How To Use Any Telescope: From Setup To Stargazing

[@WildwoodSubRailfan]

Your content is a vital resource for anyone wanting to get into this hobby. Earlier this week I saw Mercury for the first time ever, and a couple of months back I saw 2 of Jupiter's cloud belts very clearly. There is just something about seeing it for yourself looking through your own telescope. One thing I would add is that filters can sometimes make a big difference. I live in a Bortle 5 area and really could not see much when looking at M42 through a 4" refractor. I picked up a Svbony UHC filter and was stunned at the detail that became visible. A neutral or moon filter can really bring out a lot of detail on the moon as well.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Good call about the filters. I’ll talk about that in a future video.

[@hmuphilly9129]

Bortle 5? You should be able to at least make out andromeda galaxy i believe.

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@hmuphilly9129 Yeah, that's why I said "most of the time", what I mean is, if your goal is to go see galaxies (plural) then it's best to find dark skies. I can generally make out M31, M81, and M82 from Bortle 7, but the views are not great at all compared to a dark sky.

[@hmuphilly9129]

@@LearnToStargaze not even my bortle 5 skies are good enough to see anything and cars keep driving past by and a cop just has to come to my spot and bother me i have to drive about 3 hrs to get to at least a bortle 4 but with inflation of gas.. And the amount of dangerous drivers in my state. Not worth it Speaking of M81 im having trouble locating with binoculars but with my celestron starsense I can point to it once aligned. Weird right?

[@gariebarradas3321]

I am now starting this hobby under the Philippine skies. Started with Binocular astronomy then leveling up to Telescope. Thanks for the Great Info. Awesome insights. Clear skies!

[@LearnToStargaze]

Thanks!

[@southerncross4956]

NOT ABOUT THIS VIDEO……I was hoping to find someone to walk me through set up and operating a reflector EQ telescope. In short order I found you are the that someone. Heaven help me I have purchased a 130mm reflector EQ telescope. Now I stand a chance of using this contraption!

[@LearnToStargaze]

As long as you have a laser collimator and practice with the EQ, you should have success with that scope.

[@ThePhoenixSlayer]

As someone with very weak eye-sight, I recently scrounged up my passed father's old "telescope" (it's nothing more than a spotting scope, but I've decided to give stargazing a go). I've never been able to see the stars, and after trying tonight, I still couldn't see them, even though my mother told me that she could see them clearly (she tried viewing them through the scope, and also couldn't see them. I've decided that it might be that the scope is just to weak, or that the light pollution is just too bad, but in a couple of days the moon while rise early enough for me to go take a view. I can't wait, and hope that this hobby might become part of me.

[@LearnToStargaze]

You might want to start with the Moon. There is a lot to see on the lunar surface.

[@ThePhoenixSlayer]

@@LearnToStargaze That is what I was thinking. I could never see the moon well with the naked eye, it just looks like a white speck to me, so I'm very excited to see it from up close!

[@dutchbeef8920]

@@ThePhoenixSlayerhave you considered star field binoculars? They typically have 2x magnification. I have pretty bad eye sight and they really enhance what I can see in the night sky. You can adjust the diopter on each eye allowing me to use them without my glasses. I also use a pair of fixed focus binoculars which are the only optics I can comfortably use with my glasses on. They’re a pair of celestron nf (non focus) 7x50 binoculars

[@ThePhoenixSlayer]

@@dutchbeef8920 No, I haven't even heard of this before. I'll definetely look it up and see if I can give it a go. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@djmicrowave6073]

2:48, i have just got a telescope with an exact mount as that, at first it was absolute shite, breathing on it would cause it to shake, i took it apart and lubrucated all the rotation points and put it back together tight, its is now very good, its a lot better as long as you have shock pads under the mount legs, just putting this for anyone who was unfortunate enough to get one of these poorly put together mounts.

[@andrewbennett5733]

I have a "hobby killer" from when I was in high school, but I'm very fortunate to have grown up near a museum with a great planetarium and observatory, and even more fortunate to have a great dad who was willing to take me to watch (almost) the same planetarium show every Friday and look through their telescopes. I care much more about the learning and the seeing than I do the quality of gear, so the bad mount and almost-stripped-out adjustment screws are only a mild inconvenience. One of these days I'll invest in a better one so hopefully I can share my love of the sky with my son! Thanks so much for your awesome videos, they have really helped me out lately!!

[@LearnToStargaze]

Thanks for the great comment!

[@hula62]

When I was younger, I was always jealous that my brother received science gifts like a telescope. As an adult, I bought my own telescope so much fun. Remember, parents girls might like a telescope too.

[@Nanou197373]

Thank you for all your videos, it's super helpful! I've just bought my first telescope (Celestron Inspire 100 AZ) and I live in a tiny village, with great views of the sky at night. Your videos have been of great help to get me all set up and I've really enjoyed the experience.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Thanks for the wonderful comment!

[@-108-]

Here's one tip for beginners: Don't spend more than $300 on your first telescope. If you find you really enjoy using it for a decent period of time, and are seriously interested in Astrophotography, don't spend less than $2000 (brand new) on your next one. Make it at least a 10" Schmidt Cassegrain or equivalent refractor type. Don't inch up in sizes - you'll end up wasting money and time. Go all in and get a clock driven, professional grade scope. If astrophotgraphy isn't your interest, don't buy another scope at all, as that's all they are good for.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Can you provide some examples of sub $150 telescopes that meet the 5 minimum requirements for a basic beginner telescope?

[@-108-]

@@LearnToStargaze I cannot. I actually edited my comment to say $300, as I was thinking in terms of 1980s economics.

[@mikeh8848]

I've been looking at an 8" dob for my first scope

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@mikeh8848 that’s the best first scope for sure!

[@mikeh8848]

@@LearnToStargaze awesome, thank you for the input. I knew next to zero about telescopes prior to about a week ago, so its been a bit overwhelming to try and learn the different fields/practices and whatnot. Super excited to get started

[@JurassicCorner]

Went stargazing last night early morning at a bortle 3 site. Have been watching your channel since I got into the hobby over a year ago. Always have a copy of you 110 Things book with me while observing. While not part of the list this morning i caught an ISS Passover and noticed something trailing it close behind during the entire pass. Then later nasa posted they had just released the Cygnus cargo craft from the station and it would burn up during re-entry later in the day. Love seeing unexpected sights while stargazing!

[@LearnToStargaze]

So cool to catch Cygnus! I think the last time I saw the ISS with another spacecraft in formation was back in the Space Shuttle days ~2011 I think.

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

I have just bought my first scope an 8 inch dob so hope I can learn the basics from people like yourself!

[@LearnToStargaze]

Congrats! That’s a wonderful telescope!

[@Jim-Stick]

This is incredibly helpful! I struggled through figuring our how to use my microscope. Knew I was coming into something with my new telescope.

[@alexgptb5276]

Perfect timing! My first telescope will arrive on Tuesday!

[@LearnToStargaze]

Congrats!

[@Andro_galaxy]

I just got the Omni AZ 102, and I’m so excited to use it! I’ve wanted one for so long and I’m making sure to check all your videos about it!

[@LearnToStargaze]

Wonderful!

[@Boxxkarr]

I got one a year ago, and love the 102 az! You can see the moon, planets, the sun WITH PROPER FILTER, nebula, clusters and land targets. It is a wonderful telescope!

[@gypsycrow3917]

Wish I could give you 1000 likes, just picked up a pretty decent telescope with a motorized mount (not working) at the local goodwill and had no idea what the different eye pieces were for. I definitely would have tried the smallest one first. Thanks to your guidance here, I just got to truly see Jupiter for the first time in my life. Adjusting here and there and getting the feel of the trajectory, seeing it drift across the lens was well worth the 2 hours I spent cursing my unsteady hands... in short, thank you! Subbed!

[@LearnToStargaze]

Thanks!

[@Miguel...160]

Thankyou so much for this video ...i've just bought a Skywatcher .. total beginner 😊

[@LearnToStargaze]

You’re welcome!

[@Yash._0]

Finnaly you are back with awesome video

[@homerelesperance2857]

Excellent advisory video to the world of telescope.

[@hashtaglobotomy2655]

Solid video. I just picked up and successfully collimated my new Orion xt8 plus. Was hoping to get it out today but the rain got in the way. I too have 1 zoom eyepiece. A 8-24 1.25, even though I have a 2 inch Crawford. Makes it easier to kinda see whats up before I either put my cam on it or slap on a 28 or 32 superwide 2 in. I had a 150 newt on an eq before this. Learned a lot from that one. Hopefully at some point I can get my 8 on a go-to mount and just be able to swap between that and a rc. It's definitely fun to learn all this stuff. I like not having to worry about anything but just me pointing a scope and look and photograph whatever I fancy at the time. Very peaceful. I have a tiny custom webcam I out on a little tiny mount that's fun to mess around with when catfishing at night as well.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Great comment! Thanks!

[@hashtaglobotomy2655]

@@LearnToStargaze Thank you for all the great content. I have learned so much passively watching your videos. You have helped a lot of people. Of that I'm sure.

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@hashtaglobotomy2655 thanks!

[@harryedwards9318]

Really helpful thanks 😊

[@williamsutton6738]

Fun fact: if you point your telescope at the sun, and hold paper up to the eyepiece, it can burn a hole in the paper.

[@LearnToStargaze]

And if you look at the paper, you’ll damage your eyes.

[@Hoshimaru57]

Okay. So for years and years I had a Nextron refractor lying around that I got as a kid and never used. I thought it was broken but didn’t have to heart to tell my parents or grandparents. Then at some point I decided to give it a try, and while I had no idea how to align the red dot, I managed to get the moon, Jupiter, and Saturn with a huge amount of effort. My base lens is a 10mm and I’ve got a 5mm that I just found. So I thought that was higher zoom because all I was seeing was tiny white discs barely bigger than what I figured I’d see with my binoculars. Turns out I saw EXACTLY what I should be expecting. I think the bug issue is that everything oversells what space actually looks like. So I’ve been going “if only I could see it bigger, I’d see it better.” When in reality I’m probably just setting myself up for a huge headache. But at least now I know that I somehow managed to do everything right by sheer luck, and more importantly, that the present my grandparents got me all those years ago didn’t go to waste.

[@Hoshimaru57]

That said! How do you keep track of planets? They move, quite quickly. Saturn zipped through the field of view every 40 seconds, and Jupiter wasn’t much better. I’m hoping to see a comet and I’m worried about being able to catch it, especially since my view appears to be inverted on both axes. So most of the time all I’m seeing if anything is tiny brief flashes of stuff going by. I’m hoping calibrating my red dot will help so I won’t have to spend an hour trying to find anything smaller than the moon. And nebulae and galaxies are a no go considering I live in a brightly lit apartment complex that can be seen from Mars.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Less magnification will slow how fast objects move across your FOV.

[@bibit3856]

Thank you so much. You are awesome!

[@marsobjectcosmos2249]

Thanks for making this video 👍

[@LearnToStargaze]

Thanks!!!

[@theghastlygamer5326]

I got a second hand homemade 14 inch dobsonian for 50 bucks and love it. My only complaint is too heavy to take somewhere remote so usually only use it in my yard

[@LearnToStargaze]

$50? That’s amazing! I bet Saturn looks great these days!

[@rajuvijayan9740]

Hi, I bought a Celestron astromaster 130 EQ from the used market. after Assembling, found that the image is inverted and at an angle too. Can you please advise why this is so.

[@LearnToStargaze]

It’s not technically inverted, you’re using a concave mirror (like a spoon) to collect light and another flat mirror to reflect the image into the eyepiece. This results in a 180 degree rotation. The angle is because you’re viewing from the side.

[@ericheidel1959]

Very new to star gazing but have always found it fascinating. the other night I did find the tsuchinshan-atlas comet with it. Would really love to get a good view of Andromeda and Saturn. It seems so small and blurry and a little frustrating.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Dark skies (bortle 1-2) and binoculars are best for andromeda.

[@yasirgd]

I have Celestrone Astromaster 114eq. This is my first telescope. I think is not bad with a Barlow lens.

[@LearnToStargaze]

What have you been looking at? I think the combination would only look good on Jupiter the Moon and Saturn.

[@yasirgd]

@@LearnToStargaze Maybe Andromeda Galaxy tho or some other bright Nebulas

[@tuunaes]

@@yasirgd Low/medium magnification targets are for what it's decent. As usual for all these supermarket telescopes, mount is simply flimsy and shaky to use high magnifications. And even if mount was ok, optics is total scam design and incapable to image sharpness/magnifications that aperture should give. Except for various Cassegrains, tube of reflector is always about as long as focal length. Anything else tells it's Barlowed blur generator made by fraudsters. And Celestron is basically run by those with anything not Schmidt-Cassegrain at best average for the price and many are pure scams.

[@DavidMFChapman]

I wish that battery-powered finders had an timed auto-off option.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Yup.

[@UnknowinglyOB]

I know right mine died out now it's very hard to find objects

[@BloxxyYT-rbxm]

most reliable video ever thanks for helping :D

[@LearnToStargaze]

Thanks! That’s why we made it! It took several months to film.

[@BloxxyYT-rbxm]

@@LearnToStargaze keep up the great work!

[@Tanuki_03]

Thanks for this. I just started and now have a better idea of what to do!😅

[@riunee]

Hello, i would like to ask if you have any recommendations for a beginner telescope that can look at both planetary objects, and deep skies? (Great video btw!)

[@LearnToStargaze]

Hi! This is all budget dependent. Great at both might be a Celestron Evolution 8, but that’s not the right fit for everyone’s budget. An 8 inch Dobsonian is another great option (but these are also getting up there).

[@ziyacosar]

Great video

[@Conquistadoom]

Thank you for this video. I just rushed to cancel my order of the exact same Celestron travel telescope you showed. 😅

[@LearnToStargaze]

What will you get instead?

[@Conquistadoom]

@@LearnToStargaze I'm going to follow your advice and get at least four inches of aperture. Thinking of a smaller "light bucket"....?

[@saifwaris]

Best information

[@saifwaris]

I want to learn how to use a telescope which video is your best explanation. Send me a link. I am from India

[@LearnToStargaze]

This is by far the best video in that regard.

[@ukuleila]

Wonderful video, thank you

[@LearnToStargaze]

Thanks!

[@grugbug4313]

Solid! Top KEK! Peace be with you.

[@LearnToStargaze]

What’s a KEK?

[@grugbug4313]

@@LearnToStargaze Depends on usage. It's used mainly on chat boards. In this case "Top KEK!" means superb excellent or well done. Hope that helps. Peace be with you.

[@gladperson116]

I would love to see a comparison between 2 newtonain telescopes that have the same stats, for example I recently saw a massive dubsonian mounted 8" f5 telescope but then I found a newtonian telescope that's way shorter (half the length) and is still 8" f5. It would be nice to see a comparison using same eye peices and how they differ from eachother.

[@LearnToStargaze]

If it’s half the length are you sure they’re both newtonians? Do you have links?

[@gladperson116]

@LearnToStargaze I did more digging and I was wrong the docal ratios are different in some way. Im super new to this and it would still be interesting to see how much of a difference it would be to have a newtonian with different focal ratios for example how much of a difference it would be having a f/4 vs for example a f/6 focal ratio for visual astronomy. I was always at the assumption that the mirror size is the most important thing to be able to see dim objects

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@gladperson116 hi! I did a bit of a comparison in my Explore Firstlight 114 video. The biggest determinant in seeing dim objects is the darkness of your skies. Aperture increases resolution, and makes it easier to use increased magnification. Seeing dim galaxies also has to do with the signal to noise ratio of the light entering your eye, which has to do with matching the exit pupil of your telescope to the size of your actual pupil (about 3mm seems to be ideal).

[@Name-1r]

Thank you for the video very educational and helpful.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Thanks for the kind comment!

[@MountainFisher]

That AZ 102 Celestron I found the chromatic aberration is taken care of with a #8 light yellow filter or a #11 light yellow/green planetary filters if the blue fringe is a problem. It usually is only a problem for really bright objects like the Moon or Venus. Venus in my son's Celestron 127 Maksutov was so bright he was surprised and I only had a 25mm eyepiece in it, I set my polarizing filter in it at its lightest setting and he was surprised to see Venus so sharp. A polarizing filter only costs about $20 or so.

[@aWideLoadd]

Hey, sorry to sound crazy but I know the exact place this was filmed as I drive by there very often and I live close by! I actually just recently as of yesterday purchased a 6" skywatcher 150p. I am brand new to this stargazing stuff, and I am using a lot of your videos for information. if you are still in the area, i'd love to learn more from you !

[@LearnToStargaze]

I’m still here!

[@Jessicasara0207]

Super helpful video thanks

[@LearnToStargaze]

Glad to help!

[@fobby_squid]

Only just found out that small telescopes can still see really far and make great shots of the night sky since my parents bought my sister and I a powerseeker 127EQ as kids 😭😭😭 I always wanted to (and still want to) see the night sky and all that, but I thought it was all over since I could barely see Jupiter at all because quality was so bad 😭😭😭

[@LearnToStargaze]

Yes, that is this telescope: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4nJg2qPiatol5Ysi=EfW71JB8f74j9M_s

[@johnfennessy9451]

Just got my 1st telescope today. I dont know what im doing yet. Haven't even got a chance to open the box. Im excited to hopefully find a new hobby.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Congrats!

[@Peter.A-A]

Thanks for this great video. My son and I bought a Celestron Astromaster 130EQ some weeks ago, and we barely manage to get anything out of it. 99% of the time it is impossible to get anything useful in view, and if we find anything from the telescope dancing around, it is so hard to find focus. Unfortunately my son have given up. I can already now say it is a mistake for a total noob, to buy a telescope with a EQ mount, which is impossible to move around by hand. But I will learn it. What else are dad´s for. Now I will find your EQ video. Thanks.

[@LearnToStargaze]

I hope you find joy in the telescope! Thanks for the comment!

[@tuunaes]

Actually good equatorial mount head and tripod indeed cost far more than whole beginner telescope. Also optics of that Astromaster are most of the time likely bad with cheapo spherical mirror. So even if mount was actually decent, you would unlikely to be proper higher magnification views of the Moon and planets. Celestron is basically run by scammers frauding consumers with brand sticker when it comes to non Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope.

[@owenhurley5820]

Hey man, just wanted to say your videos are the main reason why I got into stargazing. I got a Celestron AstroMaster 70AZ for Christmas, and so far its been great. Do you have any suggestions for an upgrade around the 400~600 CAD price range? Thanks!!

[@owenhurley5820]

Add on: I've also started scratching the Surface of Astrophotography, in its most bare-bone version, with my NeXYZ adapter.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Hi! If you’re scratching with the idea of astrophotography, you should start with the Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTI as a platform and then add gear as your budget allows. An AZ-GTi could also be used, but modifications would be required for astrophotography (I have videos on how to do this).

[@owenhurley5820]

@@LearnToStargaze Thanks, I will definitely look into it

[@owenhurley5820]

@@LearnToStargaze I just took a look at the Skywatcher Star Adventure GTi, and I noticed that It is (not to sound rude) a bit out of my budget that I can afford. Would a Computerized/GoTo Telescope be good choice for just starting out in astrophotography, Since I can take long exposures? Thanks!

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@owenhurley5820 No, most go-to mounts are AZ and would have field rotation. The AZ-GTi (on a wedge) is pretty much the lowest cost mount that has enough accuracy to take a photo. The Star Adventurer is nice because it does not require any modifications to get it to take photos.

[@TheMageEdits]

any tips for a Celestron 5SE?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Hello Stargazers! John Read here again, to take your stargazing to the next level, check out 110 Things to See with a Telescope, available on Amazon: www.amazon.com/110-Things-See-Telescope-Stargazing/dp/1777451752

[@markdwyer8858]

What telescope would you suggest for a beginner, that is pretty decent and not too cheap please

[@LearnToStargaze]

I really like the Starsense 8inch Dobsonian. It really depends on what you plan to observe.

[@shubhampatil0053]

I have a qestion does the noise you see in space is due to phone and camera which used to record or it also capture the noise when we see in the telescope with naked eye?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Sometimes, especially when viewing dim objects at high magnification. That said, at low shutter speeds, the cameras are far, far, noisier. Bright objects like planets have no noise in the human eye, but can be quite noisy on camera.

[@shubhampatil0053]

@@LearnToStargaze ohk thanks for that i am starting this hobby soon 💗Love from india🇮🇳💗

[@Upnorthof48]

I can’t believe you have to tell people not to look at the SUN with optics, crazy. Nice channel though, I have learned a lot from you…thank you

[@LearnToStargaze]

If you scroll through the comments you may run into a few that say “hey! You forgot to tell people not to look at the Sun!” (Though I may have deleted those).

[@hmuphilly9129]

Is past midnight really the best time to view the night sky? I do also like my sleep so I usually view the sky just after the sun sets. But I feel like I am missing out on possible spectacles. I did learn my street lights DO not turn off after Midnight so welp.

[@LearnToStargaze]

I almost never stargaze past midnight, but the best time is after astronomical twilight, which is a function of how low the sun is below the horizon (you can Google the astronomical twilight time for your location).

[@hmuphilly9129]

@@LearnToStargaze i heard about that term still puzzles me even when searching it though I am in the northern horizon and im guessing moonless nights are the best in general

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@hmuphilly9129 If you use a website like time and date, astronomical twilight has its own column: www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/philadelphia

[@Kozzi111]

Hello, I have just ordered Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ, but someone told me that the stand is unstable and a bit difficult to use. Please suggest me if I should return and get another one. Thank you,

[@LearnToStargaze]

Yes, I’d swap that for a Starsense 130DX.

[@AZCardCollector1]

Which lens do I use on my samsung Galaxy s23 ultra for taking photos? I hook it up with the adapter, and of course, after I lose the object or the phones to heavy and move the telescope

[@LearnToStargaze]

I’m not familiar with that phone, sorry.

[@markman8813]

Should I get a Celestron nexstar Evolution 6 or should I get a Celestron nexstar abs

[@markman8813]

That was a messed up comment

[@Clemme]

Hi. I live in central Copenhagen but have a great view of the moon an sky from my livingroom. Will I be able to see clear image and record it in 4k with any setup?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Your phone is 4K, but the telescope itself with have a resolution related to its aperture. Capturing the Moon is very easy, you can use a phone and a telescope. Just make sure you’re outside and there are no window between the telescope and the Moon.

[@Sluke_isup]

Hello, I was wondering what you think of the Celestron 130eq and how to take pictures with a dslr on it?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Hi! I don’t think I’ll review that scope, it’s not good for beginners, and it’s not good for connecting a camera. telescopicwatch.com/celestron-astromaster-130eq-telescope-review/

[@monkeman9497]

can you do a video about celestron sctw 80 pleaseee

[@LearnToStargaze]

I don’t think so, this scope is below my typical minimum requirements for a beginner telescope. Not even sure if we can get them here in Canada.

[@CW-vr1ku]

I wonder if John ever found the allen key included with his Omni 102...

[@LearnToStargaze]

I guess we’ll never know.

[@ldanci]

Is the LeapFrog Magic Adventures telescope any good for 4 year old kids and up. Looking to buy for xmas.

[@LearnToStargaze]

It’s not really a telescope, more like a video game / video player will a built in camera for the Moon or birds. Seems like a fun toy though.

[@JB-zo8sl]

I got an EQ 700mm telescope for Mother’s Day and it is indeed a hobby killer, I cannot focus it to save my life and I just want to give up😫 I’ve watched your videos on how to use one but I am giving up, any suggestions?

[@LearnToStargaze]

See if you can trade it for an Omni 102AZ? If you’re really hoping to get into the hobby, it might be best to go to a local astronomy event and see what others are doing. You’ll find that there are usually many people who are happy to help you get the most out of whatever gear you have.

[@JB-zo8sl]

Thank you

[@briansturdy592]

Amen on my little Mighty Mak ,....Orion StarMax 90 Mak table top....little brother to my Celestron Nexstar 127mm to grab the close ups on our PLANETS .

[@LearnToStargaze]

Indeed!!!!

[@thesaiyajean2883]

Is the NatGeo 114mm Newtonian Reflector a hobby killer?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Borderline. There are several versions of this scope. I have two 114mm Newtonians, and the views are not great, but on an AZ mount they’re easy to use for little kids.

[@PamBanFromChilis]

Would you suggest a refractor or reflector telescope?

[@LearnToStargaze]

I recommend the telescope you’re going to use the most for what you want to accomplish. I’m currently designing an RCT (telescope) for a spacecraft, this is the ideal design for that purpose. If you want to take photos, a small APO refractor is a great place to start. If you want to stargaze, a Dobsonian is the way to go.

[@paganphil100]

@jw-ij2dj: Refractor or Maksutov for moon & planets, reflector for deep-sky objects. Best all-round scope would be a large-aperture Maksutov or a Dobsonian.

[@Mr_Gizmo]

i have a 8" dobsonian telescope and i wondering if its possible to see planets through it, and if so what lense i would need.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Of course! Use a 10mm eyepiece. I think only Jupiter will be visible for the next month or so (I’d need to check on Venus etc)

[@pasquale8748]

Hi, i'm about to buy my first telescope but i'm undecided between the celestron 130 slt and the omegon advanced 150/750 eq-320. My indecision lies in the fact that I would also like to use it to take some pictures but I'm afraid that with the second one, being manual, these could come out badly? What do you say? Is a telescope with goto or a manual better? Thank you

[@LearnToStargaze]

Pictures would be the astrophotography hobby. An entry level mount would be the Skyhunter or Star Adventurer GTi, combined with a small refractor like the Sharpstar 61 (assuming you want colourful images of nebula).

[@matthewmcgrath8886]

I've just got my first telescope i brought a Celestron StarSense Explorer LT 127AZ Telescope. Is this ok? And what are the realistic things I'll see please advise

[@LearnToStargaze]

No. That scope has a lot of red flags. But you can make the best of it by starting with Saturn and the Moon. I’ve found it to be optically challenged when it comes to deep sky objects like star clusters.

[@matthewmcgrath8886]

I'm hoping more for planets so should be a good start? And maybe with practice a few deep objects ? But a good start?

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@matthewmcgrath8886you’ll need dark skies for deep sky objects. You can try double stars like mizar and Albireo.

[@matthewmcgrath8886]

Thank you for the tip. I found your video and the one for the 114 lt helpful I just assumed mine being the 127 it was as near as the same so crossed it over. I'll apologize now if I have future silly questions

[@hypersonic911]

14:57, slight correction, Titan is one of Saturn's moons, not Jupiter's

[@LearnToStargaze]

Yeh, I noticed that after I published. My classmates at JH are working on both a Jupiter probe and a Titan probe, which we had been talking about a fair bit when I recorded the video. I think my brain linked the two bodies together as a result (Clipper and Dragonfly are the current APL interplanetary missions).

[@mazerunner1011]

HSL Reflector Telescope,76mm Aperture 700mm Focal Length Astronomy Reflector Telescopes (35X-875X) for Adults and Kids-with 3 Eyepieces,5X Barlow Lens,Moon Filter and Smartphone Adapter Is this a good one to buy?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Sounds like a giant list of red flags.

[@jennybarlow1414]

Is ESSENWI 114EQ Reflector Telescope 900mm a good telescope in terms of quality, ease of use and ability to view planets etc?

[@LearnToStargaze]

I assume this is a joke. Did you watch the video?

[@kalpesht6]

Hello. Im using celestron 15X70 binoculars, want to upgrade to telescope. Due to space constrain in my home i cant keep telescope mounted on stand for days together. Im looking for telescope which i/my kids can easily mount on stand and once viewing is done then fold stand and keep it in cupboard. Which types of telescopes are easiest to mount.? Thanks Kalpesh

[@LearnToStargaze]

If you have kids, the Orion Skyscanner or Zhummel Z100 would work best. These hardly take up any space at all.

[@kalpesht6]

@@LearnToStargaze ....thanks for your suggestions!

[@ScottTice-ir8jy]

So can a budget telescope get a really good high definition image?

[@LearnToStargaze]

For an “HD” image you want to budget around $3k for large objects like andromeda, $5k for more compact nebulae, and $10-$15k for closeup galaxy photos. There really are no shortcuts.

[@ChirayuPathe]

Is Celestron Astromaster 130 eq a good option as I know how to use equatorial mount?

[@LearnToStargaze]

I’ve only used the Astromaster 70mm eq, I only know the Astromaster 130 by it’s poor reputation. If you are good at using an EQ mount, the optics are probably fine.

[@ChirayuPathe]

Can you suggest me a budget telescope for Deep Sky Objects and which can track them? The reason for a telescope which can track objects is because I live in a light polluted city and not much guide stars are available. Please suggest me like 2 or 4 so that I can choose within them.

[@LearnToStargaze]

​​⁠Starsense 130DX Starsense DX8, NexStar 102, Celestron 6SE

[@seanmk2firefly600]

Hi I'm new to stargazing any advice on eyepieces on my celestron starsense dx6 sct I have a 40mm and a 10mm which came with the scope. Thanks in advance and thanks for the content 👍.

[@LearnToStargaze]

If I recall, I think these scopes can be upgraded to two inch diagonals. Just need a two inch visual back and a two inch diagonal. I’ll go test this later today if I remember, haha.

[@seanmk2firefly600]

@LearnToStargaze thanks for the response and you're right this scope can take 2" diagonal, would I be better off spending money on the 2 inch eyepieces etc ? And if so would any work or what would the scopes restrictions be.

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@seanmk2firefly600 I only have a 22mm ultra wide and a 25mm eyepiece in the 2 inch variety. All I can say is that I haven’t had any issues with FOV or achieving focus with either of these eyepieces in any of my telescopes.

[@jackfrost3573]

I have always been interested in Astronomy and remember my first peak through the telescope. It was early evening and we saw a weather balloon way up. We looked at the white dot through the telescope and I was amazed by the larger white dot I was now looking at. Then we looked at a white dot later that was a star and we looked through the telescope to see a larger white dot. Hmmmm I thought...well, I didn't need to invest in white dot magnifier and couldn't afford a larger telescope so, I still enjoy astronomy but if you have seen one you have seen them all. Not trying to be negative it just isn't for me.

[@LearnToStargaze]

If the white dots get larger with a telescope, your telescope is broken. The larger the telescope, the smaller the stars appear. That said, I don’t think any amateur astronomers use a telescope to look specifically at stars (I agree, individual stars are boring). It’s all about the galaxies, nebula, globulars, planets, and the Moon.

[@rodneyhuffton9155]

What would be the most easiest to use telescope that finds planets, that’s got a simple set up for a person who has absolutely no experience or patience in searching for long periods of time ? Thankyou

[@LearnToStargaze]

Hi! A Dobsonian is by far the easier design to use. These scopes are available in most budgets, but the larger aperture the better. I find the 6 inch version (all brands) the most versatile, the 8 inch version to best all around, and the 12 inch version amazing for deep sky views. You can often find these used on B&H photo, or in my case, I’ve picked a 6 inch version up on Facebook Marketplace for $150 (though this was a few years ago).

[@daniryder1]

Hi! Great video for a beginner like me! You said in the video that a telescope's maximum useful magnification is twice it's apperture in mm. I have a Celestron inspire 100az and on the manufacturer's website it states 241x maximum useful magnification. Is it only marketing/mistake? Cause the 100az has 100mm aperture which would result in 200x maximum useful magnification. Also what is your opinion about light pollution filters?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Yeah, sounds like marketing. A UHC filter for light pollution will provide subjective results unless you are using an astrophotography rig.

[@elsegu334]

Hola, John , yo voy empezando en esto de la astronomia, y compre el telescopio celestron Omni 102 AZ, pero me interesa saber si un barlow , o hasta que numero de barlow puedo utilizar para hacer buenas obsrevaciones de planetas, si tu puedes recomendarme a lgunos , y pues que no sean muy caros. Te lo agradecere , saludos dedde Guadalajara , Jalisco Mexico : tierra del mariachi y del tequila Gracias.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Hello! A basic Barlow like this one would work fine with that telescope. Clear skies! www.amazon.com/Celestron-Omni-2X-Barlow-Lens/dp/B00008Y0TM

[@amberlynn8260]

I have no idea what im doing :( i Bought a Celestron Astromaster Az and tried to focus on some stars but they were blurry, i finally focused on a star but it wasn't any better than what i can see with my own eyes 😢, ive been Astronomy since i was little and i dont want to get discouraged because i finally had the funds to purchase a telescope and heard this one was great for beginners, not sure where to start :(

[@LearnToStargaze]

Practice on the Moon. Use the 25mm eyepiece only. Once you’ve mastered identifying specific craters, move onto star clusters from the Messier list or double stars. Good luck!

[@amberlynn8260]

Thank you so much! I finally was able to see the moon close up! I was in awe! Thanks for the tip and replying! ❤

[@maleeshajayasundara6318]

Hi, I'm planning to buy a Celestron Astromaster LT 70AZ..what is your experience on that? As a beginner I thought of going for a basic one.. Thanks

[@Redbeanie_vr]

What telescope should I get If I want to see the planets and possibly andromeda Galaxy And it’s on Amazon

[@LearnToStargaze]

This is an Amazing deal. www.amazon.com/Celestron-StarSense-Smartphone-App-Enabled-Compatible/dp/B09TWWZ5DR

[@astronomy_with_nasir_khan]

I love at astronomy ❤❤❤❤❤

[@kailashkanoria2383]

Hi John, I am a beginner and wanted to observe planets. I have got 2 eyepieces 25mm and 10mm with my 102AZ starsense telescope. I am confused whether to buy a 2x barlow or a 5mm eyepiece. Please help me resolve my confusion

[@LearnToStargaze]

Hi! A nice 5mm eyepiece will tend to provide much better views than a barlowed eyepiece. Examples include the Celestron X-Cel, Baader Hyperion 5mm, or for the ultimate views, 5mm Tele Vue. I have a video on this topic coming out soon!

[@kailashkanoria2383]

Thanks :)

[@elainerussell5840]

My 7 year old son just about lost his mind when he learned you're possibly in NS. We recently got a telescope and we have no idea but we'll be practicing. He's highly interested in the solar system and astrology ❤ thank you for your content!

[@LearnToStargaze]

Yes! We’re building a stargazing park near Peggy’s cove.

[@ArjunRauthu]

Can u still look at things in space with the celestron travel scope 😅

[@LearnToStargaze]

It’s not very fun because it’s not on a telescope mount and it’s very small but you can certainly try.

[@Irfan-j7c]

I only have the 18x28 lens for 6.5 dollars 😂

[@unknownceleb642]

I got a telescope called starfinder 60. I was told it was one of the best beginner scopes, and that it would be easy to see different planets - even the Andromeda galaxy. That turned out to be a lie.. I can look at the moon, but it's so hard to line it up with anything else. The night sky is clear right now, I can see where Jupiter is, but I just can't find it in my telescope. It gets pretty frustrating when all I see is complete darkness. Kinda kills the enthusiasm a little bit.. Anyway, don't mind me. I'm just venting a little bit. I can't recommend the starfinder 60. They may say it's easy to use, but I've had mine for almost a year now, and I've only been able to line it up with the moon...

[@LearnToStargaze]

60 usually stands for aperture, which is really too small for looking at space. Not sure who would have told you that was any good, definitive no one in the astronomy community.

[@unknownceleb642]

@@LearnToStargaze it was in the description on the webside I bought it from. I can zoom in quite a lot, I'm just having a hard time lining things up.

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@unknownceleb642 it really doesn’t sound like it’s designed for space. No telescope company advertises “zoom”; that’s not an important quality of a telescope. Aperture (which is proportional to resolution) is the important quantity.

[@unknownceleb642]

@@LearnToStargaze from what I remember the company never used the word "zoom". That was just my own choice of word.

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@unknownceleb642 Magnificaiton, zoom, power, it's all the same.

[@milesghosthuntingsquad-gho3336]

Nice By the way I have a newtonian mirror reflector 114 AZ telescope 🔭

[@callsignmohas5190]

I got one for my daughter. We absolutely cannot see anything. Iv hard the hardest time getting it to focus with the 10mm and 20mm. Its a solomark 70-700.

[@LearnToStargaze]

I had to google that one. This telescope looks more decorative then practical, I can see why using it would be a challenge. A Z100 or Orion Skyscanner would be about the same price, but far easier to use.

[@davempearce]

Oh no! I’ve just set up our new Powerseeker 127EQ and then watched this video to find out it might be the worst out there! 😂 The equatorial mount does seem pretty terrible and doesn’t seem to secure vertical movement very well 😬 the counterweight seems too heavy and the whole thing is not confidence inspiring! I don’t really want to return it as it’s a lump and it’s a present for my 6 year old twins birthday in a few weeks. Can anyone give any advice on how to improve/work around this?, or whether or not I should return and buy a better, similar priced product? 😂 Thanks in advance!

[@LearnToStargaze]

You should return it. That telescope is basically a scam. The mount is so bad, sometimes the knobs turn and the mount doesn’t, it rotates around the azimuth axis when it shouldn’t, the optics are bird-jonesed, and the optics don’t compare to smaller refractors.

[@davempearce]

@@LearnToStargaze thanks for the reply. What would you recommend as an alternative for a similar price point? Might just have to bite the bullet and return it! Thanks again

[@LearnToStargaze]

Lots of options, especially if you go used: www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802939686-USE/explore_scientific_fl_mc1001400tn_firstlight_100mm_f_14_alt_az.html www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802939442-USE/explore_scientific_fl_ar102600tn_firstlight_102mm_f_6_5_achro.html www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/802903899-USE/celestron_22481_starsense_explorer_130mm_f_5.html Of these the MAK is best for planets, the Starsense is best for Deep Sky (and for finding targets with Starsense), and the refractor is best on a budget and for simplicity.

[@B1-997]

Damn, the telescope i was looking to get for a first one falls into the Bird Feeder category :/ Any recommendations for 100-200aud telescopes for a complete beginner?

[@LearnToStargaze]

You may need to go used, but all the 102mm refractors seem pretty good. You may be able to find a 6 inch Dobsonian on Facebook marketplace. Mine was listed at $250, I offered $150, and it was accepted.

[@B1-997]

@@LearnToStargaze Thank you for the quick reply and info, i'll see what i can find online. If i have any more questions i'll come to you!

[@Mr_B0nz]

Hello! I had a question that I couldn’t find an answer anywhere. I am looking forward to getting a telescope to view constellations. I want a scope that will make the invisible stars (due to light pollution), visible. However, I am concerned it may not be possible since field of view is too narrow. Is it actually the case? Which telescope would you recommend for viewing constellations? Is it plausible, difficult or straight up impossible to view at least a sections of constellations?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Hi! Constellations take up huge portions of the sky. Most are larger then your outstretched hand. Even binoculars are far too powerful. What you would need for constellations are 2X binos like these: www.amazon.com/SVBONY-Binocular-2-1x42mm-observing-Theater/dp/B0822QRLKJ

[@Mr_B0nz]

@@LearnToStargaze Thank you so much for the response! Have been really trying to figure this out past couple of days, thank you

[@dutchbeef8920]

@@Mr_B0nzthey’re great, love mine highly recommend

[@SaneGuyFr]

Hello sir, im going to buy kson 135mm telescope, can i observe the sombrero galaxy with eyepiece? i live in a city, not too big not small city.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Yes, the sombrero galaxy looks like a small dim grey line from just outside the city.

[@SaneGuyFr]

​@@LearnToStargaze Thanks.

[@darksanity]

On your website you mention the celestron omni az 102 (the scope I own) for deep sky / planets.. how can I achieve deep sky objects? I don't own anything more than what came in the box other than a 5mm celestron eye piece (one you suggested to me previously actually). I am still learning all these things about stargazing and I was hoping you could help me understand how you feel this scope can be used for deep sky ? So far, I've been able to see things like the beehive cluster but haven't been able to see more than that

[@LearnToStargaze]

Hi! Deep sky objects are largely independent on the size of the telescope, and far more dependent on the darkness of your skies. I use a 24 or 25 mm eyepiece for viewing almost all deep sky objects.

[@darksanity]

@@LearnToStargaze so the ideal scenario is to have a super dark sky so you can see the DSO's.... Gotcha

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@darksanity yup, you can see about a dozen DSOs from the city, maybe 50 from the suburbs, and hundreds from the country.

[@rodrigocastilho8612]

Looks like I just bought yesterday the one he said is not recommended :( Celestron 127AZ Explorer LT

[@LearnToStargaze]

Look up Ed Ting’s review of that scope on KZbin.

[@rodrigocastilho8612]

@@LearnToStargaze Thanks for the advice. Actually I didn’t find the one I bought. There is the powerseek 127 and mine is the 127AZ EXPLORER

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@rodrigocastilho8612 That's still a Bird Jones scope.

[@rodrigocastilho8612]

@@LearnToStargaze :(

[@SfIsCool]

if it weren’t for the loose mounts, would the power seeker 70eq be good?

[@LearnToStargaze]

With the exception of the Moon and planets, binoculars would be better. The aperture is just so tiny tiny, and that’s what matters.

[@SfIsCool]

@@LearnToStargaze would i still be able to enjoy looking at galaxys and star clusters through the telescope? or should i actually just get binoculars/another telescope instead

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@SfIsCoolyou need dark skies for galaxies, but yes a better telescope or binoculars would be ideal.

[@SfIsCool]

@@LearnToStargaze got it, thanks. and what telescope would you recommend for a beginner who’s looking for something that can last even when they get more experienced with a budget of around $300? i’ve looked at your website but im having trouble picking which one.

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@SfIsCoolcan you stretch your budget and get something like this? www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/803040702-USE/celestron_11049_nexstar_4se_102mm_f_13.html

[@willhoward9865]

Why do most videos, that show SCT telescopes (catadioptric) gravitate toward Celestron and don’t mention Meade scopes? Just wondering… I own an LX200 classic and a ETC 125 PE and love them both. The videos rarely mention them.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Isn’t Meade out of business? Celestron sent me three telescopes this year, so there’s that.

[@willhoward9865]

@@LearnToStargaze honestly I don’t know. Doesn’t matter really. Cover the entire topic. Personally I think they have a better product. Never like celestron. Always seemed cheaper product compared to Meade.

[@willhoward9865]

@@LearnToStargaze so. You are using scopes that you didn’t buy. There’s that. How about full disclosure. Don’t sugar coat your experience. There a lot of products out there. Not just Celestron. If they wanna send me one to to review. I’ll review it. But you only show Celeston in your video - just seems unfair. I understand marketing and companies that want you to put their products up from. Honestly I do. I’ve taken marketing in college. BUT. Not the only scope in town. If Celestron sends me a scope to try - I’m gonna try it. I get it. I just wish you had mentioned other products. Again. Marketing. I get it.

[@willhoward9865]

Again. Celestron send me a scope. I’ll review it against my 10” Meade… honest review.

[@willhoward9865]

Here’s the thing. Maybe they are better. But have to prove it. I love my LX200 and ETX 125. Prove it.

[@billisnice]

I have an Orion ST-80 mm telescope.

[@MountainFisher]

If the chromatic aberration bothers you try a #8 light yellow filter or a #11 light yellow/green filter to cut that way down or out completely. For smaller aperture scopes 150mm or less the lighter color filters are best. I was looking at the Crab Nebula and put a broadband filter on my 6" reflector and it disappeared and I couldn't see it at all. Found out later an OIII filter is best for it and the HA is too dark for observing it because it is so dim, need an 8" scope. You will not be able to see everything on the Messier object list if your scope isn't very good.

[@donsharma6136]

you good telescope explainer...you good..(imitates chinese mans voice from the movie bloodsport)

[@SirenKinnie]

I got a telescope in a set (Celestron telescope, binocular, and microscope kit) I got it a hobby lobby and so far don't waste your 50$ 😞💔 It's pretty good, but already the thing that holds it up is breaking, and the telescope itself is missing a couple pieces.

[@LearnToStargaze]

What model? Was it designed for looking at space based on the criteria in this video?

[@satishcpatel]

I need to change the battery CR2032 on finder on my CeleStrone Nextstar 102 SLT. Anyone knows how to change it? I can see the CR2032 battery but I don’t know how to open up and change. Can someone help me?

[@LearnToStargaze]

It’s usually just a slot that you push on the side of the finder.

[@satishcpatel]

@@LearnToStargaze Thanks. I also can’t align this telescope

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@satishcpatelit probably requires a 2 star align.