Beginners visual only OTA

[RobDoyle]

Hi all

I am looking to get back into astronomy for the coming winter but I am looking for a visual only scope for the whole family to use. I was thinking of this one and whether you recommend it?

Sky-Watcher Startravel 102T OTA

Thanks

Rob

 

 

 

[happy-kat]

That'll be nice and portable too and lovely wide field views. The really bright objects, Moon planets, are likely to have some chromatic aberration but whether this bothers the observer is individual. What mount where you thinking of to go with it?

Edited August 27, 2022 by happy-kat

[Cosmic Geoff]

What are your expectations of what you will see, and how will you mount the OTA?

The Startravel is a widefield achromat, and useful for looking at large star clusters and the like.  It's quite well made, with metal rather than plastic parts. Its performance on planets (of prime interest to many beginners) is unimpressive. I actually use mine for imaging, not for looking through.

[Zeta Reticulan]

TBH I don't think the ST102 is particularly poor on planets for a fast achromat. The images are sharp and well defined. Although much over 125x and the CA is more noticeable. 

This can be ameliorated somewhat with a Wratten #8 (light yellow) filter stacked with a basic light pollution (contrast) filter. The yellow filter attenuates some of the cyan fringing while the LP takes out the sodium lines slightly naturalising the colour. 

[Stu]

A lot depends on budget, expectations and preferred targets, some more info on this would help.

Personally I wouldn’t get a fast achro, I think a slower one would give better results on brighter objects like the Moon or Planets which are often favourite beginner targets. Fast achros can also be a bit variable in quality which explains the variants in views you get from different people giving advice.

You need to consider the mount of course, a slower (and therefore longer) scope would need a stronger mount, hence a need to understand total budget.

[RT65CB-SWL]

This is a good read... https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes.html if you have not already done so.

For planetary viewing, may I suggest a Maksutov.
A few downsides are that:

• it will need a minimum of thirty minutes to acclimatize and a dew-shield, {they are notorious dew magnets).
• a narrow field of view.

There are a few more, but I cannot think of them at the time of posting this!

 

above: image of my 're-modded' ETX105. (BTW - this is my grab 'n' go setup). 

 below: it is usually mounted on either my AOK-AYO [left] or Tele-Optic Giro [right]. 

Edited September 9, 2022 by Philip R

[Carl Au]

Wow…no one has mentioned the D word yet. The standard piece of advice given to beginners is to buy a 8 inch dobsonian telescope, a skywatcher or perhaps one of the many other varieties of Dobsonian. 
 

Buy the best quality you can afford, but don’t imagine that spending load’s and loads of money to get into this hobby is a prerequisite to getting a good view, it’s simply not the case. 
 

A Skywatcher AZ 4 and a SW 150 P Newtonian is also sound call. This outfit places the eyepiece at a very comfortable height.

The Skywatcher refractor you mentioned would also go well on this mount and would provide fantastic wide views, the kind I need tonight when I head up to our clubs dark sky site to view the veil nebula. 

You may notice that I use a 4 inch short tube refractor. The difference between this and the scope you are looking at is the glass, one is an achromatic and the other is an ED scope we usually call an Apo. What in practice this means that the blue/purple blur around bright objects like Jupiter is greatly reduced in the view from an achromatic telescope.

If refractors are your thing (and why not) you will want an ED at some point and I would imagine that you could pick up something like an Altair Assent second hand for perhaps 300 quid.

you might like to take a look at Astro Buy and Sell, some bargains to be had

Edited August 27, 2022 by Carl Au

[RT65CB-SWL]

Following on from @Carl Au post, these are good value for a 'Dobsonian'...

• https://www.firstlightoptics.com/beginner-telescopes/ursa-major-6-f8-planetary-dobsonian.html 
• https://www.firstlightoptics.com/sky-watcher/skywatcher-skyliner-150p-dobsonian.html

...and not have to worry about cool down time, etc!

Edited August 27, 2022 by Philip R

[bosun21]

My first venture into the refractor world was an Evostar 120/1000 on an AZ4 with a steel tripod. This was a great introduction to refractors, and the lunar and planetary views were also great, especially with a 2” semi apo filter to remove most of the chromatic aberration. Refractors can be addictive, and as already stated you will end up wanting to buy an apochromatic (apo) refractor, as did I. The 120 Evostar served me well and the AZ4 was a solid enough mount which taught me the art of star hopping. Good luck with whatever you choose.

     Ian 

 

 

[Guest]

Ok.  I will say it.  An 8 inch dob.  Perfect starter scope. 

[leo82]

I use the Skywatcher Heritage 130p. I think it's a great beginners scope. The only upgrade I've done is mounted it on a "goto" mount. Depending on budget you could go for the 150mm or 200mm version? 

[RobDoyle]

On 27/08/2022 at 12:01, happy-kat said:

That'll be nice and portable too and lovely wide field views. The really bright objects, Moon planets, are likely to have some chromatic aberration but whether this bothers the observer is individual. What mount where you thinking of to go with it?

Thanks for the reply. I have a eq5 pro goto mount from FLO

[RobDoyle]

On 27/08/2022 at 12:02, Cosmic Geoff said:

What are your expectations of what you will see, and how will you mount the OTA?

The Startravel is a widefield achromat, and useful for looking at large star clusters and the like.  It's quite well made, with metal rather than plastic parts. Its performance on planets (of prime interest to many beginners) is unimpressive. I actually use mine for imaging, not for looking through.

I am looking mostly for planetary. My existing mount is the eq5 pro goto

[RobDoyle]

On 27/08/2022 at 12:57, Stu said:

A lot depends on budget, expectations and preferred targets, some more info on this would help.

Personally I wouldn’t get a fast achro, I think a slower one would give better results on brighter objects like the Moon or Planets which are often favourite beginner targets. Fast achros can also be a bit variable in quality which explains the variants in views you get from different people giving advice.

You need to consider the mount of course, a slower (and therefore longer) scope would need a stronger mount, hence a need to understand total budget.

I currently have the eq5 pro

[Stu]

2 minutes ago, RobDoyle said:

I currently have the eq5 pro

Given budget and mount, I actually think your original suggestion of 102mm f10 would be pretty decent for what you are after. The other thing to consider might be a 127mm Mak which would not have any CA and would have better resolution on planets and the Moon.

What scopes do you currently use on the EQ5?

[Zeta Reticulan]

The ST102 is f/4.9. Although I've had up to 200x on Mars with mine (filtered) it's not an ideal scope for predominantly lunar/planetary observing. I very rarely go above 50x with mine. It will do planets, but if you're mainly interested in planets a long achromat or a reflector would be better. An 80mm ED refractor would show a lot.

 

 

My 80ED DS Pro is surprisingly good for planetary considering it's a 3" scope.

If you're really just interested in planets and the Moon a 127mm Mak' would be a good choice.

One caveat though; as much as I love my Mak's they are a bit specialist in my opinion. A 127mm Maksutov is difficult to beat for a portable high magnification scope. Mine have been out quite a bit this year for lunar and planetary observing. They don't do rich field well. 

[Cosmic Geoff]

The Startravel 102mm would be a bit over-mounted on an EQ-5 Synscan, except for imaging.  A F10 Evostar would be a reasonable choice, or a 127mm Maksutov, or a 6" Newtonian.

For family use, the EQ-5 Synscan will require you to operate it. And as I have found, its GoTo does not perform well for narrow field all-sky viewing. A manual alt-azimuth mount and a classic refractor would allow all family members to have a go at handling the scope and mount. 

[Stu]

38 minutes ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

The ST102 is f/4.9. Although I've had up to 200x on Mars with mine (filtered) it's not an ideal scope for predominantly lunar/planetary observing.

The OP is referring to an Evostar 102mm f10, not the Startravel. The f10 would be more suitable for lunar and planetary.

[Zeta Reticulan]

1 hour ago, Stu said:

The OP is referring to an Evostar 102mm f10, not the Startravel. The f10 would be more suitable for lunar and planetary.

I was going by this:

I must have missed the bit where the Evostar was mentioned.

Edited August 29, 2022 by Zeta Reticulan

[Stu]

33 minutes ago, Zeta Reticulan said:

I was going by this:

I must have missed the bit where the Evostar was mentioned.

You are correct sir! Somewhere in the thread I’ve seen the OP mention f10, so perhaps there is some confusion going on, certainly is with me! 😂.

So, @RobDoyle I would personally not recommend the StarTravel but think the EvoStar 102mm f10 or a 127mm Mak would be well worth considering.

[Zeta Reticulan]

11 minutes ago, Stu said:

You are correct sir! Somewhere in the thread I’ve seen the OP mention f10, so perhaps there is some confusion going on, certainly is with me! 😂.

So, @RobDoyle I would personally not recommend the StarTravel but think the EvoStar 102mm f10 or a 127mm Mak would be well worth considering.

I'm always confused by default.

[Rob]

Always an interesting one!. You also want (which I’m sure you are) Ease of use with your (all family) visual scope. The last thing you want to do is be put off by lugging everything out etc.. 

One of my most fun scopes was way back 30 Years ago. A Helios 114 skyhawk (now skywatcher). It was an F8 Newtonian .. yes not the most premium, but fun all the same and sub £250 at the time. You will manage most targets also plants & bright deep sky. Which ever you look at consider the F-ratio also. There are many brands that could suit.

Clear Skies Rob

Edited August 30, 2022 by Rob

[LukeSkywatcher]

RobDoyle

You say you want a scope "For all the family".

Do you have any small kids?. IF you do, and buy an 8inch Dob, the chances are they may not be able to reach the eyepiece to see. Standing on a chair or stool would help, but can lead to accidents. A good refractor OR (as mentioned) the Skywatcher Heritage 130P would be a better choice.

[Stu1smartcookie]

So , an EQ5 GOTO mount is a great starter mount , no , i correct myself , its a great mount ! 

Its opened up the field for you to choose from many small to medium sized scopes . The Mount is the key , a longer focal length scope needs a steady mount , so , choosing a long refractor or a Mak is definitely a distinct posibility . Both types of scopes can deal with high magnification , something which will interest you considering your subject ie planetary / Lunar . A refector will give you great views but as has ben mentioned the Eyepiece can get into all sorts of positions when the mount is slewing around , thus not comfortable for small chidren ( or adults , speaking with experience, who get frustrated easily . 

I would go for a long refractor (100mm -127 mm ) , either Evostar 100mm or the 120mm version  are really nice scopes , also bresser do a lovely 125 refractor that looks very impressive . Don't be put off by people mentioning CA ( chromatic abberation) , although they are right to mention it ,  as , honestly when you are looking at everything you will hardly notice it . 

A Mak will render CA obsolete ( mainly ) and are much more easy to handle being short tubes . But , whilst they are superb at what they do , please be aware of a narrow field of view and also slightly more dimmer view than that of a refractor as the light gets bounced around in the tube . 

I own a small refractor (60mm ) a Mak 127 and an 8" SCT and the little ED 60 refractor always gets a go . The other scopes are "cooling " down and the Refractor is ready to go almost straight away. Also , focussing with a refractor is  most satisying ...objects "snap" into focus . 

So ... Rob , what are you going for ?

I'm sure we are all interested to know   , whatever you decide will be the right decision for you and your family ... until you want that second scope... 🤣  but thats leave that alone for now . 

Stu

 

 

[Franklin]

102mm f/7 ED refractor. Altair Ascent/TS Optics and others, a budget apo using FPL-51 glass but is still a very smart optic, will blow the achro's away on planets and luna, sliding dew shield, dual-speed focuser, totally robust and would sit perfect on your EQ5. Around £500. And then buy an 8" dob for the faint stuff.