Advice on Celestron Nexstar 130 SLT

[Gaz15]

Hello there,

Please help me, I have been looking at dipping into the pond and buying a new scope.

I have seen this one and was wondering if anybody has any experience of it.

I would be using it for planetary observation rather than DSO's and at the minute have no plans to astro photography.

Below is a tech spec. for this scope, and although it has GOTO technology i don't really need this so if anybody has ideas for alternative scopes.

Computerized hand control with 4,000+ object database

Quick-release fork arm mount, optical tube and accessory tray for quick

no tool set up

SkyAlign allows you to align on any three bright celestial objects, making

for a fast and easy alignment process

Comes with “The Sky” Level 1 planetarium software and NSOL telescope

control software for controlling your telescope via computer

Internal battery compartment to prevent cord wrap during use

Sturdy stainless steel tripod

Star Pointer finderscope to help with alignment

Auxiliary port for additional accessories such as GPS accessory

Motorized altazimuth mount and fully computerized hand control

U.S. and International city database to easily set your location

Flash upgradeable hand control software and motor control units.

Two eyepieces: 25mm (26x), 9mm (62x)

Star Pointer

The NexStar 130 SLT Specifications:

130mm (5.1") diameter Newtonian Reflector

650mm Focal Length

f/5 Focal Ratio

Motorized Altazimuth Mount

4,000+ object database

Weight: 18 lb

Thanks for your brain power.

Gaz

:?

[Whippy]

Hi Gaz, there's nothing wrong with what you are looking at but if you feel you don't need GOTO, I'd have a look at a TAL 150P. Bigger scope, better optics and engineering and still under £300. I had one as my first scope and loved it.

Here: http://tinyurl.com/2526ah

Tony..

[geppetto]

Goto that you don't need would be money wasted..

As Tony said, go for more aperture (as much as your budget/back will stand)

A DOB would be a good alternative

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/proddetail.php?prod=dobsky200

Trouble with buying a scope just for planet watching is that there is precious little to watch

at the moment. Jupiter is and will be poor for a long time to come, Saturn is nearly gone and

Mars is later in the year.