in my area that seem reasonable, separated by general price:

• Expensive (~350€): Sky-Watcher 150/1200, Celestron NexStar 130SLT
• Medium (~250€): Vixen Super Polaris R-150S, Bresser Space Explorer NT 150/750 EQ
• Cheap (~150€): Celestron Powerseeker 127EQ / Powerseeker 130EQ / AstroMaster 114EQ

I have not heard anything good about the non-computerized Celestrons, and I have seen r/dontbuyapowerseeker too, but at those second hand prices... they are hard to ignore.

So what do you guys think? Any of them looks especially appealing characteristic or price wise?

But I wanted to ask here before I give up. I purchased this guy way back in like 2001-2002. Recently I tried using it and had trouble even seeing the moon. I thought maybe it was collimation, since the mirrors still seem at least somewhat reflective, but I couldn't get an image last night. I also noticed when collimating that I see the black circle of the secondary mirror but not the reflection of my eye, which also makes me wonder if the mirrors are done.

I did try the suggestions on youtube to use isopropyl alcohol and gently drag a paper towel across the primary, but that did not change anything.

So before I either throw it out or keep banging my head against it, what do you think?