After beginners Celestron 50AZ, what tele is the next step?

[Roosto]

So, I am starting to see that an upgrade will be necessary to do this thing right. What is a great intermediate telescope with a nice price? In regards to the 50AZ, though, would I notice a marked improvement with eyepieces better than the ones provided with the 50AZ? If so, to make a difference, what would be a good set of eypieces, again at a nice price? Or am I really better off putting my funds into a more advanced tele?

[DirkSteele]

That really depends on your definition of nice price. We could easily recommend a scope for a few hundred or even thousand pounds. Please provide an indication of budget.

[E621Keith]

To be honest, a Celestron 50AZ is not a beginner telescope, but a toy that looks like a telescope. A real beginner telescope such as the Orion Starblast 4.5 or Starblast 6 will give you a big improvement over the 50AZ in terms of quality of view and mount stability.

http://www.telescope...ByCategoryId=28

http://www.telescope...ByCategoryId=28

If you are on a budget, these scope can be supplemented with a few plossl eyepieces

http://www.telescope.../sc/47/e/52.uts

[cantab]

Even with good eyepieces your current scope is still very small and thus limited. Better off getting a larger scope, then with a hybrid diagonal you can get better EPs to use in both. Put a suitable filter on the front and I reckon the small refractor would be good for solar viewing.

[ronin]

Suppose you expect something more then a Tasco 60mm ?

What budget, what mount type and visual and/or AP ?

[Stargazer_00]

First in with the 130P suggestion!

http://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html

[garethmob]

130p (or the starblast 4.5 its counterpart)

[rwilkey]

Hi Roosto, we need to know budget and what you would like to view....

[Roosto]

Hello everyone, and, thank you for your candor and suggestions. I'm kind of leaning towards the Starblast 6i, I like the idea of the locator. One thing, however: I would prefer a tele on a tripod. Anyone like to talk me out of the tripod idea?

[E621Keith]

If you want a scope on a computerised tripod, you will have to make sacrifice on the optics.

For about the same price as the Starblast 6i, you can get a Orion Starseeker 130 or Celestron 130 SLT

http://www.telescope.com/Telescopes/GoTo-Computerized-Telescopes/Orion-StarSeeker-II-130-GoTo-Reflector-amp-SkyLine-Kit/pc/-1/c/1/sc/15/p/102402.uts

[Roosto]

If you want a scope on a computerised tripod, you will have to make sacrifice on the optics.

For about the same price as the Starblast 6i, you can get a Orion Starseeker 130 or Celestron 130 SLT

http://www.telescope...15/p/102402.uts

Hi Keith. Do you recommend spending the extra money and getting the SkyLine Kit rather than just this-

http://www.telescope.com/Orion-StarSeeker-II-130mm-GoTo-Reflector-Telescope/p/102293.uts?keyword=orion

[E621Keith]

Hi Keith. Do you recommend spending the extra money and getting the SkyLine Kit rather than just this-

http://www.telescope...s?keyword=orion

Sorry, I didn't see the basic version. I'd go for the basic version over the one with the Skyline kit. You won't need the green laser and you will be better off buying a better barlow separately.

[Roosto]

Sorry, I didn't see the basic version. I'd go for the basic version over the one with the Skyline kit. You won't need the green laser and you will be better off buying a better barlow separately.

For that particular telescope, which barlow would you recommend? Or, separately, just get the barlow which comes with the Skyline Kit?

[E621Keith]

The Starseeker comes with a 25mm and 10mm Kellner eyepiece. Ususally the 25mm is OK but the 10mm is usually really bad. If you have spare cash, it would be a good idea to buy a few plossl or Orion Epic ED II (which looks like Astrotech Paradigm or BST Explorer)

http://www.telescope.com/Accessories/Sale-Accessories/Sale-Telescope-Eyepieces/Orion-HighLight-Plossl-125-Telescope-Eyepieces/pc/3/c/361/sc/367/e/52.uts

http://www.telescope.com/Orion-Epic-II-ED-Telescope-Eyepieces/e/74.uts

If you are unsure which focal length to choose, you can read the SGL eyepiece primer here

Since the job of a barlow is to double or triple the magnification of an eyepiece, I will build up a small set of eyepiece first before buying a barlow.