arjunv

Forgive me for the long post. After extensive research I have shortlisted my final selection as below and would like your inputs. I have been a STARGAZER (lying under the skies and enjoying with Naked eyes for a very long time) Am 36 and planning to get my 1st scope. Staying in Abu Dhabi with that South facing balcony with a 150deg view. That means high light pollution & No EQ mounts since am beginner and no pole star. Seemed like GOTO was my best choice but then started reading on Push To and date seemed to tick all boxes.(No additional power or 3 star allignments incase I can't see anystars due to light pollution 😉 ) Worried about dust problem if I get Newtonian and of course colliamation. And prices seems to be extremely high compared to what am reading from your posts. Additional for delivery may be. If I get from AMAZON US which isoutside my region am worried about warranty if I get the more expensive scopes like Dx6 SCT. So it's complicated and cannot make up my mind. My final short list was NEXSTAR 127 SLT MAK COMPUTERIZED , -900 USD NEXSTAR 130 SLT NWT COMPUTERIZED-816 USD CELESTRON 22204 5" ASTRO FI SCT -1000 USD CELESTRON C22463 STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 6 SCT - 1252 USD CELESTRON C22462 STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 5 SCT -1000 USD CELESTRON C22460 STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 102AZ -760 USD CELESTRON STARSENSE EXPLORER LT 127AZ -430 USD CELESTRON STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 130AZ- 600 USD STARSENSE 127 SLTAZ seems to be bird Jones design which no one is recommending. I wanted to go for SCT due to fear of dust or cleaning the open tube NWT and COLLIMATION. I wanted to view planets and more of DSO'S. 127 MAK was my first shortlist even though DSO'S is not it's strong point. As you can see the prices seems to be higher when delivered to my region :-(. Not getting good value for money. I wud have loved to go for DX 6 SCT even though am paying huge money. But being new to this hobby spending 1200 USD for that scope doesn't seem to give me the thrills but c 6", closed tube SCT and starsense does. DX 130AZ @ 600 USD seems to be a reasonable choice (still expensive compared other region prices 😞 ) . Only open tube and collimation seems to worry me. Am in a highly light polluted zone. Abu Dhabi and finding 3 stars to allign itself seemed to be an issue due to light pollution, hence STARSENSE PUSH TO seemed a better option than the GO TO SERIES. As a beginner should I spend 600 USD on STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 130AZ or take the risk and go full guns blazing on 1250 USD STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 6"SCT. EITHER WAY STARSENSE EXPLORER SERIES SEEMED TO TICK ALL THE RIGHT BOXES FOR ME AFTER ALL THE RESEARCH. AND I KNOW NO ONE SCOPE TICKS ALL BOXES 😛 Appreciate any inputs from you guyz.

Thanks @Philip R for the feedback. On further research I was drawn more towards the STARSENSE EXPLORER series. Forgive me for the long post. My final short list was NEXSTAR 127 SLT MAK COMPUTERIZED , -900 USD NEXSTAR 130 SLT NWT COMPUTERIZED-816 USD CELESTRON 22204 5" ASTRO FI SCT -1000 USD CELESTRON C22463 STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 6 SCT - 1252 USD CELESTRON C22462 STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 5 SCT -1000 USD CELESTRON C22460 STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 102AZ -760 USD CELESTRON STARSENSE EXPLORER LT 127AZ -430 USD CELESTRON STARSENSE EXPLORER DX 130AZ- 600 USD STARSENSE 127 SLTAZ seems to be bird Jones design which no one is recommending. I wanted to go for SCT due to fear of dust or cleaning in the open tube NWT and COLLIMATION. I wanted to view planets and more of DSO'S. 127 MAK was my first shortlist even though DSO'S is not it's strong point. As you can see the prices seems to be higher when delivered to my region :-(. Not getting good value for money. I have loved to go for DX 6 SCT even though am paying huge money. But being new to this hobby spending 1200 USD for that scope doesn't seem to give me the thrills but close 6", closed tube SCT and star sense does. DX 130AZ @ 600 USD seems to be a reasonable choice (still expensive compared other region prices 😞 ) . Only open tube and collimation seems to worry me. Am in a highly light polluted zone. Abu Dhabi and finding 3 stars to allign itself seemed to be an issue due to light pollution, hence STARSENSE PUSH TO seemed a better option than the GO TO SERIES. Appreciate any inputs from you guyx

Thanks. I wanted to go for 127 SLT MAK. I understand that the brighter DSO's would be smudgier than the 130 SLT. But I live in Abudhabi city which has high light pollution. I'll be viewing from my Apartment balcony mostly which has like 150° view towards south....(Hence EQ allignment without the polestar is difficult and seemed a bit confusing for me.) With either of the scopes I would have to travel 30-40 mins out of the city to view the DSO'S in a better way I guess. Then there is problem with Dust even during storage or use which am worried coz of which I was slightly tilted towards the 127 SLT MAK as it's a closed tube. For either I'll be ending up paying close to 800 USD :-0. (THATS the price am seeing in Amazon or local retailers) seems like prices has gone up drastically + delivery charges may be. Hope 127 SLT would Rekindle my love for stargazing and with go-to feature make it easier. May later once I get hold on things I can move on to bigger and better scopes and EQ mounts.

Hi....I had the same question....on this 3 options. Which one do you finally get and howz your experience so far. Appreciate your feedback.