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@fonsingugle71952 жыл бұрын
I had this telescope for around 10 years, I barely know how to use it, but tonight I'm alone, my wife still working, my youngest daughter goes with the nieces. I'm about to turn into am expert with your vids. Gracias amigo!!
@LearnToStargaze2 жыл бұрын
Great to hear!
@danielleotis626217 күн бұрын
Thank you! My son got this for christmas and I was clueless on how to use it!
@astrotherapist3 жыл бұрын
I wish you had shown how to put together the telescope in regular speed and verbally explained what you are doing. I just got this telescope today and it looks hard as hell to assemble and get everything correctly put together.
@brynayliebyrn72412 жыл бұрын
Agreed.
@robertshea-de-gore2 жыл бұрын
best video of all the ones I have seen about this telescope, which is my first ever and after watching this video we were outside on the deck blown away by looking at the moon! We'll watch part 2 and 3, thank you for making these, very helpful.
@mitranmarian16643 жыл бұрын
i am new to this, and thinking about buying this exact telescope, is it good enough for a begginer?
@LearnToStargaze3 жыл бұрын
I mean, I have an astrophysics degree and work at an observatory. This is the most difficult telescope I have ever used. Does that answer your question?
@LearnToStargaze3 жыл бұрын
A 102mm Meade or 100mm Celestron would be a much better option.
@jongroubert42033 жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze So, why didn't you say that in the video?
@WhirligigGirl3 жыл бұрын
Do not buy a powerseeker. Even though the author of this video shows off a lot of the problems with this scope, I think he doesn't hammer home enough that this is a bad scope for beginners. All of the powerseekers and most of celestron's other beginner scopes are bad. Many of meade and orion's beginner scopes are low quality too and it can be difficult to avoid crappy scopes in the budget price range. Get a $330 6" Dobsonian. (Orion, Apertura, and SkyWatcher sell these). If you can't afford it, get a $200 5" tabletop reflector (AWB OneSky 130, SkyWatcher Heritage 130, or Zhumell Z130). If you can't afford that, get the $150 Zhumell Z114 (or a used Orion StarBlast 4.5) If you can't afford that, either get the Zhumell Z100/Orion SkyScanner 100 tabletop reflector for $100, or a decent pair of binoculars. (7x50s or 10x50s). I highly recommend saving up for the 5" tabletop or 6" full-size dobsonians if you possibly can. Dobsonian reflectors (and tabletop dobsonians) are the very best telescope for any beginner. They are newtonian reflectors on simple, sturdy, easy to use rockerbox mounts which go up, down, and all around. They are the best bang for your buck, because both the optics and mount are affordable and work great. Telescopes on tripods need to have mounts which cost almost as much as the entire telescope itself. That means either the big telescope you want will be extra expensive, or you have to settle for a smaller one. Dobsonians don't have this problem because their design is extremely simple and sturdy, whereas undersized eq and altaz mounts can cause a lot of wobble. also get the book Turn Left At Orion, which will show you how to find lots of stuff in the sky in small and large telescopes. The author of this video also has a book, maybe check that out too, I've never read it.
@PerrynBecky3 жыл бұрын
Like with any hobby whether it's photography, riding bikes, drones, or even this hobby; you are going to encounter gear snobs. You have to start somewhere, so don't let other's opinions scare you off, or convince you to go out and plunk down a grand on a scope that you might lose interest in. It's better to put just under $200.00 into something like this or comparable to it, and not invest as much money only to have this gathering dust in your garage or attic, than something costing you a grand gathering dust. Today this very telescope came to my door. It's my second one I have ever owned, the first one was a yardsale special that was beat up, had scratched lenses, etc, but I got my first view of Saturn with it, even though it was blurry, but I could still see the rings around the planet, and was totally fascinated by the whole business and wanted to eventually get something better. I did a preliminary set up on the new scope today, and currently it's cloudy, windy and cold, but it's supposed to be mostly clear tonight at 1 am, so I'm going to give it a go. Do I expect shots like the ones on the box? No. I understand the value of good glass and equipment as a wildlife photographer, but even then; I started out with a super cheap point and shoot that was only able to give me 30 jpeg photos in 2001, and it was a serious piece of junk. If you can afford to get something better like around the $400 range and you are sure that this is what you want to do, then it might be a good idea to do more research and choose something you can grow into. If this is something you aren't sure about but want to get some good shots of the moon or just to stargaze, then this might be suitable. Right now the price of these scopes have went out of this world, and there are toy scopes that can be had for $40 out there that are tabletop scopes, but if you want to get anything more than the moon, you will need to set your sights a little higher. (No pun intended.) :-)
@technicaltreats27043 жыл бұрын
Can Neptune viewed?
@samdrey65552 ай бұрын
I got this scope used, amazing images of the moon and Jupiter, but the included barlow is really bad, never succeeded to get it in focus ... apparently I'm not alone :/
@LearnToStargaze2 ай бұрын
Glad you were able to see Jupiter!
@samdrey65552 ай бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze thanks ! I also spotted Saturn as it was close to the Moon during the partial eclipse we had back in September (in Ottawa, ON) 🤗 tried to take pics with my Celestron NexYZ but Saturn as well as Jupiter does not look great using just the phone ... I'll try to get the ZWO camera you showcased on Part 3 :)
@wartrude Жыл бұрын
Your videos are super helpful. Do you know where I can get the correct screw for the Celestron Piwerseeker 70EQ? The one that they provided is too short to secure the counterweight. Thanks.
@LearnToStargaze Жыл бұрын
Interesting, they must have put the wrong one in the box. Best to contact Celestron directly.
@lprocksenator Жыл бұрын
How do you focus? I got that telescope for my birthday last year and I still don't know how to use it. lol! My brother tried and all he saw was blur.
@LearnToStargaze Жыл бұрын
You need to practice on distant objects during the day. See how the the telescope reaches focus with each eyepiece. Focus using the set of knobs below the eyepiece. Don’t use the Barlow that came with the telescope.
@wolfpupp2 жыл бұрын
My niece has this and lost the instructions. I'm trying to put it together but the video was so fast and hard to see to follow. 😭
@LearnToStargaze2 жыл бұрын
Haha, I mean really, the age restriction on this telescope should read “For professional engineers aged 55-80”.
@jaylaine17 Жыл бұрын
Hey John, Why is there always a limit in the telescope?
@LearnToStargaze Жыл бұрын
Because of the laws of physics. Light obeys this formula as it forms an image with a lens: θ = 1.2 x λ / D θ is the resolution ( in radians), λ is the wavelength of light, and D is the diameter of the telescope’s primary lens. This angle is essentially the size of the smallest object the telescope can distinguish. If you calculate this for the Moon for a backyard telescope, you get an a angle corresponding to a size of between 1 and 2 kilometers.
@jaylaine17 Жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze I not in that math level...
@LearnToStargaze Жыл бұрын
@@jaylaine17 one radian is about 57 degrees.
@lornaz19753 жыл бұрын
Have you thought about reviewing the 80mm version of this scope??
@LearnToStargaze3 жыл бұрын
I thought about it, but the demonstration would be effectively identical to the 70mm version.
@LearnToStargaze3 жыл бұрын
I will be reviewing a 60mm antique version soon though.
@lornaz19753 жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze I guess you have a point but still I would watch it! Opportunity to cover something you might have missed.
@lornaz19753 жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze Eager to see it!
@Greenie102 жыл бұрын
I was wondering when my mom and dad built this telescope there was no lens on the front I was wondering where is that in the box
@LearnToStargaze2 жыл бұрын
The primary lens is glued to the tube. If it’s missing send it back.
@Greenie102 жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze I realized that
@hayannerodrigues18552 жыл бұрын
Hi, I'm from Brazil. Which one is better, Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ or PowerSeeker 80EQ? (First telescope)
@LearnToStargaze2 жыл бұрын
Are these your only choices? I state the minimum requirements for what constitutes a beginner telescope in several of my videos. Neither of these telescopes meet the minimum requirements for a beginner telescope (although the 80EQ far more annoying to use, than the 70AZ). In summary: A beginner telescope shall: -have 4 inches of aperture or greater, -include an AZ mount that stays where you point it without slipping when you let go, -include a red-dot or bulls-eye finder, -be easy to use when pointed high in the sky. A beginner telescope shall not have "Bird Jones" in the focuser (this is generally any telescope with 114mm or 127mm of aperture). Most all small Dobsonians meet these requirements, as well as many 102mm refractors.
@CompadreUSA3 жыл бұрын
Why do they include the 4mm eyepiece then ?
@LearnToStargaze3 жыл бұрын
So they can say "350x Power" on the box.
@mastergene8252 жыл бұрын
would this thing fit inside a luggage for a plane?
@LearnToStargaze2 жыл бұрын
No, I travel with a c90 Mak telescope
@mastergene8252 жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze thanks!
@mastergene8252 жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze could I bother you again? could you give me the measurements of the telescope unit itself? (eg is it like 90cm/35inch long? because i cannot find it online about the telescope unit itself) I would like to buy it as an gift for someone :)
@LearnToStargaze2 жыл бұрын
Which telescope, the C90?
@LearnToStargaze2 жыл бұрын
@@mastergene825 The powerseeker telescope isn't really something you would want to buy as a gift.... It's sooo much more work than a more basic telescope like a small dobsonian.
@tamara_v3 жыл бұрын
What about 40 AZ ?? for beginners??
@LearnToStargaze3 жыл бұрын
No, that scope would also fail every test as to what makes a good beginner telescope. The ideal beginner telescope is a 6 or 8 inch dobsonian.
@tamara_v3 жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze upss i will get that 😅 but u can’t see moon ??
@tamara_v3 жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze so basically i can have this telescope more for decoration 😂🔥🔥🔥🔥 uhhh 😬
@Astronomer118 Жыл бұрын
@@tamara_v Please tell me you didn't buy that scope
@jongroubert42033 жыл бұрын
Hi, John. Just finished watching all three videos on this scope. I'm not sure why you're reviewing this scope as opposed to something more worthy - which is basically any other entry-level scope. This Powerseeker 70 is the very definition of a "department store junk telescope". You gave many reasons for this throughout the video. Like you said, the first tip off is the inclusion of that 3x Barlow. Heck, even the inclusion of that 4mm eyepiece is ridiculous - as you mentioned in the video - the magnification far, FAR exceeds the capability of the telescope. And like you also discussed, the Barlow is practically useless. (By the way, a much easier way to calculate that maximum magnification is simply to double the aperture in mm. 70mm x 2 = 140x.) Plus, those incredible pictures on the box are just a bad come-on to the consumer, showing them things that they will never, EVER see visually through the scope. The ridiculous (but humorous!) lengths you went to in your third video to duplicate that photo with this scope conclusively prove this. These pictures on department store scope boxes set expectations waaaay too high. This leads to disappointment and frustration in the consumer when they don't see the pretty pictures on the box through their scope. They end up selling scopes like this at their next garage sale, or donating them to Goodwill, and then leaving the hobby forever. This is not what we want. Like you said, EQ mounts are silly on these entry-level, beginner scopes. It is still very easy to track an object on an alt-az mount, and they are far, far easier to set up. I've always found that these entry-level EQ mounts are much more trouble than they're worth. As you discuss at length in the second video, you have to do a polar alignment with these EQ mounts to get the benefit of being able to track on only one axis (the RA axis). However, when you actually use the scope, I've found that you often have to fight with the mount to get it to point where you want it to. The end result is usually me picking up the entire scope and rotating it to get the telescope to point at whatever object I want to see. You have to do meridian flips with EQ scopes. You have to balance the telescope and counterweight with these EQ scopes. As you discussed, the setting circles on these cheap, entry-level EQ mounts have far too much error in them to allow them to use them accurately, and (as you also mentioned), no one does this anymore. All of this business unnecessarily complicates using a telescope for a beginner. My philosophy with a beginning astronomer is to get them out with a nice scope that is as simple to use as possible. An alt-az mounted scope requires none of these shenanigans and meets this requirement handily. An alt-az scope is simply point and view - no polar alignment, no balancing. (By the way, you say in the second video that Polaris is 0.45 degrees from the true North Celestial Pole. That is incorrect. It is actually about 45 minutes from the NCP; this works out to be 0.75 degrees.). In the US, this scope, the PowerSeeker 70, is $129. For only a few dollars more, you can get a better scope, on an easy-to-use alt-az mount, with better eyepieces. Meade has the Infinity and StarPro lines, which come in 70mm, 80mm, 90mm, and 102mm sizes. The 70mm starts at about $149 and will be so much easier to use than the PS70. Each of these scopes - in both lines - comes with three eyepieces (Kellners) and a 2x Barlow - not a ridiculous 3x Barlow. Almost all of the magnification combinations with the Barlow are suited to the magnification limitations of the scope, except for the very highest ones. In your second video, you recommend replacing the inadequate finderscope that comes with the PS70 with an RDF. These Meade scopes - both lines of scopes - already come with an RDF. The additional $15-20 cost for doing this brings the end cost of the PS70 right in line with the initial, out-of-the-box cost of either the Infinity 70 or the StarPro 70. You also mention in the second video to upgrade the 20mm eyepiece that comes with the PS70 because it has a bit too narrow of a field of view to allow the user to find things easily, so that they should go out and buy a 24mm-28mm eyepiece instead to fix this problem. Again, the Meade scopes already come with a 26mm eyepiece (not the Meade 26mm Plossl you showed; the 26mm that comes with the Meade scopes is a Kellner design) right in the box that solves this problem. In the second video you discuss the limited range of motion of the declination slow-motion control. This isn't a problem on the Meade StarPro line of scopes. This line has slo-mo controls that work infinitely in either direction, on both axes, without ever needing to wind them back, so to speak. (It would have been nice if these infinite controls were available on the Infinity line of scopes, but hey, I don't work in Meade's marketing department to name these scopes!). Like you, I too have found that the RA slo-mo control fails very quickly on these cheap EQ mounts. This isn't a problem with the particular one you bought, but a problem that is endemic to these entry-level EQ mounts generally. Again, the slo-mo controls on the Meade alt-az mounts don't suffer from this problem on either axis - they just work. And again, the movement of the entire scope left and right on that base is a problem that is endemic to these entry-level EQ mounts, no matter how much you try to tighten them. This removes the entire reason for having an EQ mount in the first place. I wish you would have come out in your conclusion in the second video and stated that you don't recommend this telescope. Compared to the equivalent Meades, it fails badly.
@christiana88203 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the concise comment. I saved it to share with the astronomy club members on 2 flash drives as it didn't all fit on the first one.. :-)
@emc90293 жыл бұрын
You really don't have much to do.do you?
@CompadreUSA3 жыл бұрын
Well I was trying to get my kid interested in astronomy, who spends so much time on videos games. But after reading the comments of this telescope, I am starting to regret buying it and the boom was suggested by Amazon too. So now I am thinking this is a scam.
@CompadreUSA3 жыл бұрын
Boom, Book..I meant to type
@thedude2424253 жыл бұрын
Well damn John, I feel robbed and I haven’t failed at putting it together or finding anything yet…great job
@BrettGoldsmith-g1s2 ай бұрын
You say to not use the Barlow but surely that would be better with the 20mm to see Saturn and rings then just the 20mm wouldn’t it. Okay the quality won’t change but may be able to see it a bit better. To be fair the 20mm and 4mm are both mediocre lenses, what lenses would you say are better for the 80eq
@LearnToStargaze2 ай бұрын
For the price of a new eyepiece you could probably replace this with a better telescope. That would be the best way to improve the view. But with the scope, I’d get a 10mm Baader Hyperion eyepiece.
@BrettGoldsmith-g1s2 ай бұрын
@ I take it 10mm would be the absolute lowest mm to get for the 80eq as the 4mm I got I threw away as it’s just trash. Looking for decent quality lenses without the massive price tag as I am very new to this, I saw Saturn and the rings last night in the UK but would have enjoyed it more if I could see more detail and preferably looks bigger
@LearnToStargaze2 ай бұрын
@@BrettGoldsmith-g1s The best thing you can do to improve your view is to increase your aperture. 70mm is VERY small for planets.
@BrettGoldsmith-g1s2 ай бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze so don’t bother getting any 10mm eye piece and bin the 80eq 😂 what telescope would you recommend for a beginner. I’m 34 but new to this (don’t judge 😂) my budget is up to £300 to be realistic until I’m better at this
@LearnToStargaze2 ай бұрын
@@BrettGoldsmith-g1s Bresser has the 5 Inch Dobsonian for £239.00. But a 6 inch version with a higher focal length would provide some incredible views of the planets: £348.00. www.bresseruk.com/p/bresser-messier-6-planetary-dobson-telescope-4716416
@Blackdwarff11 ай бұрын
And you can see Uranus with this telescope, just use 4mm eyepiece to it
@LearnToStargaze11 ай бұрын
I’m mean, technically you can see Uranus without any telescope from Dark Skies.
@shawneewithers926 Жыл бұрын
really? you couldn't help with assembly?
@LearnToStargaze Жыл бұрын
It took about 2 months of editing to make this 3 video series. There are other videos from other KZbinrs that cover assembly. No need to create something that’s already been done.
@Ahnowayreally2 ай бұрын
@@LearnToStargazeif you can’t instruct on the the assembly just say it. Too many replies from you telling people oh well when the title clearly states assembly. Don’t use editing an an excuse. Come on dude…
@christiana88203 жыл бұрын
They lost me on this one when they included the 4 mm EP.......
@LearnToStargaze3 жыл бұрын
I mean, that's the least of the issues.
@_TheFlash12 Жыл бұрын
Bro let me see how to build it bruh
@LearnToStargaze Жыл бұрын
I thought you were the Engineer?
@rickbarg3980 Жыл бұрын
Why does mostly everyone do speed assemblies 👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻👎🏻
@LearnToStargaze Жыл бұрын
Because people get bored of you don’t, and then no one sees the video at all.
@Astronomer118 Жыл бұрын
Did yours not come with a instruction manual 😑
@Tre26 Жыл бұрын
This telescope is great for throwing money away, the image it gives you is like the material it’s made from. Recycled garbage
@LearnToStargaze Жыл бұрын
Although I agree with your assessment of the quality of this telescope, the image itself in this telescope does improve with the use of a proper eyepiece (not included of course). I completed all of RASC’s Explore the Moon program with this scope while we were filing the “Moon at Noon” show, and besides the crappy mount, the telescope was well suited to that observing program.
@Tre26 Жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze ahahaha sorry I just need to get anger out from trying to use it lastnight, I’m sure it works good with patience which my back at a 45 degree angle does not. Thank you for letting me know there’s a missing more clear eye piece. I will continue my mission to scan the stars lol
@LearnToStargaze Жыл бұрын
@@Tre26 No worries. Even a $20 eyepiece like this would massively improve this telescope: www.amazon.com/SVBONY-Telescope-Eyepiece-Apparent-Astronomy/dp/B01MAZ7LA6
@Tre26 Жыл бұрын
@@LearnToStargaze thank you sir! Much appreciation on linking it too