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Top 3 Best Telescope Under $500
Top 3 Best Telescope Under $500
- This 5.1 inch aperture reflector telescope gathers an ample amount of light for great views of the planets and Moon, as well as brighter galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters
Last update on 2020-02-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1.Orion 27191 StarBlast 6i IntelliScope Reflector Telescope
For anyone who lives in a light-polluted suburb, or for people who don’t have a lot of time to locate objects by using star charts and reload or visual finder scopes, Orion 27191 StarBlast 6i reflector telescope is Godsend.
The easy to use Object Locator’s database holds information and coordinates for over 14,000 celestial objects– galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, planets, etc.
This is another easily portable scope that weighs only 24 pounds.
Two Plossl eyepieces are included a 10mm and 25mm, giving magnification levels of 30x and 75x.
2.Celestron NexStar 130SLT Computerized Telescope
The Celestron NexStar 130 SLT is a perfect telescope for anyone wanting something to use with their family or on camping trips.
It’s lightweight & durable. It’s comfortable, easy to align, has wonderful contrast, and has plenty of pre-programmed objects to find with the built-in computer.
If you want the joys of seeing beautiful cosmic objects, without the hassle and cost of a “professional-grade” telescope, the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT is a great choice!
Pros:
- Accurate alignment, comfortable, well-built
- High price for beginners & casual/recreational astronomers
Cons:
- Fairly unstable tripod
For its price under $500, the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT is very tough to beat!
It’s easy to align, it’s durable, and it’s perfect for backyard stargazing or taking on camping trips.
If you’re looking for something that will give you “more bang for your buck,” then the Celestron NexStar 130 SLT might be just what you’ve been looking for.
3.Orion 8945 SkyQuest XT8 Classic Dobsonian Telescope
For most astronomers who are just starting, Dobsonian reflector telescopes are a popular option.
The Orion XT8 Dobsonian is a mid-range reflector telescope. It provides a great balance between portability, price, and general performance.
The XT8 features an 8″ (203mm) primary mirror. With a focal length of 1200mm, this provides a focal ratio of f5.9.
Sophisticated observers will appreciate the XT8’s 2″ focuser which allows for more astronomical eyepieces, or even a “T” adapter for brief-exposure astrophotography.
New observers will like the built-in 2″ to 1.25″ eyepiece adapter, which allows the use of 1.25″ eyepieces with no apparent “wobble.”
The XT8 is equipped with a 25mm (1.25″) Plossl eyepiece, which performs well as a medium-power eyepiece.
Assembling the XT8 takes very little time and is a simple job with the included wrenches. The mount is pretty sturdy and allows for smooth rotation of the optical tube because of the Teflon azimuth bearings.
Moving the optical tube in altitude was likewise accessible, and the springs supplied sufficient tension to prevent drifting.
In Summary, the Orion XT8 is a great mid-level telescope that balances price and performance.
Despite Orion’s classification of this telescope as “Intermediate,” the XT8 would be an excellent option for a beginning astronomer or an experienced observer looking to add a new scope to their collection.
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