Is this a good telescope

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king50
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Is this a good telescope

#1

Post by king50 »


Hi,
I'm seeing this telescope being sold on FB. It comes with two eye pieces. The tube is 21" round. So, it's a 6" reflector. The price is $65. Is this a good buy? Has anyone had any experience with this type of scope? Thanks!
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 252ac9ad92
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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#2

Post by Lady Fraktor »


If you can spare $65 it would probably be a fun telescope. It looks to be a 150mm f/8
It looks like the owner has taken time to make a new rocker box at some point.

http://galileooptics.com/index.html
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
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Bigzmey United States of America
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#3

Post by Bigzmey »


If the scope is in a good shape you can't go wrong with $65. 6" reflector is a quite capable scope.
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.
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Baurice
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#4

Post by Baurice »


I guess the question is what IS a "good" scope?

It's a VERY good $65 worth. It will show loads of detail on the Moon and quite a bit on Jupiter. It will show Saturn's rings and some cloud top detail on good nights. It won't necessarily be easy to use, especially at high magnification but it should show some brighter deep sky objects, at low power.

Go for it, I would say.
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#5

Post by Ylem »


A long focal length 6" Newt is a good scope, and a Dob mount is very sturdy.

The mirror could be a bit dirty, (don't shine a flashlight on it, it may look horrible) but that's certainly not a deal breaker.
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#6

Post by JayTee »


Is it close enough for you to go and inspect it? If it is, we can help with what to look for to make sure you are getting a good deal and not somebody else's headache.
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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Re: Is this a good telescope

#7

Post by gregl »


Just be sure there is NOT a lens fixed inside the focusing tube. That would make it a Bird-Jones, which can be a less-than-satisfactory instrument. The tube looks long enough that this is probably not a Bird-Jones but just be sure. Here is a good description of the problems with a Bird-Jones design:
https://astrowiki.jmhastronomy.com/inde ... _Telescope
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#8

Post by Richard »


Well the owner made a new rocker box and looks like fitter a telrad on so was used , I am sure its not a BJ scope as mention its a 150mm F8 scope , for 65 dolars , take it
Reflectors GSO 200 Dobs
Refractors None
SCT C5 on a SLT mount
Mak 150 Bosma on a EQ5
king50
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#9

Post by king50 »


I bought the scope. It's a dobs with a 6" parabolic mirror. The tube is steel and rugged. The owner only used it twice. It's been stored away a long time and the mirrors are gathering dust. It came with a 3x barlow lens, PL10mm eye piece, and a KF25mm eye piece. I'll have to clean the mirror and collimate the scope.

http://www.galileooptics.com/Telescopes ... 135DB.html
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JayTee United States of America
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#10

Post by JayTee »


Here are some resources for both cleaning and collimating your new "to you" scope. Congrats.

http://arksky.org/asoclean.htm

https://www.astro-baby.com/astrobaby/he ... reflector/
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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Re: Is this a good telescope

#11

Post by Lady Fraktor »


That is interesting, a 135mm f/8.
That should really do well with planetary and lunar viewing.
The 25mm Kellner eyepiece may be a bit soft and the 4mm Plossl will be very high power.
A couple of GSO Plossl will give really good views for low cost.
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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king50
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#12

Post by king50 »


I took it out last night to view the moon. I was disappointed by the picture quality; pictures were blurry. I followed the collimation instruction in the links that JayTee provided and found that collimation was unnecessary. What I noticed was that when looking directly at the primary mirror through the opened end of the tube (not through the eye piece) and varying my eye distance, the moon appeared more in focus. As I moved by head closer to the secondary mirror,the moon appeared more blurry. This makes me think that the secondary mirror is not at the focal point of the primary mirror.
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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#13

Post by Lady Fraktor »


If the secondary mirror looked round (viewed through the focuser) and your collimation was also good then the secondary is where it should be.

When you say pictures were blurry, were you trying to image through the eyepiece or were you just viewing?

The issue may be with the eyepieces, I imagine they are not very good quality.
Were you trying the 4mm or 25mm? Use the 25mm for now as the 4mm would only be good for nights of stable skies.
If the telescope came with a barlow set it aside for now.
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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king50
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#14

Post by king50 »


Thanks. The scope doesn't need to be collimated. I set the Barlow aside and just put the 25mm eye piece in. The pictures were a lot clearer. The 4mm still produced crappy pictures. The 25mm still needs many improvements. What is a set of good eye pieces would you recommend?
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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#15

Post by Lady Fraktor »


You could start with some GSO Plossl to find focal lengths you like.
Good quality and low cost, something that rarely happens in this hobby.
https://agenaastro.com/eyepieces/shopby ... s-gso.html

There are a few 60° eyepieces that are not overly expensive as well.
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: Is this a good telescope

#16

Post by sdbodin »


OK, I see by the pics you have a 25mm and 10mm eyepiece, correct?? I don't know if you also have a 4mm? But, if you do have a 4 these are generally useful only as miniature boat anchors. I noted you said a 3x barlow, also useful as a ... Right now you have a good starter pair, I would add and eyepiece in the 18mm range( +/- a mm or two) and a good 2x barlow. This would give a range of magnifications from 60x to 300x and the 300 would only be useful on that rare night of good steady air (seeing) that happens once or twice a year. You might add a 35mm to get even lower magnification, yes, lower is better, and more useful most of the time, but I lived with a 6" f8 for many years and my favorite eyepiece was 28mm.

Good luck,
Steve
Scopes; Meade 16 LX200, AT80LE, plus bunch just sitting around gathering dust
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
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Re: Is this a good telescope

#17

Post by jrkirkham »


It looks like a good deal to me. I had a 6" dob. I really liked that thing. It was large and bright enough to show me both solar system and deep sky objects. It wasn't too heavy to haul around. It was easy to store. It was sturdy. I eventually donated it to a college astronomy program. If this is anything like mine was you won't be sorry. And, if you are sorry, you can probably get your money back out of it later.
Rob
Telescopes: 50mm refractor, ED80 triplet, 90mm makcass, 10" dob, 8"SCT, 11"SCT
Mounts: Celestron CGX, Orion Sirius + several camera tripods
Cameras: Canon 6D, Canon 80D, ZWO-ASI120MC
Binoculars: 10x50, 12x60, 15x70, 25-125x80
Observatory: SkyShed POD XL3 + 8x12 warm room
AL Projects Completed: Lunar #645, Outreach #0280, Universe Sampler #93-T, Binocular Messier #871, Messier #2521, Messier Honorary #2521, Constellation Hunter Northern Skies #112, Planetary Transit Venus #1, Galileo #26, Outreach Stellar 0280, Meteor Regular #157, Solar System Telescopic #209-I, Observer Award #1
AL Projects Currently in Process: Double Stars, Comet, Lunar Evolution
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