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Help with first telescope.


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Hey guys.... Need some help with my very first telescope if possible. My girlfriend has always been interested in the moon, planets, space etc, so thaught I'd invest in a decent beginners scope this Christmas. Have done some online research between the Skywatcher Explorer & Celestron brands, and despite being similar I have narrowed it down to the Exploror range. Now I have 3 in mind - Skywatcher Explorer 130,130M & 130P. I see the M has a motor while the P has a Parabolic mirror, what's the better to have? I can get the standard 130 for £115, the M for £150 and the P for £175 - which would you suggest? I don't wanna spend over the top on one, as I fear her interest would waiver pretty quickly, and be left to gather dust, however she may surprise me and get deeply invested in to it. Is the £60 extra cost from the standard 130 to the 130P worth it? Although not a great difference in price, it is if she loses interest within a week. Any help would be greatly appreciated :) Nick.

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Hi

What about the heritage 130p it is just under £130 and has that parabolic mirror in the 130p it is the mount that is different so that is where the saving goes.

The heritage can be used on a table or an upturned bucket. It is a lot smaller to store being collapsible.

If you are worried about losing interest there is the heritage 100p under £90.

Sorry I feel Î have failed to answer your question.

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I'd go for the bog-standard 130 Explorer, the motor drives are OK, but the Synta mounts can often be a bit stiff for the drive motor. Get the scope first and decide on adding the motor drive later. The parabolic mirror makes the actual telescope tube (optical tube assembly) shorter and gives it a faster focal ratio. A 130mm spherical mirror won't give you noticeably better images than a 130mm parabolic one but it will have a 900mm focal length as opposed to the 650mm of the parabolic. Which will give you better magnifications although it makes a physically longer scope.

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/skywatcher-explorer-130.html

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Hey guys.. Huge thanks for your replies. I have looked up the heritage - however I know my girlfriend thinks of telescopes as the long metal tube styles (as that's like the toy one she had when little), so I can only imagine she would be left dissapointed in the size of the heritage - she would deffinately give me that 'what the hell is that' Look - despite the specs being better..she's deffinately views things as bigger means better. I think il go with the standard for £115 - I'd purchase the 130P if the images were if such a higher quality..but if relatively the same..it's safer to go for the cheaper option and upgrade at a later time. What you buy any extras with this? Filters etc?

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Happy-Kat - looking in to this further, your advice on the heritage may be a good buy. They have recently covered my street in new lighting, but as I live in Wales, practically live next to so many mountains. The heritage would allow us to travel with it, while the explorer would be a lot more difficult as its a lot more bulky. Is there a big difference between the heritage 100 and 130? I'd rather pay the extra £40 if it's superior by quite a margin. Why do people pay so much extra for telescopes with mounts, when you can place the heritage on a table, and is portable? If you were buying your first scope, would you go for the heritage 130 or the explorer 130? Again, massive thanks for your help..my dilemma has got even bigger haha, Nick.

Hi

What about the heritage 130p it is just under £130 and has that parabolic mirror in the 130p it is the mount that is different so that is where the saving goes.

The heritage can be used on a table or an upturned bucket. It is a lot smaller to store being collapsible.

If you are worried about losing interest there is the heritage 100p under £90.

Sorry I feel Î have failed to answer your question.

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Aeajr - thanks for the tips - I have added all to my Amazon wish list so purchase in time :) greatly appreciated.

I have now found a Skywatcher Heritage 130P & The Skywatcher Explorer 130 both for £115. Would you all suggest I go for the heritage 130P? Nick.

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Personally, my choice would be the bog standard Explorer. It's simple, effective and has the bigger focal length. The 130mm/5.1" spherical mirror is just as good as a parabolic at that size. The equatorial mount and tripod are decent for what they are and it isn't particularly difficult to assemble once you get your head around it. It is quite large though.

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I bought the heritage 130p as a first telescope.

If you think a telescope needs to look like one then maybe a refractor would be better suited.

You could get a startravel 80mm on a az3 tripod for the same price.

Choosing a telescope is always a compromise.

You don't need filters when you start out.

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I always recommend a small tube refractor as a first telescope.  The best telescope is the one that will get used.  A simple 80mm Refractor on a tripod is easy to set up and you can take it anywhere.  It can be used for viewing the moon and many objects in the sky.  You can also use it for terrestrial viewing; bird watching, etc.  

Something like : http://www.telescope.com/Orion-ShortTube-80-Refractor-Telescope-Optical-Tube-Assembly/p/9948.uts?keyword=Refractor%20st80

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Hey.. Cheers all for your replies, and info. I have the heritage 130 arriving tomorrow.. However I think I have changed my mind again - so will send it back & order the explorer 130 instead.. While both practically the same, it looks like you get more for your money's worth with the explorer - unless I'm making the wrong decision again? This whole choosing a first scope thing is a blumming nightmare :/

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I'll just also suggest getting Stellarium, and instructions, to show you what's out there. Stellarium is what is called a 'planetarium-program' which will show you the night-sky in your own location - which you set it for. It's extremely detailed if you wish it to be. Similar software-programs can cost you over £200. Stellarium is free. Here's my cut & paste for downloading it, and instructions:

http://www.stellarium.org/
 
As for instructions, the most current one's are posted in Wiki due to their being new features & functions being created almost daily. There is also a Pdf. that's almost up-to-date. Here's the Wiki-Link:
 
http://www.stellarium.org/wiki/index.php/Stellarium_User_Guide
 
And the Pdf. is here:
 
http://barry.sarcasmogerdes.com/stellarium/stellarium_user_guide-new.pdf
 
This should help you to find just about everything under the Sun.

_________________________________________________________________

And it really will!

Enjoy your foray into the vast universe of astronomy,

Dave

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Hey.. Cheers all for your replies, and info. I have the heritage 130 arriving tomorrow.. However I think I have changed my mind again - so will send it back & order the explorer 130 instead.. While both practically the same, it looks like you get more for your money's worth with the explorer - unless I'm making the wrong decision again? This whole choosing a first scope thing is a blumming nightmare :/

Horses for courses really the eq mount is a bit fiddly but you get used to it. I had the 130p explorer as my first scope and it was very capable.

You'll be fine with either choice.

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Horses for courses really the eq mount is a bit fiddly but you get used to it. I had the 130p explorer as my first scope and it was very capable.

You'll be fine with either choice.

Deffinately - I like the thaught of using the explorer via my attic window (recently built it in to a bedroom ), but being so large and bulky may be an issue. On the other hand...the heritage would be more used outside, and is portable but woulden't be as useful when chilling in the attic staring at the stars. Hmmm.. Decisions. I literally have NO idea which to get..attic window vs being able to carry on top of mountains haha :/

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Portability is the original reason I got the heritage as I can easily take it camping. I also went to a star party recently and tried some bigger scopes and whilst everything does look better I think the Heritage will do me for a good few years yet.

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I received my heritage 130 today - marks all over and damaged base, so it's being sent back tomorrow. Now.. Do I order the heritage again from a decent Astro website, or order the standard explorer 130. Some have also told me to get the most for my cash and increase my budget and go for either the Skywatcher Explorer 130P AZ GoTo Telescope, explorer 150 or the skyliner 150p. The explorer GoTo & 150 is double the price of the standard 130..and the skyliner looks HUGE. Is it worth paying the extra money on getting a decent first scope? I know NOTHING haha..so help would be greatly appreciated.

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If you're thinking of going the GoTo-route, I'd say you've already figured out your financial situation. The real question is: Would you regret it to a sufficent degree to have you kicking yourself if you don't?

People will argue that GoTo's will prevent you from learning the sky - but that not true. One might keep you so busy looking and finding that you don't notice how much you've been learning! As to 130mm v. 150mm, aperture-rules. If you won't have a problem in the extra weight and dimensions.

And whatever you decide, do order from a first-rate shop. The best shop is one known to provide excellent support after-the-sale. For problems, questions, advice, add-ons, etc.

You'll find your way,

Dave

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What did you think of the size of the heritage.? And how portable it would be for you?

Hey Kat - The size looked fantastic in terms of being able to take on journeys. I have a motorway behind my garden, never usually a problem but a month ago they put up these super bright blue lights which just shines through my window - this would therefore be portable for use up mountain etc, but I have heard that the focal length is a lot greater with the explorers (plus being able to add a camera if wanted at a later date) - are the explorers portable at all? Or are they just far too big?

I can get the GoPro explorer 130p on finance at only £11pm so will never be a big issue to pay off- I have heard it's easier to use for first time users as it tracks objects for you (whether that's a good or bad thing is completely subjective) - us there a big difference between explorer 130 and GoPro 130p - in terms of viewing quality - or am I just paying for the gadgetry side of things.

All in all i would probably go for something bigger..but I am extremely worried I won't be able to see anything with the lights from the motorway (the street lights shut off early, and are no other lights other than road lights)

This is all far too confusing for me - weighing up the pros & cons :(

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If you're thinking of going the GoTo-route, I'd say you've already figured out your financial situation. The real question is: Would you regret it to a sufficent degree to have you kicking yourself if you don't?

People will argue that GoTo's will prevent you from learning the sky - but that not true. One might keep you so busy looking and finding that you don't notice how much you've been learning! As to 130mm v. 150mm, aperture-rules. If you won't have a problem in the extra weight and dimensions.

And whatever you decide, do order from a first-rate shop. The best shop is one known to provide excellent support after-the-sale. For problems, questions, advice, add-ons, etc.

You'll find your way,

Dave

Thanks Dave - yeah the size is the big issue for me - with the new motorway lights , I'm worried I won't be able see much due to the bright lights shining down on my garden..I have massive trees behind which may block the light come summertime but it may be a risk..then I may be stuck with a massive telescope I can't see anything with..or be able to take up mountains etc due to size.

Yeah the GoPro has me thinking...may be easier for the girlfriend to use..but again size. Is the GoPro able to take elsewhere or is it also to heavy & large?

The heritage may be the best bet - but I have heard you see better imagery through the explorer range.

The explorer 150/GoPro 130 would be via finance paying very little pm - the heritage in cash.

Decisions :/

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