New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

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Bigzmey United States of America
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New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#1

Post by Bigzmey »


Just got email from Orion on their new product:

Orion 80ST in red on a GoTo mount which looks like Celestron Nexstar SLT.

https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-S ... eeker_ST80

I wish the price will be a bit lower, otherwise looks like an attractive package. Should be usable right from the box. Red dot, star diagonal and two 60deg EPs - basic but usable. I am glad they decided to go with aspheric EPs.

Neat future which I love on my AZGti mount is that you can control the mount with SynScan Pro app. This free app is fully compatible with SkySafari. Thus, the scope operation is just point and click, very enjoyable.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#2

Post by Ylem »


Interesting package.
I never thought about putting my ST-80 on my go-to mount, I have always used in on a manual mount.

I may have to try it some night :)

Oh, I do like the red colour :)
Clear Skies,
-Jeff :telescopewink:


Member; ASTRA-NJ



Orion 80ED
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pakarinen United States of America
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#3

Post by pakarinen »


I’d be tempted if I were looking for new gear. I’d be drooling if it came in SkyWatcher green. :D

Didn’t know you can interface SynScan with SkySafari. That is very tempting.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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Bigzmey United States of America
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#4

Post by Bigzmey »


pakarinen wrote: Thu Feb 04, 2021 12:13 pm Didn’t know you can interface SynScan with SkySafari. That is very tempting.
I love the interface and prefer operating the scope from SS over the hand controller or SynScan alone. Another benefit is that you can go to any target in SS whether it is in SynScan/controller database or not.
Scopes: Stellarvue: SV102ED; Celestron: 9.25" EdgeHD, 8" SCT, 150ST, Onyx 80ED; iOptron: Hankmeister 6" Mak; SW: 7" Mak; Meade: 80ST.
Mounts: SW: SkyTee2, AzGTi; iOptron: AZMP; ES: Twilight I; Bresser: EXOS2; UA: MicroStar.
Binos: APM: 100-90 APO; Canon: IS 15x50; Orion: Binoviewer, LG II 15x70, WV 10x50, Nikon: AE 16x50, 10x50, 8x40.
EPs: Pentax: XWs & XFs; TeleVue: Delites, Panoptic & Plossls; ES: 68, 62; Vixen: SLVs; Baader: BCOs, Aspherics, Mark IV.
Diagonals: Baader: BBHS mirror, Zeiss Spec T2 prism, Clicklock dielectric; TeleVue: Evebrite dielectric; AltairAstro: 2" prism.
Filters: Lumicon: DeepSky, UHC, OIII, H-beta; Baader: Moon & SkyGlow, Contrast Booster, UHC-S, 6-color set; Astronomik: UHC.

Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2382, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 255
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#5

Post by ARock »


Skywatcher was selling (backordered now) the StarTravel 80 with the AZ-Gte (not AZ-Gti) for $395. While the AZ-Gte does not have the AZ-Gti's "Freedom Find" feature, it is a decent combo. Not sure if the Orion Starseeker has a feature similar to Freedom Find.
https://www.skywatcherusa.com/products/ ... -80-az-gte

Orion is also selling the ST80 with an EQ1 mount (manual mount) for $249
https://www.telescope.com/Orion/Orion-S ... 132759.uts
AR
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
Mount: ES EXOS Nano EQ Mount, DIY Arduino+Stepper drives.
AP: 50mm guidescope, AR0130 based guidecam, Canon T3i, UHC filter.
EPs: ES82 18,11,6.7mm, Zhumell 30,9mm FJ Ortho 9mm, assorted plossls, Meade 2x S-F Barlow, DGM NPB filter.
Binos: Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (Albott tripod/monopod), Nikon Naturalist 7x35.
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#6

Post by helicon »


Looks like a nice little scope.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#7

Post by pakarinen »


I really like my Meade ST80 - I assume it's the same OTA minus the Fancy Dan paint job. I did put a 2-speed Crayford focuser on it though.
=============================================================================
I drink tea, I read books, I look at stars when I'm not cursing clouds. It's what I do.
=============================================================================
AT50, AT72EDII, ST80, ST102; Scopetech Zero, AZ-GTi, AZ Pronto; Innorel RT90C, Oberwerk 5000; Orion Giantview 15x70s, Vortex 8x42s, Navy surplus 7x50s, Nikon 10x50s
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#8

Post by Lady Fraktor »


The Orion mount has the dual encoders that allow manual movement without losing alignment, something I wish Synta would put into the SLT mounts.
They seem to want to keep differences between the house brand and their other common retail line.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#9

Post by ARock »


pakarinen wrote: Sun Feb 07, 2021 9:03 pm I really like my Meade ST80 - I assume it's the same OTA minus the Fancy Dan paint job. I did put a 2-speed Crayford focuser on it though.
The Meade Adventure 80s are still out of stock. All stores indicate they are backordered and not cancelled, so there is hope. It is interesting to notice that whoever actually makes these nowadays, sells them through Orion, and not through Meade currently.
Lady Fraktor wrote: Sun Feb 07, 2021 10:31 pm The Orion mount has the dual encoders that allow manual movement without losing alignment, something I wish Synta would put into the SLT mounts.
They seem to want to keep differences between the house brand and their other common retail line.
That is good to know. So, it is no surpise that Skywatcher added the Freedom Find encoders. If I read the prices right, the ShortTube 80 effectively costs $70 (with a dovetail) for the combo in the OP ($499-$429 for a no controller setup).
AR
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
Mount: ES EXOS Nano EQ Mount, DIY Arduino+Stepper drives.
AP: 50mm guidescope, AR0130 based guidecam, Canon T3i, UHC filter.
EPs: ES82 18,11,6.7mm, Zhumell 30,9mm FJ Ortho 9mm, assorted plossls, Meade 2x S-F Barlow, DGM NPB filter.
Binos: Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (Albott tripod/monopod), Nikon Naturalist 7x35.
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#10

Post by Lady Fraktor »


What does freedom find allow you to do?
The Skywatcher website is useless as ever on this.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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Re: New Orion 80ST GoTo combo

#11

Post by ARock »


Lady Fraktor wrote: Sun Feb 07, 2021 11:26 pm What does freedom find allow you to do?
The Skywatcher website is useless as ever on this.
Freedom Find allows the user to disengage clutches and move the telescope manually without losing alignment.

On paper it looks good, not sure if GoTos after a lot of manual moving are as accurate.
AR
Scopes: Zhumell Z8, Meade Adventure 80mm, Bushnell 1300x100 Goto Mak.
Mount: ES EXOS Nano EQ Mount, DIY Arduino+Stepper drives.
AP: 50mm guidescope, AR0130 based guidecam, Canon T3i, UHC filter.
EPs: ES82 18,11,6.7mm, Zhumell 30,9mm FJ Ortho 9mm, assorted plossls, Meade 2x S-F Barlow, DGM NPB filter.
Binos: Celestron Skymaster 15x70 (Albott tripod/monopod), Nikon Naturalist 7x35.
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