[AEAJR (Ed)]

How many are too many? When you run out of room to store them. Then you have too many. But I would say 2-4 is optimum unless you are just a collector.

The number of my scopes keeps changing.

2 years in the hobby and 18 months with at least one active telescope. I have an old Sears refractor that I don't use so I don't count that one.

Bought Meade ETX 80

Was given a Tasco 76 mm Newtonian

Bought an Orion XT8i Intelliscope

Gave the Tasco to a friend

Added broken ETX 60

Added used ETX 125

ETX 60 fixed and will be given to a friend so I am not counting that one.


So now it is ETX 80, ETX 125, Orion XT8i They are all computer assisted but I have used them all manually, with the computer turned off. I run them manually about 50% of the time, when I am visiting familiar sights.

Based on the survey, 2-4 seems to be the most common situation. Three for the moment. I also have 4 sets of binoculars, two I actively use and two for hand-out at outreach events. I think that is enough as each one fits a different place in the toolbox so to speak.

Meade ETX 80 - 80 mm Goto refractor - Wide view, small and light GoTo - Great for vacation travel. I can put the scope and goto mount in a Gym back for travel on vacation. Or I have a backpack for it. I can leave the tripod at home and use it as a GoTo tabletop.

Meade ETX 125 EC - 125mm Mak GoTo - Just got it used. Long FL. Should be excellent for planets and double stars. Fairly small so easy to put it in the car and go somewhere. This can also be used as a GoTo tabletop.

Orion XT8i - 8" computer assisted Dob. This is my main scope, probably 70% of total telescope eyepiece time. XT8i is a good all around and easy to put in the car for local trips to the darker sites, but too big to take on vacation trips. Not enough room in the car for all the other stuff we take when we go on vacation.

They all stand fully assembled and ready to go in my garage so I can have any of them set up and observing in minutes. If I were to buy something else it would likely be an Orion XX14I Intelliscope or XX16G GoTo truss dob and sell the XT8i.