Newbie Choices ?

[Simmo74]

I have a choice between a Celestron Astromaster 130EQ
OR
Starview 150EQ .
I dont know which one is better for viewing ?
Please HELP ?
Both are second hand around the $200 - $270 mark ..
Thanks for any help ........

[simon_rl]

Really depends on what you are hoping to see.

If you are looking at a manual scope, you are better off with a dobsonian, they are much easier to use and setup.

[Simmo74]

Wanting to see as much as possible . Moon , saturn rings etc .

[Noddy81]

What are you wanting to see

[m11]

Hi Simon,

I agree with Simon_rl in that a manual dobsonian will be easier to use starting off. I would get at least an 8 inch dob which has decent light gathering power :thumbsup: A second hand 8 inch dob can be grabbed for the same amount ~$250. Nothing really to go wrong with it. - up and down, left and right :)
You will be able to see the bands of Jupiter, rings of Saturn, Orion Nebula, brighter Globular clusters and open clusters.

I would recommend getting a laser collimator to help with aligning the primary and secondary mirror, which is easy to do once your learn how.

Unless you have experience with an eq, especially a manual one, I wouldn't recommend as a first scope unless you have definite plans to do astrophotography in which it gets expensive quickly for the computerised eq mounts.

Hope it helps,

Mel

[AEAJR]

Make your own judgement


Here is what it takes to use an equitorial mount

How to align an Equatorial (EQ) mount
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plx6XXDgf2E

How to use an Equatorial (EQ) mount
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7HVDKAZ6eM



This video is showing a Dobsonian type Newtonian scope as has been recommended above. This one appears to be 8"/203 mm.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22pmi3oP57w