Suggestions appreciated for a spotting scope for astronomy (1 Viewer)

[albeback]

So I am looking for a spotting scope $400 or less, new or used. My son wants a telescope for his birthday and I thought a spotting scope would be a good alternative.

What minimum magnification would I need to see the moon well? I would prefer an angled eyepiece. I looked at a Fujicon 25 x 60 but I am guessing that the eyepiece isn't powerful enough. I have also found a Celestron Trailside 100 which seems pretty good but I was hoping for something with nice clear glass. I also found some Nikon Fieldscope II A that seemed reasonable. I would prefer to spend mymoney on a good used piece than the same amount on something new of inferior quality. I received a Celestron 80 the other day and when I looked through it, it did not impress me,

I greatly appreciate your help!! Also time is of the essence, his birthday is in 10 days, I know.............

 

[Binastro]

Hi and welcome.

Spotting scopes are not ideal for astronomy because of the problems using high magnifications.
The mounts are not rigid either.

They may be waterproof, which astro scopes aren't.

How old is your son?

For the Moon any magnification is fine, but 60x shows a lot.

With a spotting scope ED glass is better.

With a long focus refractor, such as a 90mm f/10 or f/11 Celestron there is usually high quality, but the mounts are not very stable.

Would he be using the telescope at home or travelling?

A 150mm or 200mm Dobsonian telescope is good value and very capable.

Buy from a specialist store if you can, if there is a bricks and mortar store nearby.

The age of your son is the most important factor.

Make sure he knows never to look at the Sun either with unaided eyes or an optical instrument.

Hopefully, you have dark skies, but even without the Moon and planets are available.
For the planets at least 100x is needed.

Regards,
B.

 

[Binastro]

The Fieldscopes are much recommended here as far as spotting scopes are concerned.

The Skywatcher 150P Dobsonian is around $400 new.

I wouldn't buy an astro scope secondhand unless you have an astro friend to test it.

With the Fieldscope, just use the highest magnification and see if the image is good.

Secondhand astro scopes are often half new prices and an expert can see if the quality is good.

With any scope look for fungus etc.

If you live in a dry climate this is less of a problem.

Regards,
B.

 

[avidopticguy]

Yes and maybe(edit)! Go for a spotting scope. Get one with an angled eyepiece. I use a straight nikon prostaff 5 20-60x 82mm. In city limits with tons of light pollution i was able to see saturn and jupiter (with 2 of its moons).

Love my scope after that, up until then it was on the chopping block for sale. Only thing i would do differently is get an angled eye piece.

It was a truly eureka moment as i didn't know what i was looking at, saw the rings and was like....No way!! Confirmed with a phone app.

Later I wanted to see saturn again and accidentally found jupiter. I was like where are the rings? The i saw what looked like 2 moons and the red spot, mind blown again!

Edit......


Listen to what the others have said, i just read the thread their advice is much better. The comments abouth shakyness are very true. Also read reddit on this they have really narrowed down the best options by price categories

 

[tenex]

If astronomy is the focus you will want a proper telescope for many reasons. For a combination of terrestrial viewing and more casual astronomy, a 45° spotting scope with 60-82mm objective on a decent tripod should work well. Some have adapters available to use 1/4" astro eyepieces, in order to get higher magnification if/when your local seeing allows it; many don't. You won't see a lot of detail on planets, but can on the Moon. Finding many other targets will be challenging without a proper astro mount to go by coordinates. There are lemon scopes even in respected brands, so be sure to test whatever you get, or get help doing so. Ten days is an awfully short timeframe, so consider a promissory note and let your son participate in the search.

 

[albeback]

I would like to thank everyone for their information which prevented me from purchasing something that would not have been suitable. I ended up purchasing a Celestron Trailseeker 100mm (Used for around half price a new one, $250 almost new). My son is only 10 and if he continues to use it then I can upgrade to something else on his next birthday. I also purchased a cheapo iphone adapter so he could take photos and hang on his wall or make a t-shirt.

It would be nice if someone made a list of best telescopes for the money in increments of $100-150 and best used scopes for the money. When you google best scope for the money you never really know who is making the list and I would trust you guys far more than an anonymous author.

Thanks again

 

[Binastro]

There is so much sample variation for identical looking telescopes that lists are really not very useful.

Use the highest magnification available and see if the new or used telescope gives a good image.

Weather conditions are important and one should leave the scope outside for about twenty minutes so it is nearer ambient temperature.

An 8 inch or 200mm Skywatcher Dobsonian or similar would keep someone busy for years.

It helps if one has a dark sky.

B.

 

[Jon555]

I think the best value for Astronomy is a Matsukov on a Go-To mount, for example a:
Sky-Watcher SkyMax-127 AZ GTi
But I'd suggest going to a local Astronomy Club a few times to see what can be seen (not so much in amateur equipment) and whether it excites them or not...
Oh and ignore products with large magnifications quoted, as only large apertures and high quality scopes will make decent images there...

 

[Binastro]

A Maksutov is not good for low magnifications.

My Skywatcher 127 Maksutov Cassegrain is rather poor optically.
It is also in reality about 118mm aperture.

A 200mm Dobsonian is in my opinion the best value astro scope.

Regards,
B.

 

[Siggy]

With the caveats from about using a spotter as a telescope, I've had great luck with the Pentax. It's small, light weatherproof, ED, virtually apochromatic, easy to focus. You can use standard 1.25" telescopic eyepieces, standard or zoom. They go on sale for around $449 w/o an eyepiece. Good tripod required.

Celestron make a series of scopes with an iPhone attachment to help as a finder. Celestron - Telescopes, Telescope Accessories, Outdoor and Scientific Products

Oops, sounds like you've already acquired something.

Pentax PF-65EDAII 65mm Spotting Scope.​

 

[Siggy]

Also, check out the 2x54 orion binos. They are phenomenal! You can use for whole sky and Milky Way...sometimes even from the city. You can also use in the theater. They are under appreciated.
https://www.amazon.com/Orion-2x54-Ultra-Angle-Binoculars/dp/B084R99W8Q

 

[Jon555]

A Maksutov is not good for low magnifications.

My Skywatcher 127 Maksutov Cassegrain is rather poor optically.
It is also in reality about 118mm aperture.

A 200mm Dobsonian is in my opinion the best value astro scope.

Regards,
B.

I know people with Sky Watchers that are very pleased with them optically, but will remember your comments, thanks.

I personally think Dobsonians are a poor idea for a complete beginners as:

(1) You need to find your way around the sky and in cities (where most people live) that can be tricky, even with handy Apps. A GoTo Driven mount can really help people get started in Astronomy and in maintaining some enthusiasm, especially now they are available so cheaply. (It's very easy to get discouraged by a scope that hard to get good views through.) Although note I suggested an Astronomy club visit rather than buying anything.

(2) A lot of the best things in the skies need magnification, plus a drive to keep them in the field is very handy when showing friends. We usually show the planets with their moons, globular clusters and stuff like that to beginners.

(3) Dobs can be bulky (I nearly bought a Portaball once, but living in a City it just grabs ever more sky glow - I have a Schmitt-Cassegrain, two refractors and a Newtonian, so no Matsukov, but I appreciate the value for money).

I fully accept other opinions are available, just explaining my thought processes.

BTW you can convert a camera lens into a scope, but this usually involves a more expensive lens so wouldn't be suitable here.

 

[Binastro]

Of the hundreds of camera lenses that I have tested as telescopes only two refractive lenses have been of near astro quality.
The Ross 50 inch f/8 and the Tewe 600mm f/5 Petzval.

Some mirror lenses are of near or actual astro quality.
High end 500mm f/8, 500mm f/5, 600mm f/8 and 1000mm f/10.
The Den Oude Delft military 140mm aperture mirror lens was superb on Saturn at 200x.

But for astro use a steady mount, preferably driven is needed.

As to a 127mm Maksutov on a GoTo mount.
The field is less than one degree, and I have seen that targets are not acquired a long way from the start point.
However, it may be these mounts have improved.

A 150mm or 200mm Dobsonian is cheaper and planets are easily found and followed.
If near the meridian only sideways movement is needed.

Regards,
B.

 

[Jon555]

Of the hundreds of camera lenses that I have tested as telescopes only two refractive lenses have been of near astro quality.
The Ross 50 inch f/8 and the Tewe 600mm f/5 Petzval.

Some mirror lenses are of near or actual astro quality.
High end 500mm f/8, 500mm f/5, 600mm f/8 and 1000mm f/10.
The Den Oude Delft military 140mm aperture mirror lens was superb on Saturn at 200x.

But for astro use a steady mount, preferably driven is needed.

As to a 127mm Maksutov on a GoTo mount.
The field is less than one degree, and I have seen that targets are not acquired a long way from the start point.
However, it may be these mounts have improved.

A 150mm or 200mm Dobsonian is cheaper and planets are easily found and followed.
If near the meridian only sideways movement is needed.

Regards,
B.

The review I read didn't seem bad:

Sky-Watcher Skymax-127 Maksutov Review

scopeviews.co.uk

A 40mm Plossl eyepiece is about two Moon diameters, so not dreadful.

Also there is the issue of whether they want to use it for birding, where both our scope suggestions fall flat...

A lot is lens hood BTW... plus I did say not suitable for the OP...

 

[rm1541]

What adapter are you using to connect to the lens?

 

[Jon555]

What adapter are you using to connect to the lens?

I wouldn't particularly recommend adapting a lens unless you have an expensive bit of glass you'd like to have a play with (plus have a use for the Prism and Barlow).

That said in the picture in addition to a Canon EF mount lens there's a bunch of bits I largely copied from:

Canon EF Lens Spotting Scope

Namely:

• Borg 7157 Oasis EOS to M57 AD
• Borg 7364 Oasis M57 -> M36.4AD New
• Borg 7314 Oasis 31.7mm Eyepiece Holder SS
• Celestron Ultima Barlow (to get enough back-focus) - a better one than in the article but I think now discontinued
• Celestron 45 degree 1.25" Amici Prism 94112A
• Plus assorted 1.25" eyepieces, I usually start with a Televue 19mm Panoptic

Though I originally did that in 2009 so there's probably a better solution around now. I got most of the parts from scsastro in the U.K. but they closed in 2016.

The Borg Oasis bits came out at £173.20 inc p&p, the Barlow came from First Light Optics for £75.65, and the Prism (which I subsequently changed over to using in 2010) was £29.94 from Green-Witch (both also inc P&P, but again a while back).

P.S. The Ultima Barlow is a 3-element design and actually more like 2.2x than 2x, while the Omni is a 2-element design.

(Edit) You also need an EF lens that focuses manually (most do) rather than electronically.

 

[JimL]

Rather than a spotting scope that will also to be used for Astro, optical quality will generally be better if you choose an Astro scope that will will also be used for spotting.

I say this because having examined numerous star tests of spotting scopes if those same tests had been from Astro scopes they’d have been sent back to the dealer as defective. I suspect that the requirement to make spotters waterproof can contribute to pinched objectives, and prisms internal to the spotter and therefore non-removable cause various other aberrations.

Many of the issues spotters have won’t necessarily show up at low magnification but crank things up to 160X and it might be a different game, while that same high magnification will be well within the capabilities of a decent 80mm Astro scope.

The downside of an Astro scope for spotting is that with their camera capable focusers they can be heavier than many spotters, and they’re generally not weather resistant. But, if you can work around those issues the reward is optics fully suitable for all types of observing.

Here are two examples of modestly priced and capable Astro scopes that would also make good spotters:

Astro-Tech AT70ED 2.8" f/6 ED Refractor OTA | Astronomics.com

The Astro-Tech AT70ED could be the perfect grab and go refractor.

www.astronomics.com

Astro-Tech AT80ED 3.1" f/7 ED Refractor OTA | Astronomics.com

The Astro-Tech AT80ED is a fantastic value and incredible performer.

www.astronomics.com

Add a decent correct image 45° diagonal like this:

William Optics 1.25" 45-deg Erecting Prism Diagonal # D-EP125

William Optics 1.25" 45-deg Erecting Prism Diagonal

agenaastro.com

With a variety of eyepieces and a suitable mount you’ll have an optical system that can provide years of both Astro and terrestrial observing without the need to upgrade.

 

[JimL]

The Astro scope I most often use as a spotter is an Orion ST80, like this one:

Orion ShortTube 80-T Refractor Telescope | Orion Telescopes

Newly Upgraded Optics, and More Versatile Than Ever. Shop online - 100% satisfaction guaranteed!

www.telescope.com

I have a more capable Astro refractors to choose from, but in the semi-arid Northern California where I live I’ve found it isn’t optical quality that limits the view through the eyepiece but wind, thermals, moisture, fog and dust.

What the ST80 has going for it is that it’s light, relatively affordable, rugged, it gathers enough light, the optics are good enough, and it’s easily disassembled and repaired if necessary.
For spotting eyepieces I use a 32mm Plössl for wide field views (13X, 3.87°), and an inexpensive 7-21mm SvBony zoom eyepiece for closer looks at magnifications between 19x and 57x.

While the crown and flint ST80 doublet achromat is best under 80x magnification, for Astro use I occasionally use a 3-8mm SvBony zoom with provides magnifications up to 133x. The ED glass refractors linked above are less limited by chromatic aberration than the ST80 and are capable of much higher useful magnification.

 

[albie...]

Here are a few of my Scopes . Anybody that views with me appreciates that I bring them along .

albeback , your username is one letter off from my email . It was inspired by my name and an Arnold Schwarzenegger movie .​