Skywatcher explorer 130

[kelly324]

hi!

apologies if i’m in the wrong place, i’m relatively new to this site

im about to purchase a skywatcher explorer 130m and was wondering if anyone has this scope and would be willing to share some photos that they’ve been able to take with it?

my interest lies mostly with saturn and jupiter, but honestly i’d be happy to see anything and everything! i’d just like some pictures so i have an expectation in my head

i have tried youtube reviews etc but i couldn’t find any that showed off any astrophotography

thank you so much 

[Richard Wesson]

Hi Kelly, 

Depends what camera you are using. If a dslr using prime focus i.e. camera directly attached to focuser there will not be sufficient back focus. Most people myself included would opt for the 130pds which is optimised for astrophotography. You may still be able to use other methods such as eyepiece projection successfully however. 

[Alan64]

On 25/11/2022 at 09:42, kelly324 said:

hi!

apologies if i’m in the wrong place, i’m relatively new to this site

im about to purchase a skywatcher explorer 130m and was wondering if anyone has this scope and would be willing to share some photos that they’ve been able to take with it?

my interest lies mostly with saturn and jupiter, but honestly i’d be happy to see anything and everything! i’d just like some pictures so i have an expectation in my head

i have tried youtube reviews etc but i couldn’t find any that showed off any astrophotography

thank you so much 

Hi!  

No, you're not in the wrong place at all, not at all; quite the opposite, actually.

If you are wanting to dabble in astro-photography, this kit would be better than the 130M...

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/reflectors/skywatcher-explorer-130p.html

It's interesting that the more suitable kit for such, among the two, does not come with a motor-drive.

I have two telescopes, one most similar, the other as well in its way, when compared to the Sky-Watcher 130M...

 

I've taken a few afocal shots, through the telescope on the right.  That one is a 127mm f/8 catadioptric-reflector; short, yet long.  The 130M is a 130mm f/7, and long. The views through either one would be practically indistinguishable...

At 250x, through its 4mm-SR eyepiece...

The Moon was somewhat sharper, live.  Both of my own there have spherical primary-mirrors, just as the 130M.