National geographic 76/700 telescope

[Interstellar_Explorer]

Hello guys! I want to get the national geographic 76/700 telescope (as mentioned above) but i want to know if it is any good, like would i be able to see saturns rings or jupiter with it? Any help would be appreciated!

[RT65CB-SWL]

Hi @Interstellar_Explorer and welcome to SGL. 

Yes you will see Saturn's rings and Titan, (Saturn's largest moon), and Jupiter and the four Galilean moons, (Io, Europa, Ganymede & Callisto)... but to not much other detail I'm afraid apart from Jupiter's north & south equatorial belts. The mount and tripod are very basic and flimsy.

To be honest, I would advise going for this one --->https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html... or this one---> https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html

Just place on a level[ish] surface... and/or water butt riser/stand, (or sturdy garden table for the Heritage 130), if not high enough and away you go. No messing with polar alignment, setting circles, etc.

 

[Demonperformer]

+1 for the Philip's suggestions, it really will be worth the extra investment.

[AstroFin]

Don’t go for the National Geographic. It’s not a very good quality instrument.  I’d also recommend getting the Sky-Watcher Skyliner 150P. The views are a lot better and it’s much higher quality. ?

If you’re on a very tight budget, buy a good pair of 10x50 binoculars instead. You will enjoy them a lot more than you would enjoy a cheap telescope with bad optics and terrible mount. 

[Alan64]

It's marginally better, at least, than the Zennox variant that you had inquired about previously, particularly in so far as the tripod.  Both will have spherical primary-mirrors, and should perform well at that longer focal-length.

 

[Interstellar_Explorer]

Thank you all very much for replying!

[cletrac1922]

Welcome from Land Down Under

If you intend to get a scope from National Geographic, then I would go for either 8" or 10" SW Dob if not intending to do AP

Easy to set-up, store and transport

I am out a couple of times per month with mine, doing presentation in primary schools, scout/guide groups with my club

You will probably need to update eyepieces some time down the track

I find 17mm eyepiece great tool, with doing presentation

John

 

 

[LukeSkywatcher]

I've only heard bad things about National Geo scopes.

[Interstellar_Explorer]

On 01/04/2019 at 02:44, cletrac1922 said:

Welcome from Land Down Under

If you intend to get a scope from National Geographic, then I would go for either 8" or 10" SW Dob if not intending to do AP

Easy to set-up, store and transport

I am out a couple of times per month with mine, doing presentation in primary schools, scout/guide groups with my club

You will probably need to update eyepieces some time down the track

I find 17mm eyepiece great tool, with doing presentation

John

 

 

OK thank you!

[Interstellar_Explorer]

On 01/04/2019 at 17:20, LukeSkywatcher said:

I've only heard bad things about National Geo scopes.

OK thank you!!

[cletrac1922]

5 hours ago, Interstellar_Explorer said:

OK thank you!!

National Geographic is known as Australian Geographic down under they sell Skywatcher and Celstron scopes

Cannot go wrong with either of them

Recently had a new shopping centre open near me, and I ran a training night for the new store Australian Geographic staff

 John

 

 

[JOC]

I would avoid anything branded and sold by National Geographic like the Plague.  I've never heard anything good about any of their products.

[Interstellar_Explorer]

On 04/04/2019 at 17:44, JOC said:

I would avoid anything branded and sold by National Geographic like the Plague.  I've never heard anything good about any of their products.

Ok thank you!

[Interstellar_Explorer]

On 04/04/2019 at 06:20, cletrac1922 said:

National Geographic is known as Australian Geographic down under they sell Skywatcher and Celstron scopes

Cannot go wrong with either of them

Recently had a new shopping centre open near me, and I ran a training night for the new store Australian Geographic staff

 John

 

 

Ok thank you!