Review of the Astro-Tech AT60ED Optical Tube Assembly - Cuteness Overload!

[@SoundsFromBeyond]

I'm a simple man. I see a new Ed Ting video, I click it!

[@GrnXnham]

Absolutely cute as a button! I would like one just to keep in the glovebox of my car.

[@jeffreystyles9472]

R.i.p Orion. Man, the little scope is almost too cute to use.

[@billducas]

I just ordered one to use as a Christmas tree ornament.

[@Space_nachos]

Might want to stock up on those rings, looks like Orion is going out of business!

[@billkonkel6325]

Too late, Orion is history!

[@hcic9860]

Shoot, that's already a big 10-4 on the 10-4 my friend. They went down a few weeks ago

[@Space_nachos]

@@billkonkel6325 I guess what I was trying to say more was to try buying the remaining ones, plus their online store is still up and accepting orders (as of right now)

[@sjpp71]

Those are the same rings that come with 70mm cheap achro long refractors.

[@mayadoka640]

I love mine!! Great review!!

[@patricj951]

I recently ordered a TS Photoline 60 tube. It seems to be the same scope as this Astrotech 60. The reason is to get a portable telescope which can be carried in a backpack. And I will use it with a camera tripod. Maybe sometimes with Vixen Porta tripod. For me it actually is more a "have to have" than "nice to have". Because aperture fever has earlier got me to get too large telescopes, who will not be used much after a while because of the struggle with bringing them out and back. But a telescope which can be carried in a small backpack will be used!

[@billvinson7859]

I know a Retired fighter pilot who bought the 60mm scope. I have the green version of the older version of the AT72. It has the 51 APO Glass but works really well. I also have the reducer flattener for it. ❤

[@astrofire68]

The Nagler is almost as big as the scope!!

[@Interstate66]

🥰 Aaaaahw! That's cute! Is it even big enough to be separated from it's Mommy?!? 😊

[@brentjablonski3730]

I have two Astro-Tech scopes (AT-80ED and AT-102EDL) and have been pleased with their price vs. performance. Thanks for the review, Ed!

[@Astro_Ape]

+1 for the EDL. I have the 102 & 125 and they're both great.

[@BlueTrane2028]

I have a 102ed, I don’t like it on my Porta but I do like it on my CG4. Is the 80 light enough to be good on Porta?

[@gordanmomcilovic3737]

@@BlueTrane2028yes I use it all the time w Porta.

[@RaisinEnjoyer]

5:04 funny thing Orion just shut down

[@spizzlo]

not funny. tragic.

[@jpastroguy]

It was the first telescope I ever bought. I still occasionally use it for imaging and visual and think it was an outstanding choice for getting started in this hobby.

[@Naztronomy]

I've been using my AT60ED for years, it's an amazing scope. I can confirm there's no distortion at the edge if you use either the flattener or the flattener/reducer as long you get the backfocus set. I've had several images taken with this scope in art shows!

[@NatarajanGanesan]

That's mine 😊

[@NatarajanGanesan]

I use Nexstar 4SE for viewing

[@davidsussman7476]

I own this scope! I bought it because its price on CN made it an impulse purchase. I already own the Tele Vue 60 (my preferred grab-and-go that is permanently mounted to a TV Telepod), but the AT60 I nabbed is in like-new condition. It’s a clean and beautiful scope, and its 2” rack-and-pinion focuser is definitely an improvement over the TV60 (not to mention two-thirds cheaper!). The AT60 also has the FPL-53 glass, not that a mostly visual observer like me can tell. 😊

[@Astro_Ape]

@davidsussman7476 a cheap impulse buy from CN is how I ended up with an AT70ED. I didn't need it, but it was listed cheaper than most of my eyepieces so I got it, lol. It does make a nice low power widefield scope. I mainly use it mounted next to my 5" refractor (AT125EDL) on a SkyTee-2.... I've grown to like the little fella so much, I've thought about upgrading to the AT60ED (smaller but better glass and wider field) or the AT72EDII (similar size but better glass).

[@julese7790]

Hi Mr Ting I have this scope (brand Teleskop Optiks), initially as my imaging scope, (replaced by a Vixen FL55SS now), now as a grab&go scope for friends & fun. It's a great little scope, the sole problem is diffraction pattern induced by doublet spacers/wedge . Glad you reviewed it :)

[@edting]

Yes, these are available under many nameplates. I know someone who has a "Stellarvue" branded 50mm version of this scope. Yes, 50!

[@Astro_Ape]

Sorry for being the guy who comments the same thing every video, but I'd love to see a review of the Astro-Tech EDL series!! They're fantastic visual refractors. I have two: the AT102EDL and AT125EDL. They're both fantastic performers and showed excellent DPAC results. Of course I'm biased, but I thinks they're the ultimate visual refractor for the money.

[@vbikcl]

Astronomics is coming out with an EDX line - apparently they will be triplets but will use FCD-100 instead of the FK-61 of their current EDT line. Will be interesting to see how they compare to the EDL doublets with the same ED glass.

[@yervantparnagian5999]

Excellent little scope. With the dedicated flattener the field is flat with nice rounds stars to the edges.

[@edting]

Thanks. So you can confirm the dedicated field flattener will completely fill the frame of a full frame sensor? That is impressive for a $99 field flattener.

[@yervantparnagian5999]

@@edting No Ed. You mentioned some elongated stars toward the edges with the non AT flattener. I’m saying with the AT dedicated flattener, the stars are pinpoint edge to edge.

[@MichaelEdelman1954]

Great review. Makes me think I should get one of those… 😉

[@DB-be9wy]

I had one a few years ago I bought used and I loved it. I bought it with the intention of imaging with it but never really did and it sat around in a box so I sold it. I always loved visual with it too but as Ed says, it is very limited to what you can do visually with it. I am seriously mulling the idea of buying the 72ED2 though as it should be much better for visual while still allowing for imaging if/when I want to.

[@lesgatechair3907]

I have this exact scope and use it for many things. Carried to texas for the eclipse, sometimes imaging large DSO, sometimes guiding. Also solar w white filter. But even with the reducer at 288mm, I do NOT quite get a full disk for lunar or solar with small chip cameras like the asi290. I do see some chromatic aberation so the ED doublet is definately not a triplet. But much better than a previous SVBony achro. I have the AT 0.8x reducer that gives 288mm FL. Overall I judge it $ well spent and used often. I particularly like that for a small scope, it has 2" optical train and the focuser is NOT feather touch. I use a pair of guide scope style rings so I can align it with my main scope if needed. Thanks for all you do, ED.

[@KingLoopie1]

Nice little scope review! 👍👍

[@georges.5612]

For folks looking to use the supplied single ring with foot with a larger dovetail, ADM and likely others have slotted Vixen-style dovetails. This allows you to use multiple screws to attach the foot on the supplied ring to a larger dovetail without having to find rings that match the exact size of the AT60ED.

[@sjpp71]

Nice scope. How does this fare against a William optics Zenithstar 61?

[@eli888..]

How long until Orion scopes are worth more than at purchase

[@izelennkhan]

I might buy it just for the cuteness factor -- that's the only reason I own a 4.5" Cassegrain... From the images, the chromaric correction looks really good!

[@blobrana8515]

I would use it as a finder scope for my 8" Skywatcher newtonian

[@kasa6038]

Thanks Ed!

[@nocturnalmayhem0]

i have this little scope its simply amazing for wide imaging and gettin full views of nebula when paired with the right camera sensor. i have the astrotech 102ed also and its great also.

[@BCHLking]

Awesome video!

[@poggergen1937]

Truly is a tragic blow that we lost Orion. I was planning on selling my Orion XT10, but now I just can't. That scope is a relic of the past now.

[@Astrobomj]

Have the same by TS brand. Really good telescope, but for photo, needs to get perfect backfocus.

[@googlecrazy657]

Thanks Eddy

[@liquidl5380]

It's just a little baby!!

[@N561LB]

Dear Mr. Ting. I really enjoy your videos and I learned from them quite a bit. If possible I would like to ask your opinion on Ritchey-Chretien telescopes. Since Orion closed down I see quite a bit of optical tubes for sale for a really good price. Presently, I am using Sky-Watcher 200 P Dobsonian, but would like to buy a go-to telescope as well.

[@edting]

You can still get those RCs from GSO, TPO, and others. Those things are really finicky. They are hard to collimate, and the collimation needs to be exact - good enough is not good enough. I usually advise people to just get a regular SCT. But if you're feeling adventurous...

[@lornaz1975]

I guess you know Orion is gone! RIP! No more 76mm rings!

[@mikeisss79]

Hello Ed, I had a question. Do you plan on addressing the Orion/Meade shutdown at all? I think it's kind of a gut punch to the hobby. Especially considering Meade's history alone. In my opinion one of Orion's best contributions was the ED80. I happen to own the Celestron version which was weirdly sold as a spotting scope. I'm biased, but I think sleek all black tube looks the coolest🙂 I know you can still buy variants of it, but now there's just two. Anywho, you're the man for giving away that Starbase! And of course all the other stuff too.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

Quite nice looking.

[@videotrexx]

I've got one, and it's a lot easier to just buy a slotted Vixen plate than mess around with alternate tube rings, then no worry about holes lining up.

[@nickademuss42]

Speaking of Orion, are they still around? why did they close up their public buildings?

[@guyjordan8201]

Sadly they shut their doors, let all staff go, and now the website is gone too. The lawsuit surrounding the Meade acquisition wrecked them. No more Orion, Meade, or Coronado. 😢 No word yet on bankruptcy or II sell off.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@guyjordan8201Wouldn’t surprise me if Celestron or Zwo buys the Orion “brand”, it has decent name recognition.

[@poggergen1937]

Their website is down and they closed their California offices. They're done. Sources say that all active Orion staff were laid off following the end of the business day, July 9th, 2024. This has been a long, long event in the making. For years Orion and Meade have been on the decline. It's only now that the decline has come to a head. I'm not so sure if Meade is done, but I did hear that they stopped production in their major manufacturing plant in Mexico, so I'm assuming they're gone as well, though their website is still up as of today, August the 13th, 2024. As for Orion, yep... They're gone. You can read the source I got this info off of here: skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/meade-and-orion-cease-operations-maybe/

[@vbikcl]

They're gone. Orion was a poorly run business IMO, and I think they got more than they bargained for when they acquired Meade as a settlement of a lawsuit, while also burning the supplier of one of their most popular products - Synta - who made their XT series dobs. Orion didn't really have any intellectual property other than Meade. All Orion did was rebrand white label products, and charged quite a bit more for the same thing you could buy elsewhere for less. They were also a limited retailer. The astronomy market shifted heavily towards astrophotography but Orion never had anywhere near the AP offerings that Agena or High Point Scientific offer. So just in terms of being a pure retailer, they just didn't offer a large selection of equipment. Between those two things, I'm not surprised Orion eventually folded.

[@alexandruroman4354]

You said not to buy a telescope with a $100 budget . But will it be a good idea to buy a parabolic mirror (for a Newtonian telescope) with such a budget and to manage with the body of the telescope myself ?

[@LeeJ-b6g]

Hi. Have you ever reviewed a celestron vx6 the 6 inch refractor from celestron

[@Neanderthal75]

It's a great imaging scope if you got a small mount and weight is something you want to keep an eye on. Use a small sensor with this. They are built for a price point. For example the redcat 51 cost nearly 2X much for a reason. Also, you can find this telescope under several different brand names if you look around, whether it TS optics (Germany) or Apertura or GSO etc. (USA/China). Get the best deal, they are really all the same with a different paint job.

[@edting]

Coincidentally, I'm playing with a Redcat 51 right now.

[@guyjordan8201]

Nice little scope. Too bad we lost Orion,Meade, and Coronado. Maybe you should buy them Ed and revive it.

[@edting]

Ha! I am scared to death of running a retail store, especially in today's environment.

[@jimcummings1085]

I attached a slotted vixen-style plate from Astronomics to the mounting shoe to allow a two screw connection. Universal Astro 200mm (7.87") Universal dovetail plate for Vixen-style mounts, grey

[@whatmattersmost6725]

ScopeStuff has lot's of rings.

[@JonnyMainframe]

Can you do a video regarding the latest with Orion and Meade? Orion’s website has been down for some time. I’m in the market for a new Dobsonion and your videos recommend the Orions but not an option now.

[@Galaxyngc7331]

You hope Orion keeps them in the catalog? You do know they don’t exist anymore, right?

[@HaydenHero]

Any advice on where to go to find old eyepieces and accessories besides eBay? I’m trying to restore an original Astroscan from 1976 that my grandfather bought for my dad when it was still called the “Wide- Field Telescope” with Edmund Scientific eyepieces and accessories.

[@edting]

Those RKE eyepieces are still available and are still reasonably priced. Get the 28mm first. I am working on a 2024 version of my original Astroscan review BTW.

[@HaydenHero]

@@edtingFunnily enough I just got the 28mm from their website last week. Was just looking at the moon with it last night. It was a bit blurry though unless I peered into the eyepiece from about four inches back, so I think I am in need of a Barlow lens which they no longer make (15mm is discontinued as well). I’m pretty new to telescopes, so I’m learning as I go. This channel has been very helpful so far with technical knowledge!

[@icomeinpeace2717]

IT NEEDS TO BE ON A ETX MOUNT

[@mikeisss79]

To each their own, but all caps for that?

[@icomeinpeace2717]

@@mikeisss79 bruh

[@jongroubert4203]

Jeez, with a 26mm Nagler, you have a TFOV of almost SIX DEGREES! Who needs a finder?

[@Steven-l5y8x]

Ed, I see alot of comments that Orion is out of business. Does that mean the other manufacturers will increase their prices with less competition? I've been waiting since I was 16 to buy a scope that wasn't a junk scope. Still can't afford a good scope at 63.

[@edting]

I'm just as shocked as everyone else. I'm hoping someone buys the business and/or the brand names and revives it. It's only been a few weeks, let's see if someone takes up the cause.

[@vbikcl]

I wouldn't worry about this. One of the reasons why Orion went out of business was because all of its offerings were just rebranded versions of what you could buy elsewhere for less.

[@rinceart]

So, I guess this is the same telescope as the William Optics Zenithstar 61 and it many other rebranded counterparts from way back in 2016 or 2017.

[@edting]

It might be. No one is talking, but there appear to be several nameplated versions of this same scope.

[@rinceart]

@@edting Judging by the looks of it, it is. Of course we don't know the exact specs; they may have changed the glass or something else (although the Z61 already had FPL-53). This scope is one of the more popular ones; everyone seems to have its own rebrand of it.

[@shirleyhoran9949]

You should create a You Tube playlist for "buy this not that".

[@charlesalexander8099]

I know this is off topic but can you please advise. Just wondering 💭 If I get a black and white camera for more detail, what are all the filters needed for deep sky with planetary targets? I’m looking to get a filter wheel for my 8 inch edge HD and was wondering how many filters would I need if I go with the monochrome.

[@garyjohn316]

Ed>>>>>>>>>>What has happened to ORION?? Have they gone out of business?

[@Chiclets1]

The Seestar S50 is cheaper, more versitle and cuter.

[@edting]

The SeeStar reminds me of TARS from Interstellar.

[@vbikcl]

Disagreed about the Seestar being more versatile. The visual clarity afforded by an apo refractor is totally unmatched by the crude resolution of a digital camera sensor. Lunar and planetary performance will be way better in the AT60, as will rendition of open clusters. The S50's main advantage is gathering faint light of extended objects and being able to render them in color. An EAA scope like the Seestar is a good complement to a visual scope, it's not a substitute for one.

[@Astro_Ape]

@Chiclets1 how versatile will the SeeStar S50 be 5 years from now? 10?? 20??? That's the downside of Smart Scopes or most electronics for that matter. On the other hand, someone's great great grandchildren could find the AT60ED in an attic 100 years from now, and barring any crazy coating degradation or part oxidation, it'd work just the same.

[@MikeLikesChannel]

Had one of these until I moved to a SeeStar.

[@edting]

The SeeStar? You mean that obsolete plastic novelty item?

[@MikeLikesChannel]

@@edting It’s more than that. For amateurs or enthusiasts without $3500 to learn a mess of complicated astrophotography gear? It’s a game-changer. Total Smartphone, “Hello, I’m Macintosh, it sure is great to get out of that bag…” moment. Orion/Meade/Coronado bankrupt. These $450 smart scopes are rapidly inheriting the world they left behind.

[@lasercorn2399]

Decadent Overkill Metal album title alert!

[@steveparsons3498]

That review might have been the nicest way of saying. Don't buy this thing!

[@edting]

You could look at it that way!

[@grandmasteryoda9893]

orion is now bankrupt. may be a good idea to not use orion product anymore in the video for keep stuff relevant and simple

[@suprPHREAK]

I think for the time being, reviewing Orion products still has a benefit. Products will still be in stores, and may become discounted, so worthwhile for shoppers to know what they are taking a chance on.

[@johnrobison1413]

It is a cute as a button but….the AT70ED is available from them for $329. That $90 cheaper than the And that was total, sitting on my doorstep in 4 days. Same type of foot. I needed to buy an 8 inch dovetail ($20) and 1.25 inch dielectric diagonal ($40) eyepieces i got. And they come in a well padded case. Mine will even mount on the Specstrum. AZ MOUNT I hope you get e time to report.

[@IamMusicNerd]

Orion is still relevant, as a ton of people still buy used telescopes on the secondary market, and Orion is one of the biggest brands of all time. So a lot of people will still find value in Ed’s reviews and information about their products.

[@anata5127]

It is not cuter than Borg55. Borg55 is zillion times better as well.

[@mikeisss79]

For those of us who don't have roughly 4 times the money to spend, the AT60 is a fantastic alternative to that or the TV-60 or FS-60. I suspect that the Borg isn't a zillion times better, or ever 4 times better than the AT60. Also I don't care how good that helical focuser is on the Borg, give me an R&P. Just my two cents.

[@carlstreet7095]

I bought an Orion 8" Newton with the entension of upgrading the EQ mount with drives at a later date. I'm now looking for a plan 'B'. Anybody know of drives that are compatible with the Orion Skyview EQ mount?

[@jazzman0173]

Are Orion and Meade both out of business ?

[@edting]

For now, it appears so. This came as a shock to all of us.

[@jazzman0173]

​@edting guess I'll buy from orange county telescopes ? No one sells anything astronomy anywhere close ! Always bought from orion or meade so maybe celestron next ?