Freddy L

On 04/09/2021 at 21:18, Alan64 said:

https://www.telescope.com/Orion-StarSeeker-IV-127mm-GoTo-Mak-Cass-with-Controller/p/113918.uts?ensembleId=422

That kit comes with or without a hand-controller, according to preference.  Without the hand-controller, you would use a "smartphone" and an app to control the telescope.

You can always accessorise the telescope later.  I've always thought it prudent to get the best telescope or kit with the current budget, then to get extras down the line, over the following weeks, months and years.

Don't consider a 5SE, as a 127mm Maksutov will slay it.

This looks really sweet NGL. Would be perfect if sold without the GoTo mount since I’m not interested in an automated mount. Also because of taxes and shipping I'd end up paying more than $1,300 USD for this scope…  
I was also considering a Skyview 8 Pro until i encountered with the same issue 😕

8 hours ago, GalaticBoba said:

Hello, I am a beginner so I'm sure other people will come along with better suggestions but I do recommend the Celestron Nexstar 6SE. I've had 8SE ($400+ more) for the last few months and not had any problems with it, quick and easy to set up, I got Starsense after a month and now alignment takes a few minutes, I've enjoyed using it to learn where everything is. So far, I've just been using the stock eyepiece it came with, a 25mm Plossl. I was going to get the Celestron eyepiece kit but others on here convinced me not too, instead I've ordered a zoom eyepiece for similar money to the kit. 

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Celestron-NexStar-6SE-GoTo-Schmidt-Cassegrain-Telescope/rc/2160/p/9945.uts?refinementValueIds=4699

 

I do also recommend dobsonians, so for the same money you could get this with a larger aperture, still on a goto mount. And this one comes with 2 Plossls, 25mm and 10mm. 

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-SkyQuest-XT8i-IntelliScope-Dobsonian-Telescope/rc/2160/p/102012.uts?refinementValueIds=4699

Just my beginner 2 cents.

Honestly the 6SE looks awesome but it goes over my budget by $100 because of the shipping fees. Also I wouldn’t be able to buy eyepieces if I spend all the money on the scope itself…

I wish I could afford it but at the moment I believe I can’t.

I don’t know if this helps, but I used to own that telescope and I don’t remember seeing the GRS on Jupiter, nor the Cassini division on Saturn, not even at the highest useful magnification. 
I was able to see two bands on Jupiter and Saturns rings with a fairly sharp view of both of them though.
 

Because of the light distortion you mention I believe that possibly your primary mirror could be misaligned. Have you Colli mated your telescope recently? 
 

Hello everyone! For a bit of context:

I’m not an absolute beginner, I owned an Astromaster 130eq and the Celestron 1.25”eyepiece and filter Kit and I was very happy with the views I got but unfortunately I had to sell my equipment. I have no problem with an EQ mount and actually prefer them over dobsonians or ALTAZ mounts but I’m open to suggestions.

Right now I’m not into astrophotography since my budget is limited at the moment.

I live in Mexico but I’ll be shopping from US websites so international shipping is necessary.

My budget consists of $850-900 USD tops including some eyepieces and shipping.

Since I can’t afford two telescopes for two different purposes, versatility is much appreciated. My old Astromaster wasn’t the best telescope ever but I did check a lot of Messier objects off my viewing list since we have a lot of clear nights per year. I could also get fairly decent views of Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and the Moon (the moon filter in the celestron kit helped A LOT).

I’ll be observing mostly from an urban area with low light pollution but I can ocasoionally move to exceptionally low polluted rural areas. 
 

I’m not married with Celestron but I trust them. I own two pairs of Celestron binoculars and they both do the job just fine. I’m open to new brand suggestions.

Having said that, my only option at the moment is a Celestron Omni XLT and the same Celestron eyepiece kit (I remember the big eyepieces were the best from that kit, the ones with low focal length were good enough but not great).

Those two pieces of equipment cost a total of $850, shipping included. Since I’ve only got that much money I don’t want to mess up and buy the Omni XLT and those eyepieces without hearing suggestions and considering more options.

Some people have told me I could get a dobsonian but my main issue is the difficulty to track an object at high magnifications. If you could give me some insight on how that could work, that would be awesome.

Thank you all in advance!

Alfred.