Mastering the Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTI

In this video, we’ll assemble the telescope, demonstrate how to use SynScan to align the telescope to the sky. We’ll integrate SkySafari Pro together with SynScan so that you can control the telescope using a star map. We’ll walk through visual observations, and then learn how to set up the telescope for Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA). Finally, I’ll share my recommended upgrades for this telescope.
Sponsor: all-startelescope.com
For a Free Stargazing Logbook, go to:
www.LearnToStargaze.com
Videos:
Ed Ting’s Review: • Review of the Sky-Watc...
Dobsonian Power KZbin Channel: / @dobsonianpower
Dobsonian Power mods Video: • TOP 5 SkyWatcher Virtu...
Dobsonian Power Focuser Upgrade Video: • The Ultimate Virtuoso ...
Affiliate Links:
Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTI 130mm: all-startelescope.com/product...
Sky-Watcher Virtuoso GTI 150mm: all-startelescope.com/product...
Celestron Power Tank: all-startelescope.com/product...
ASIair Mini: all-startelescope.com/product...
Camera 194MC: all-startelescope.com/product...
Eyepieces:
19mm Tele Vue Panoptic: all-startelescope.com/product...
21mm Baader Hyperion: all-startelescope.com/product...
5mm Baader Hyperion: all-startelescope.com/product...
SVBony 18mm Ultra Flat Field: amzn.to/3VUPYCc
Laser Collimator: amzn.to/3XOdrrv
Books:
110 Things to See With a Telescope: amzn.to/3LdYKX0
50 Things to See With a Telescope For Kids: amzn.to/4cRQA2z

[@icyxxxxx]

Very cool!

[@ronm6585]

Thank you.

[@BeanMan2426]

Im planning to get the 150p one and im excited. Thanks for showing me if the telescope will be good and guiding me. Because of that i subscribed 😁

[@LearnToStargaze]

Thanks!

[@deimos1738]

WE LOVE JOHN

[@Sergio-pb5bb]

Thank you for the this video I have the 150. I also follow Dobsonian Power and he does astrophotography. I love watching the moon with telescope.

[@redstonecommander5190]

It has been fun seeing the eclipse, especially with the telescope. it’s difficult to say, but I’m not sure when the next solar eclipse could reach. It could probably take several years or maybe or maybe not for several decades or centuries

[@AmatureAstronomer]

I bought a Sky-Watcher Virtuoso 150p GTI. Normal Newtonians require construction of a dew shield and a lot of maintenance. Regular collimation and regular mirror cleaning. The Virtuoso also requires construction of a shroud. And, if you want to use it for astrophotography, you have to build a new focuser, from scratch, as did I. Makes you are appreciate refractors.

[@citylimitsphoto]

Do you care to share photos of the focuser build. I am looking for something a bit more solid than what I have.

[@DavidMFChapman]

I agree about the hand controller vs. the phone app. Luckily, I already have a hand controller, and I can only look through one telescope at a time.

[@francoisfroneman2682]

Awesome videos. I am a new stargazer from South Africa and would love to see a video on the Celestron Nexstar 127 slt.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

In SynScan, you do not always have to know the number of the deep space object. Above the location where you type in the number is a place you can click to get a list of many objects from which you can choose. It is labeled.

[@DavidMFChapman]

Q: does the base have a 3/8” socket to mount on a photo tripod?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Yes! We actually filmed instructions for that but it didn’t make it in (this was a very long video).

[@citylimitsphoto]

John, would you consider doing a work flow video on the using the SW150P Virtuoso with the AsiAir mini from start to taking images and downloading them for processing. Thanks for the consideration.

[@LearnToStargaze]

Unfortunately I have to return the telescope.

[@citylimitsphoto]

@@LearnToStargaze When you had it, did you do the North level alignment with the synscan app or the polar alignment in the ZWO AA mini or both?

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@citylimitsphoto Just north level. A polar alignment wouldn't make any sense because it has no RA axis.

[@citylimitsphoto]

Hey John, I bought an Asiair mini and got it yesterday. Followed your video again with my Android and could not get Android to work, Again I tried my Ipad mini and things worked perfectly. I just bought an Ipad 12 inch screen on Ebay today. I guess all of my new toys don't like Android. Anyhow, can you answer why even after I do an alignment with the Synscan app and join the Asi network why when in the Asi Sky-atlas when I ask it to find the stars that I aligned Synscan with it goes to a position 90 - 180 degrees behind. Can you recommend a good video that can show me step by step on how to use this new tool. Thanks

[@redstonecommander5190]

The universe has its own set of cycles. no matter how advanced our astronomy based technology is, we can’t change that

[@kena9595]

Thanks for the detailed review and instructions. But the back round music is a little distracting and not necessary.

[@LearnToStargaze]

The background music keeps us sane while editing several hours of clips.

[@Markaras]

I want a telescope recommendation at any price, any size, for the night sky, (moon, planets, nebulae, galaxies). Needs to be really good and have correct orientations, (up - down, left - right), in the eyepiece. If not, then it has to be able to accept a diagonal or something to correct the orientations, without any loss on the quality of view, thanks.

[@LearnToStargaze]

I made a list at LearnToStargaze.com

[@pepe_the_frog713]

Hey John, im planning to get the Heritage 150p and was considering this instead. Should i just go with the Heritage 150 or should i go for the virtuoso 130? I cant get the virtuoso 150 since my budget is a bit tight. Help me out please

[@LearnToStargaze]

How about the Heritage 150 and the book 110 Things To See With a Telescope? The go-to is really just for finding stuff, but extra aperture books are even better.

[@pepe_the_frog713]

@@LearnToStargaze I already have the 50 things to see on the moon and I'm getting the 110 things to see with a telescope with a telescope of my choice (which is now the heritage 150). Thank you!

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@pepe_the_frog713 That's the way to go, even as you saw in the video, when I actually went to use the telescope visually, I simply used it like a Heritage scope.

[@ivini74]

Does it follow celestial objects for astrophotografy or doesn’t?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Just well enough for visual.

[@BeanMan2426]

Can we connect the skywatcher to the seestar app btw

[@LearnToStargaze]

I don’t know, have you tried?

[@BeanMan2426]

@@LearnToStargaze no because my telescope isn't here yet

[@BeanMan2426]

@@LearnToStargaze you can try to see if it works because you have it

[@MylesPeters]

hey do you remember me on the 4-H zoom class?

[@LearnToStargaze]

Of course!

[@millenialfalcon8243]

A very hard to beat value. $425 for a collapsible 6in go-to dob? Cheapest longtube 6in manual push-to is $460, and an 8in is $650.

[@LearnToStargaze]

The 5 inch version is currently around $425, I think the 6 inch version is about $470.

[@millenialfalcon8243]

@LearnToStargaze In the US, Amazon has had them listed, for awhile now, at $360 for the 130p and $423 for the 150p. Currently, there is a used 150p for $310 on Amazon.

[@LearnToStargaze]

@@millenialfalcon8243 Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

Not my cup of tea.Much rather have my 8 inch dob for almost the same money!collimated my dob once in two years and took five minutes!each to their own though I guess!

[@millenialfalcon8243]

Maybe it used to be almost the same money, but cheapest new 8in dob I could find was $650. Compared to $360 for the 130p, or even better, the 150p (6in) for $425 (Amazon US). Definitely some pros and cons for both, but very hard to beat the price value of the Virtuoso.

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

@@millenialfalcon8243 skywatcher 200p classic 8 dob 360 pounds from first light optics around 450 dollars

[@HeavyVoid88]

8 inch dobs are way more these days

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

@@HeavyVoid88 360 pounds or 450 dollars from first light optics skywatcher 200p 8 inch dob as of yesterday!

[@JatekfejlesztesMagyarul]

Honestly this is a pretty lame user experience compared to some of the other modern computerized telescopes...

[@LearnToStargaze]

That’s why you integrate SkySafari.

[@jackg7225]

This looks like a lot of work but fun. It looks easier than using my 8” dob for finding targets since I don’t have anything to assist, but I prefer to use my Seestar. The Seestar is just so much better for observing DSOs, although I prefer my dob for looking at planets.