Celestron XLT 150

[Badbart01]

Picked up this XLT 150 for $300, everything looked good till I started disassembling for cleaning and found two scratches on the secondary mirror. I have three days to return for a full refund, its raining here for the next three days . Do they look like a deal breaker?

[helicon]

Probably will still work OK, and you could always replace the secondary for a reasonable sum (much less than a cost of a new XLT). But it's up to you. Also, Welcome to the Forum!

[Bigzmey]

Welcome to the forum! As Michael says the scope will be usable, but the scratches will degrade it's performance. The question is how easy for you to return it and come up with replacement?

Now days many astro products from parts to scopes are back ordered, so it may (or may not) be awhile before you either get another scope or find secondary mirror replacement.

In any case I would not let it slide and at the very least request a partial refund to cover the secondary replacement.

[Badbart01]

Thanks

[Badbart01]

I looked into recoat the secondary mirror will run $95 plus shipping . However I cant find another XLT 150 used to compare to get idea of a fair price. Have you guys seen any used XLT 150 to get a rough idea of a fair price? Sorry I have more guesting than answers

[Bigzmey]

Used XLT 150 seem to run in that range (~$300) plus shipping. Here is one example

https://www.cloudynights.com/classified ... rice-drop/

[Lady Fraktor]

You can purchase secondary brand new from Agena Astro ($50USD) or pretty much any astro retailer.
Much cheaper than re-coating or buying another used one.

[Badbart01]

Thanks for the feedback.. I returned the scope to many issues. Guess I'm in the market for a scope again..lol Probably just going to buys new....

[Bigzmey]

Thanks for the feedback.. I returned the scope to many issues. Guess I'm in the market for a scope again..lol Probably just going to buys new....

Fun times! Are you set on the newt design?

[KingNothing13]

Thanks for the feedback.. I returned the scope to many issues. Guess I'm in the market for a scope again..lol Probably just going to buys new....

Good luck - new scopes are really hard to come by right now, unfortunately.

[GCoyote]

Thanks for the feedback.. I returned the scope to many issues. Guess I'm in the market for a scope again..lol Probably just going to buys new....

Good luck - new scopes are really hard to come by right now, unfortunately.

But it looks like quite a few took the plunge on a new scope early in the pandemic only to later realized they either weren't that into astronomy or could not handle anything that required reading directions.
Tons of smaller scopes available on eBay at wildly divergent prices, various conditions, and random levels of completeness.
My own most recent attempt also went awry but a second one looks more promising.

[Badbart01]

I got my first scope when I was 8 years old. Had a 10 Inch Meade Dobsonian for many years (great scope) and other different types. Been out of astronomy for ten years. Recently had my upper right lung removed due to lung cancer going through chemo now. Need something light I can move around easily price range 300 to 400. Thinking about the Orion spaceprobe 130ST.

[Lady Fraktor]

The Orion will likely work well for you, with a sturdy pillar or table for it to sit on it will show you a lot.
Good luck with the recovery!