Celestron 102 mm XLT f/9.8?

[helicon]

I'm thinking of getting a grab-n-go refractor. Sad to say but the AR 152 is not very portable on its mount. I'm hoping to put it in an observatory one day where it could remain fully set up. I'm wondering if anyone has the Celestron 102 mm XLT in f/10 range (planetary, lunar, double star work or for lazy nights.) One of the issues I'm dealing with is frequent cloudiness and rain here in W washington which means suckerholes open up or maybe there is a 30-45 minute window when observing is possible. Any feedback on this $300 scope would be useful. I could get an APO as well, not an achro but the longer focal length is a bit more forgiving than an f/6. So maybe an APO is not needed. I'm also looking at 6-7" Maks but wonder if these would be portable enough. Thoughts?

[Lady Fraktor]

The 102mm XLT is a good refractor, 100mm and f/10 makes for good views.
This is one of the telescopes I recommend the most.

A Mak is a good idea as well though the FOV is going to be smaller than a same aperture refractor.

[Bigzmey]

Having grab and go is definitely a good idea. 6-7" Mak is more on the scale/weight of your AR152. Here is comparison between iOptron 6" Mak and Celestron 150ST achro.

However 5" Mak could be a good option, if you are mostly going after planets and Moon. If you want to have some DSOs in the mix 80-100mm refractor would be a better choice. Here are 5" Celestron Mak and 100mm Stellarvue on a lightweight SW AzGTi mount.

[helicon]

Thanks Andrey and Gabrielle.

The issue with the AR 152 is that it needs to be attached to the mount before use, requiring one arm support for a bit while I use the other hand to tighten the screws onto the dovetail, sort of tricky. The 102 weighs in at 9 pounds so significantly lighter than the 152 OTA. The main outlets seem to be out of stock or on back order presently.

I have the Kowa 90mm spotting scope on a manfrotto but it was a used scope - gift from my uncle and the zoom eyepiece it came with is not adequate for serious observing but fine for looking at the Transamerica Pyramid or the Golden gate bridge or birds, though I have used it on the moon and Jupiter. Up here in Washington not very useful except for looking at the firs and cedars on Galbraith mountain and maybe catching the occasional bald eagle in the FOV. Hence the need for something more astronomically oriented. Plus with new gear the more the merrier.

[Bigzmey]

I hear you Michael. It is nice to have something light enough to grab and walk out with mount and everything. Having short equilibration time helps to. 80mm to 100mm frac with good optics will serve you nicely.

I don't have a hands-on experience with Celestron 102mm XLT, but form my experience with other Celestron fracs I would assume that the scopes optics should be fine, but accessories and the mount would be the weak point. You may need to replace the focuser to.

I think better strategy would be to look for a good quality lightweight AZ mount and pair it with a well made OTA. You may pay a bit more but you will get much more enjoyment out of it.

If you are not in a hurry small fracs (achro and APO) come out for sale on CN and AM fairly often.

[Lady Fraktor]

For $300USD you get a lot of telescope with the Celestron and even though the accessories are not the greatest (finder/ focuser) they are easily replaced over time but they are usable out of the box.
The next step up for high quality is the Vixen 105mm f/9.5 which is truly a excellent refractor but the downside is it is 4x the price of the Celestron.

If you are looking for a telescope to do planetary/ lunar/ double stars/ carbon stars etc then I would recommend f/9+, if you are just looking for general viewing then a f/7
like the AT102 would likely be a good refractor.


https://www.highpointscientific.com/cel ... -21088-ota
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/ ... tical.html
https://www.astronomics.com/astro-tech- ... l?___SID=U

[Bigzmey]

I would definitely encourage to look at AstroTech ED scopes. Not just for the APO optics, they are better executed scopes all around, mechanically and optically compared to typical Synta/Celestron/Meade/Orion achro scope. Focuser upgrade alone is at least $200, but AT scopes come with premium quality focuser already.

[terrynak]

Michael, I don't have the Celestron 102 mm Omni XLT f/9.8, but I do have the Celestron NexStar 102GT (F/9.8) which I featured on my observing report recently. An achro with the same specs (but long discontinued), it got a good review in Ed Ting's Scope Reviews. Both scopes have a 2" focuser. I would go for it (the Omni XLT) if your main purpose for it is solar system objects and double stars, with the option of doing some deep-sky as well. The Omni XLT series is the higher end of Celestron scopes - I have the Celestron Omni XLT 150 Newt and it is sturdily built, with a metal 2" focuser.

But if you want a really portable lightweight G&G scope to do solar system/double star observing with, a long focal length 90mm Mak might be all that you need. I have the Celestron C90 Mak spotting scope (F/13.8).

I noticed in your signature for Grab n' Go you have the AWB One Sky 5.1" collapsible tabletop Dob - do you ever use it much at all? I have the same scope under a different brand (Bushnell Ares 5), but I've never used it as a G&G in its Dob configuration simply because I don't have a suitable transport case to hold both OTA and tabletop Dob mount. Easier to use as a G&G without the Dob mount and attach it to a light alt-az mount. I've even unscrewed the long dovetail off the tube and added rings on a shorter dovetail bar for it.

My ultimate G&G scopes are the ones I've taken on a plane for Southern Hemisphere viewing: a Meade 50/300mm 'frac on a light Manfrotto camera tripod and the Orion Skyscanner 100/400mm Newt with a heavy duty Manfrotto tripod screwed onto the base of the tabletop Dob mount.

[helicon]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions all!

I am not a frequent user of the AWB scope. Most of my observing is done with the 10" Dob which is easier to haul out than the AR152. But I anticipate going smaller as time goes by and I get older.

[helicon]

Well, I went ahead and ordered the 102mm XLT f/9.8 Celestron scope. Pulled the trigger. It's on back order from highpoint scientific but they are shipping in the order received. Hope to get in time for the Mars opposition.!!!

[Bigzmey]

Congrats Michael! Hopefully, you will get it for Christmas. :D

[Lady Fraktor]

Congratulations, I am sure you will enjoy it.

[helicon]

Congrats Michael! Hopefully, you will get it for Christmas. :D

Thanks Andrey! I hope so, too!

Congratulations, I am sure you will enjoy it.

Thanks Gabrielle!

[helicon]

I just got an email from High Point saying that the expected ship date is in the early 2nd quarter of 2023 (April) because of the backorder in place and supply chain issues. So I'll have to view Mars' opposition with the current set of scopes....

[Bigzmey]

Bummer! In the mean time AstroTech ED scopes are on sale. ;)

https://www.astronomics.com/telescopes. ... series=890

[helicon]

Bummer! In the mean time AstroTech ED scopes are on sale. ;)

https://www.astronomics.com/telescopes. ... series=890

Thanks Andrey. I'll check them out.

[helicon]

Well guess what? The Celestron 102 mm XLTs have arrived at the high point scientific warehouse, 3.5 months ahead of schedule. I authorized the purchase so should be in business within ten days!!! Hallelujah

Slow boat from China has arrived

[Lady Fraktor]

Excellent news Michael, have you stocked up on supplies and purchased a extra snow shovel?

[helicon]

The scope has arrived! And one day ahead of schedule, too!

[Bigzmey]

Congrats! Were clouds included free of charge?