Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
- rickclark28
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Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
*I may just order the 102mm Explore Scientific FirstLight refractor and take my chances. Looks to me like it will be a very good starter for me.
*I really appreciate this forum and its members.
*MistrBagr has me excited about this FirstLight Refractor in 80mm or 102mm
*It is between the 80mm and 102mm Explore Scientific FirstLight refractor with the Nano Twilight Mount.
*Keeping the budget at $300.00 to $500.00 is limiting but I may have a good start with this one.
*Any thoughts .and. .or. feedback is welcomed.
Have a great day!
Rick
Eyepiece: AT-UWA 4/7/10/13/16, AT-PF 5.5/15.5/25, ES52/10, ES62/20, SvBony 26-70 2", 7-21/3-8 zoom, Bresser 30/35 2"
Binoculars: Minolta 10x50 Wide Angle 7", HUTACT 10x42,
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
- helicon
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
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
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
Now you got me looking at the 102, it will give nice wide field, and less
-Jeff
Member; ASTRA-NJ
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
A nice telescope, I had the 102 mm for a couple of years and enjoyed it.
See Far Sticks: Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser 127/1200 BV, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS 100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, SXP2, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II, Stellarvue M2C, Argo Navis encoders on both
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, Tak prism, TAL, Vixen
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss (1000101)
The only culture I have is from yogurt
- Bigzmey Online
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
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, Delos, 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.
Solar: HA: Lunt 50mm single stack, W/L: Meade Herschel wedge.
Observing: DSOs: 3106 (Completed: Messier, Herschel 1, 2, 3. In progress: H2,500: 2180, S110: 77). Doubles: 2461, Comets: 34, Asteroids: 261
- rickclark28
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
*It is on back order on many sites, so the wait begins.
*Thanks to all of you and MistrBagr for his FirstLight Refractor in 80mm prelim review.
*I will have many questions soon enough and hope to follow up on MistrBagr's continuing review. (good review and data!)
Eyepiece: AT-UWA 4/7/10/13/16, AT-PF 5.5/15.5/25, ES52/10, ES62/20, SvBony 26-70 2", 7-21/3-8 zoom, Bresser 30/35 2"
Binoculars: Minolta 10x50 Wide Angle 7", HUTACT 10x42,
- helicon
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
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
Camera: ZWO ASI 120
Naked Eye: Two Eyeballs
Latitude: 48.7229° N
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
The 1000 mm one is more for planets while the 660 mm is better for deep space. With the right choice of eyepieces it may be made to work but personally I would have preferred the 660 mm. Should you find out that you don't get enough light you may want to add an 80 mm
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
- rickclark28
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
The 1000mm one. Explore Scientific FirstLight 102mm Doublet Refractor with EXOSSkyHiker wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 3:27 pm It's a different one than the one I thought you referred to that I found on the ES site. The one that I see on HS has focal length of 1000 mm at F/9.8. I now see that ES has both a 1000 mm and 660 mm. Which one did you order?
The 1000 mm one is more for planets while the 660 mm is better for deep space. With the right choice of eyepieces it may be made to work but personally I would have preferred the 660 mm. Should you find out that you don't get enough light you may want to add an 80 mm F/5. I have used my ES ED80 with the Nano EQ mount, it was quite nice to use.
*It is on backorder, and I have time to come up with a plan for the mount issues. I appreciate the feedback!
*I am getting excited to work on the eyepiece issues and selections as well. I have several sets of eyepieces from my father-in-law-> going to pull them out and see what's there. You mentioned the 80 mm
Eyepiece: AT-UWA 4/7/10/13/16, AT-PF 5.5/15.5/25, ES52/10, ES62/20, SvBony 26-70 2", 7-21/3-8 zoom, Bresser 30/35 2"
Binoculars: Minolta 10x50 Wide Angle 7", HUTACT 10x42,
- rickclark28
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
Thanks! Just received an update email. Waiting for manufacturer to provide lead time. So, no promise date as yet.
*I thought about the Celestron 102mm XLT refractor, but I do not know enough about the differences between them.
*My neighbor is still waiting for his Celestron 102mm XLT refractor from HP. He ordered it in November 2022. I am glad you received yours!
Eyepiece: AT-UWA 4/7/10/13/16, AT-PF 5.5/15.5/25, ES52/10, ES62/20, SvBony 26-70 2", 7-21/3-8 zoom, Bresser 30/35 2"
Binoculars: Minolta 10x50 Wide Angle 7", HUTACT 10x42,
- rickclark28
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
*I am so freaking excited I can't wait to move on with the project and set this up with my granddaughter (14yr.)
*Our neighbors have an Apertura10 coming up for sale in the spring so I will be looking at that too!
Eyepiece: AT-UWA 4/7/10/13/16, AT-PF 5.5/15.5/25, ES52/10, ES62/20, SvBony 26-70 2", 7-21/3-8 zoom, Bresser 30/35 2"
Binoculars: Minolta 10x50 Wide Angle 7", HUTACT 10x42,
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
My recommendation is to first use what you have got before buying more gear. That's because a novice's expectations are usually absurdly high. What you will see are fuzzy blobs, and not fancy pictures of galaxies. You have to get into the hobby, practice, then decide again if you like it enough.rickclark28 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 4:54 pmThe 1000mm one. Explore Scientific FirstLight 102mm Doublet Refractor with EXOSSkyHiker wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 3:27 pm It's a different one than the one I thought you referred to that I found on the ES site. The one that I see on HS has focal length of 1000 mm at F/9.8. I now see that ES has both a 1000 mm and 660 mm. Which one did you order?
The 1000 mm one is more for planets while the 660 mm is better for deep space. With the right choice of eyepieces it may be made to work but personally I would have preferred the 660 mm. Should you find out that you don't get enough light you may want to add an 80 mm F/5. I have used my ES ED80 with the Nano EQ mount, it was quite nice to use.EQ Nano Mount.
*It is on backorder, and I have time to come up with a plan for the mount issues. I appreciate the feedback!
*I am getting excited to work on the eyepiece issues and selections as well. I have several sets of eyepieces from my father-in-law-> going to pull them out and see what's there. You mentioned the 80 mmF/ 5 above...do have a recommendation?
About eyepieces, the longer the eyepiece focal length the more concentrated the light on your retina. The exit pupil of a scope with focal length F=1000, eyepiece focal length f mm and diameter D=102, is D*
- rickclark28
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
Thank you so very much for this! The "About eyepieces" calc you provided makes perfect sense to me and I am grateful for you providing it.SkyHiker wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 5:55 pmMy recommendation is to first use what you have got before buying more gear. That's because a novice's expectations are usually absurdly high. What you will see are fuzzy blobs, and not fancy pictures of galaxies. You have to get into the hobby, practice, then decide again if you like it enough.rickclark28 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 4:54 pmThe 1000mm one. Explore Scientific FirstLight 102mm Doublet Refractor with EXOSSkyHiker wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 3:27 pm It's a different one than the one I thought you referred to that I found on the ES site. The one that I see on HS has focal length of 1000 mm at F/9.8. I now see that ES has both a 1000 mm and 660 mm. Which one did you order?
The 1000 mm one is more for planets while the 660 mm is better for deep space. With the right choice of eyepieces it may be made to work but personally I would have preferred the 660 mm. Should you find out that you don't get enough light you may want to add an 80 mm F/5. I have used my ES ED80 with the Nano EQ mount, it was quite nice to use.EQ Nano Mount.
*It is on backorder, and I have time to come up with a plan for the mount issues. I appreciate the feedback!
*I am getting excited to work on the eyepiece issues and selections as well. I have several sets of eyepieces from my father-in-law-> going to pull them out and see what's there. You mentioned the 80 mmF/ 5 above...do have a recommendation?
About eyepieces, the longer the eyepiece focal length the more concentrated the light on your retina. The exit pupil of a scope with focal length F=1000, eyepiece focal length f mm and diameter D=102, is D*f/ F. If your eye pupil is p=5 mm in diameter, we need D*f/ F <= p in order for the exit pupil to not eclipse your eye pupil. That means f <= p*F/ D = 5*1000/102=49 mm, so basically, you're good. Let's say your longest focal length eyepiece is 35 mm, that is a magnification ofF/ f=1000/35=29x. Another rule of thumb based on laws of physics is that the magnification should not exceed D, which meansF/ f <= D or f >=F/ D = 1000/102 = 10 mm, so that's the useful lower limit of your eyepiece focal length.
I will take time and get to know my current equipment and setup my new scope when it arrives before deciding any further purchases.
*One thing I love is getting to know the night sky with what equipment I have now, and it is to me a wonderful challenge.
Eyepiece: AT-UWA 4/7/10/13/16, AT-PF 5.5/15.5/25, ES52/10, ES62/20, SvBony 26-70 2", 7-21/3-8 zoom, Bresser 30/35 2"
Binoculars: Minolta 10x50 Wide Angle 7", HUTACT 10x42,
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
That is a bit less than the rule of thumb number that I mentioned, D in mm, but close enough because there are some fudge factors. This explains why for planets you need a 14"
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
Do post your impressions of that combo after you get it, especially how well the Nano handles the load.rickclark28 wrote: ↑Fri Jan 20, 2023 2:00 pm I placed an order with High Point Scientific for the Explore Scientific FirstLight 102mm Doublet Refractor with EXOS EQ Nano Mount.
Man... That's some icky-tasting stuff!
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
I am just curious if anyone else has waited for lead times and dealings with High Point Scientific?
*My neighbor is also waiting for his Celestron 102mm XLT refractor from them. His order was placed in
*There is also a used Apertura 10" Dobsonian available and is in great condition. I had a chance to check it out last fall and when my friend gets his new Dobsonian this one will be available.
Eyepiece: AT-UWA 4/7/10/13/16, AT-PF 5.5/15.5/25, ES52/10, ES62/20, SvBony 26-70 2", 7-21/3-8 zoom, Bresser 30/35 2"
Binoculars: Minolta 10x50 Wide Angle 7", HUTACT 10x42,
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Re: Explore Scientific FirstLight/Purchase move!
However, you can buy the Explore Scientific
I'd cancel the order from High Point and buy one through Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0743 ... MRYT&psc=1
Good Luck with your telescope hunt ....
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