Archive for April, 2010

Orion StarBlast 4.5 Eq Telescope

Amazon.com Price: $215.00 (as of 2012-02-22 15:51:14 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Orion StarBlast 4.5 Equatorial Reflector Telescope
 
Manufacturer: Orion Telescopes and Binoculars
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List Price: $229.95
Sale Price: $215.00
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Product Description
Considering how many adults have told us they love our StarBlast "mini Dob," we weren't surprised that some of them suggested we offer the StarBlast optical tube on a full-size telescope mount. Sounded like a good idea to us. So here it is, the StarBlast 4.5 EQ. It's bound to become a favorite of both adults and adolescents alike. It combines the much-heralded StarBlast wide-field (f/4.0) parabolic optics with a sturdy, adjustable height EQ-1 equatorial tracking mount. So if you're an adult (or a parent) looking for an exceptional starter scope on a tracking mount, or an experienced amateur astronomer seeking a more portable alternative to your "light bucket," then get a StarBlast 4.5 EQ. The name says it all!

Product Details
  • A wide-field reflector telescope with enough aperture to get great views of the Moon, planets, and many bright deep-sky objects
  • A fantastic general-purpose astronomical telescope - great for the beginner to "test the waters" with mirror optics
  • Works amazingly well with the included Expanse telescope eyepieces which yield a very wide 66-degree apparent field of view -
  • Fast f/4 optics and a short focal length provide a very wide field of view, making it easy to locate celestial objects
  • The EQ-1 equatorial telescope mount makes tracking night-sky objects extremely easy using the included slow-motion controls.
  • Also includes an EZ Finder II reflex sifght for easy aiming, 15mm and 6mm 1.25" Expanse eyepieces,
  • Collimation cap, Starry Night software, and more! Your first look at the Andromeda galaxy will knock your socks off!

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Celestron AstroMaster 114 EQ Reflector Telescope

Amazon.com Price: $173.00 (as of 2012-02-22 16:08:31 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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Celestron 31042 AstroMaster 114 EQ Reflector Telescope
 
Manufacturer: Celestron
Customer Rating:
 
List Price: $341.95
Sale Price: $173.00
Availibility: Usually ships in 2-3 business days
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Product Description
B000MLL6R8 Celestron’s AstroMaster 114 EQ reflector telescope offers more than three times the light gathering power of 60mm beginner scopes in a system that is compact yet powerful. The package includes a new version of Celestron’s CG-2 equatorial mount with a rugged steel tripod. Two eyepieces are included, the 20mm eyepiece is an erect-image design with 50x magnification and the 10mm eyepiece produces 100x magnification. The AstroMaster 114 EQ also features a built-in red dot finder, fully illustrated instructions, and easy no-tool setup. The package even provides a student version of “The Sky” astronomy software to help you find stars and planets.

The AstroMaster 114 is a modified Newtonian design. Using a short focal length primary mirror and built in corrector lens, the AstroMaster 114 has an effective focal length of 40 inches (1000mm) in a tube only 18 inches long. Both eyepieces provide images that are pleasingly sharp. The 20mm eyepiece (50x magnification) nicely frames the Moon, and daylight images are sharp with plenty of contrast. The 10mm eyepiece (100x magnification) does a nice job zooming in on lunar craters or on the planets. With the 10mm eyepiece or with my own 6mm eyepiece (166x) I can clearly focus in on Saturn’s rings and pick up details like the shadow cast by the rings on the planet.

I also like the solid design of Celestron’s new CG-2 equatorial mount. With the help of Celestron’s fully illustrated quick set-up guide it took only a few minutes to assemble the equatorial mount and clamp the optical tube in place. The whole telescope is compact enough to carry outside in one trip. Aligning the telescope is a simple matter of pointing the equatorial axis at Polaris, the North Star. Then I can track the motion of stars and planets by simply turning one slow motion knob. The AstroMaster 114 EQ seems quite stable on its CG-2 mount, a little wobble while focusing damps out quickly as soon as I let go of the focus knob.

With good optics, a solid mount, two eyepieces, and fully illustrated instructions, the AstroMaster 114 EQ reflector telescope is a very good introductory telescope. The one feature that is not so easy to use is the built in star pointer, which is best suited only for finding bright objects like the Moon and planets. I can overcome the narrow field of view somewhat by using an optional 32mm plossl eyepiece while looking for deep space objects because its wider field of view makes stars and planets easier to locate. --Jeff Phillips

Shot at 50X with Powershot camera
Shot at 50X with Powershot camera
 Shot at 200X with NexImage camera
Shot at 200X with NexImage camera
Shot at 200X with NexImage camera
Shot at 200X with NexImage camera
Shot at 50X with Powershot camera
Shot at 50X with Powershot camera

 

 Pros:

  • Compact yet powerful optics
  • Easy no-tool setup
  • Fully illustrated instructions
  • Three times brighter than 60mm scopes


    • Cons:

  • Star pointer not so easy to use

    		•

    Product Details
    • Model Number: 31042
    • Objective Lens: 114 Millimeters
    • Weight: 17 Pounds

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    Meade Rb-60mm Refractor Telescope

    Amazon.com Price: $95.00 (as of 2012-02-22 16:08:48 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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    Meade Rb-60 / 70055Lf 60Mm A-Series Altazimuth Refractor Telescope
     
    Manufacturer: Meade
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    List Price: $99.00
    Sale Price: $95.00
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    Product Description
    Now you can easily identify the rings of Saturn and storms of Jupiter with the Telstar RB-60 Telescope. Great for the beginning astronomer, this exquisitely crafted telescope features a 60mm optical glass objective lens with a smooth single-arm mount, manual slow motion controls and a 700mm focal length.

    Product Details
    •  Aperture 60Mm (2.8)
    •  Focal Length, Focal Ratio 700Mm F/11.7
    •  Altazimuth Mount With Slow-Motion Controls
    • Astronomical Software & Instructional Dvd
    • Aluminum Tripod With Accessory Tray

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    Learn Amateur Astronomy With The Best Astronomy Books

    Amateur astronomy for kids


    Learn amateur astronomy and go from a complete newbie to a competent astronomer with videos, animations, diagrams and pictures that make the mysteries of the universe unfold for you right before your eyes. Even learn how to buy a telescope.

    Take advantage of years of experience as Ninian takes you by the hand to quickly and easily answer all your questions like...

    Can I learn astronomy basics quickly?

    What can I expect to see with my telescope?

    How do I find what I'm looking for?

    How do I read a star chart?

    Which eyepiece should I use?

    Can I take a photograph through my telescope?

    Learn beginning astronomy with this step by step guide called Basic Astronomy With A telescope. The best astronomy course online is filled with star gazing tips and techniques from the BBC's Sky At Night Magazine expert, Ninian Boyle. Take advantage of his forty years of experience in astronomy and save yourself time and money as you and your family enjoy your new hobby of backyard astronomy.

    As an expert Ninian has talked to hundreds of beginners, struggling to understand their telescopes. So he knows your frustration and the problems and questions you want answers to. That is why he developed this beginning astronomy course. He is so sure you will be delighted with his amateur astronomy books and online course that he offers a risk free money back offer.

    Plus, for all you amateur astronomers you will gain access to his online community, the Astronomy Forum, to get ongoing support and help from other members and one on one guidance from Ninian himself, which is well worth the price of his amateur astronomy course alone! Did I forget to mention the other bonuses,  for complete course details, just visit amateur astronomy for kids online.  Star gazing tips from the experts.

    Best Beginner Telescope Orion SpaceProbe 130EQ

    Amazon.com Price: $249.99 (as of 2012-02-22 16:09:07 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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    Orion SpaceProbe 130 EQ Reflector Telescope
     
    Manufacturer: Orion Telescopes and Binoculars
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $269.95
    Sale Price: $249.99
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    Product Description
    Without doubt, the SpaceProbe 130 Newtonian strikes a classy pose, from its glossy black aluminum tube right down to its 6x30 finder scope. It's a telescope that's sure to attract serious beginners. But a great telescope is more than how it looks - it's how it looks at the stars, and here the SpaceProbe 130 provides great all-around viewing performance. This scope's 130mm (5.1") primary mirror gathers enough light for deep-sky observing while its 900mm focal length (f/6.9) provides the resolving power need to reveal subtle planetary features. With the two fully coated Explorer II eyepieces provided (25mm and 10mm) you can cruise the Orion Nebula or zoom in on the rings of Saturn. The mount is our sturdy EQ-2 equatorial model, with aluminum tripod and accessory tray. Slow-motion controls allow fine manual pointing of the telescope. Addition of an optional EQ-2M or AstroTrack electronic drive enables the telescope to track objects automatically. One-year limited warranty.

    Product Details
    • Complete 5.1" aperture reflector telescope with full-size adjustable tripod and equatorial (EQ) mount for easy manual tracking of objects in the night sky
    • 900mm focal length and f/6.9 focal ratio makes the SpaceProbe 130 EQ an excellent telescope for viewing wide-field deep-sky objects like cloudy nebulas, distant galaxies, and sparkling open star clusters and bright globular star clusters
    • 130mm optics gulp up light from the night sky for wonderful views of the Moon and planets like Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn
    • Sturdy EQ-2 equatorial telescope mount features two slow-motion control knobs so you can keep what you're looking at in the eyepiece for extended views
    • Includes two Explorer II 1.25" Kellner eyepieces (25mm and 10mm focal lengths) for two different viewing magnifications, a 6x30 finder scope for easy aiming of the telescope, collimation cap, dust caps, accessory tray, Starry Night software, and more!

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    Meade ETX-80 Astro Telescopes For Sale

    Amazon.com Price: $269.00 (as of 2012-02-22 14:50:23 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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    Meade etx 80at tc Astro Autostar Computerized Telescope
     
    Manufacturer: Meade
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $449.00
    Sale Price: $269.00
    Availibility: Usually ships in 24 hours
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    Product Description

    Explore the Galaxies far away, or the wildlife in this one, all at the touch of a button, with this fantastically priced, all-inclusive telescope.

    Now even the most novice of amateur astronomers can locate and explore the planets, asteroids, and comets, as well as nebulae, star clusters, galaxies, and hundreds of other deep-space objects, all at the push of a button with the included Autostar Hand Controller. The Meade ETX-80AT Astro Telescope brings the full range of celestial images to your eye with an astonishing level of clarity and resolution. And, carrying on Meade's incredible ETX tradition of optical and mechanical excellence, the 70mm ETX includes many of the same features as their larger ETX telescopes, and is 36 percent brighter than the ETX-60AT.

    For the introductory student of astronomy, or for the casual observer, the Meade ETX-80AT opens up the skies at modest cost to an amazing breadth of celestial detail utterly invisible without the telescope.

    For the non-celestial inclined, the Meade ETX telescopes make excellent land-view instruments for the birdwatcher, the naturalist, or for the home with a view as well. ETX image quality and resolution typically far exceed the levels normally expected of terrestrial telescopes. Terrestrial observers quickly appreciate the advantages afforded by the Autostar hand controller, notwithstanding the Autostar's primary applications to astronomical observing. Using Autostar, many land objects can be readily followed, or tracked, from a distance, using one of nine selectable speeds from slow to fast .

    Sky & Telescope Magazine calls the Autostar Hand Controller "the greatest happening in amateur astronomy yet." For all of Meade's advanced imaging capabilities, portability, ease of use, and contemporary cosmetic design, Meade ETX telescopes are above all uniquely defined by the revolutionary Autostar hand controller. This great device is included as standard equipment with ETX 70mm Telescope. The 4

    Product Details
    • 80Mm Diameter Delivers More Light-Gathering For Increased Image Brightness & Greater Detail
    • Observe Land Or More Than 1400 Sky Objects In High Resolution
    • Built-In Barlow Lens Flips Into Position When Needed & Provides Power When Studying Lunar & Planeta

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    Celestron Firstscope 76EQ Telescopes For Beginners

    Amazon.com Price: View Sale Price (as of 2012-02-23 09:17:31 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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    Celestron Firstscope 76EQ 76mm Reflector Telescope
     
    Manufacturer: Celestron
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $249.99
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    Product Description
    The Celestron FirstScope Series of telescopes is designed with the first-time telescope buyer in mind. Offering exceptional value, these scopes feature compact and portable designs with ample optical performance to excite any newcomer to the world of amateur astronomy. Each telescope has its own design characteristics to help you choose which is best for you. The smaller FirstScopes feature refractor optical designs while the larger apertures feature Newtonian reflector optical systems.

    Reflectors
        This is a reflector telescope. Reflectors (also known as Newtonian reflectors or catoptrics) capture light with a mirror at the bottom of a tube, which sends the image to the eyepiece at the top of the tube.
       First-time telescope users sometimes have difficulty with the idea of looking through the side of a telescope, but the big draw for reflectors is that they are by far the cheapest to manufacture--and thus offer the best value--of all telescope types. They also generally have zero chromatic aberration.
       
  • Read more about different telescope designs in our buying guide
    • The FirstScope 76 is a fine instrument for the beginning observer. It offers many of the advantages of the Newtonian design at a 3" aperture. The superb optics of this telescope offer dazzling images of the moon; Saturn and its rings; Jupiter, with its belts and moons; and hundreds of deep-sky objects, including galaxies, nebulae and star clusters. The optical tube is glossy black. This model uses the German equatorial mount with setting circles and slow motion controls on both the right ascension (R.A.) and declination (DEC.) axes. These features make it easier to locate and track objects.

    While observing, you'll notice that as the earth rotates on its axis, stationary stars appear to move across the sky. Thus, due to the earth's rotation, the object you're viewing will drift out of view in both axes, over time. A telescope on an equatorial mount can be aimed at a celestial object and guided with the slow motion controls to follow the object across the sky and keep it in the field of view of your telescope.

    FirstScope 76 EQ Specifications:

    • 76mm (3") Reflector
    • 700mm Focal Length, f/9
    • Equatorial Mount with Setting Circles and Slow Motion Adjustment Cables
    • Sturdy Adjustable Aluminum Tripod with Accessory Tray
    • Telescope Weight: 15 lb.
    FirstScope 76 EQ Standard Accessories:
    • 1-1/4" 20mm (35x), 10mm (70x) Eyepieces
    • Star Pointer Finderscope
    • Equatorial Mount
    • The Sky L1 CD ROM

    Moon viewing 101
    The moon is often one of the first celestial objects a beginner will look at through his or her telescope. Here are a couple hints for you once you get your hands on your new FirstScope 76.

    Often, it is tempting to look at the Moon when it is full. At this time, the face we see is fully illuminated and its light can be overpowering. In addition, little or no contrast can be seen during this phase. One of the best times to observe the Moon is during its partial phases (around the time of first or third quarter). Long shadows reveal a great amount of detail on the lunar surface. At low power you will be able to see most of the lunar disk at one time. The optional Reducer/Corrector lens allows for breath-taking views of the entire lunar disk when used with a low power eyepiece. Change to higher power (magnification) to focus in on a smaller area. Choose the lunar tracking rate from the NexStar's MENU tracking rate options to keep the moon centered in the eyepiece even at high magnifications.

    Product Details
    • Slow-motion control rod
    • Newtonian reflector scope
    • 2 eyepieces (35x and 70x)
    • Adjustable tripod
    • German equitorial, CG-2 mount

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    Orion StarBlast 6 Astro Telescope

    Amazon.com Price: View Sale Price (as of 2012-02-22 16:09:19 GMT) Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon.com at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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    StarBlast 6 Astro Telescope
     
    Manufacturer: Orion Telescopes and Binoculars
    Customer Rating:
     
    List Price: $279.95
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    Product Description
    We've done our popular Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Beginner Telescope one better. The Orion-designed StarBlast 6 Astro Telescope takes the same compact, wide-field, user-friendly concept and expands on it, literally. The StarBlast 6 boasts fully 73% more light-gathering area than its smaller counterpart. Yet the scope is still highly portable, weighing only 23.5 lbs., and comes with the base fully assembled in the box! The StarBlast 6's 150mm (5.9") f/5.0 parabolic mirror provides ample aperture to reveal the planets and deep-sky gems in wonderful detail. Its wide field of view makes finding and tracking objects easier than with longer focal-length telescopes, which makes it a superb beginner telescope -- for all ages. It also would make a terrific "grab-and-go" second telescope for more experienced stargazers. Teflon bearings and adjustable altitude tension on the base ensure smooth maneuvering of the StarBlast 6. Keep the included Sirius Plossl eyepieces at the ready in the convenient three-hole eyepiece rack. Two handle cutouts in the base allow easy lifting and transporting of the telescope. Set it on the ground or even on a small table or the hood of your car, and enjoy the view! The Orion StarBlast 6 isn't just a masterfully engineered, uncomplicated, and affordable telescope for all ages. It's also a blast! One-year limited warranty.

    Product Details
    • Fun, user-friendly telescope design lets beginning astronomers and seasoned hobbyists navigate the night sky with ease
    • Big 150mm (5.9") parabolic mirror optics reveal the planets and deep-sky objects in rich detail
    • Compact and highly portable; weighs only 23.5 lbs. and has built-in carrying handles in the base
    • Sturdy swivel base comes pre-assembled in the box for no-hassle set-up.
    • Includes 25mm and 10mm Sirius Plossl eyepieces, EZ Finder II aiming device, and eyepiece rack

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