Top 5 Galaxy Season Telescopes

Gear up this galaxy season with these best-performing telescopes for taking photos of galaxies and other deep space objects. We even included options for those interested in observing these distant celestial objects. Make sure you smash that like button for more gear tips from OPT!
Subscribe to OPT Telescopes for more astrophotography inspiration!
Check out what else is happening in the night sky in 2021 here: bit.ly/2NyoFy4
Free Tools to find your Field of view with your camera and telescope:
stellarium.org/
astronomy.tools/calculators/f...
www.skyatnightmagazine.com/as...
Product Links
Celestron 8SE: bit.ly/2RkIX03
Celestron 6SE: bit.ly/2Q6md3l
Explore Scientific 127mm: bit.ly/3fbP7cQ
Radian 61: bit.ly/31eODu7
Celestron Edge HD 8” : bit.ly/39btdTg
Celestron Edge HD 11”: bit.ly/3d3U7xl
Celestron Edge HD 14” : bit.ly/2PqUiuA
TPO10": bit.ly/2Q9e1PP
TPO 12": bit.ly/2Q9f2r7
Skywatcher Flextube 12" GoTo Dob: bit.ly/3fXNAr0
QHY Polemaster: bit.ly/3rhzK4P
Some other videos you might enjoy!
Top 15 spring targets! (Free Data): • Top 15 Spring Targets ...
How to stretch your astroimage (Free Data!): • 6 Easy Ways to Stretch...
Sky-Watcher EQ6R-Pro: bit.ly/32lkVUq
Check out our latest videos: optcorp.com/blogs/videos
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#galaxyseason #astrophotography #astronomy #space #opt #education #celestron #telescope

[@benx6864]

This was really clear and easy to follow. Before watching this I was almost convinced about getting a Nexstar 6/8SE but I wasn’t aware of the alt AZ you mentioned, and I like that you referenced it again later on to remind us why it’s not the preference for astrophotography so I didn’t have to scroll back trying to find it! Will definitely check out the EQ6-R Pro.

[@agastrophotos]

I am SO GLAD I got the Edgehd8 from you guys. I had no experience and bought it used, nervous to say the least but worth the effort. Don't give up! #galaxyseason

[@OPTTelescopes]

Its such a brilliant telescope! So glad you enjoy it

[@sasanders72]

Every time he hits me with that like button galaxy, there's a split second in my mind where I'm trying to figure out why I havent seen this one before

[@mikegordonbrasov161]

Thanks. Could you tell me if the refractor telescope suffers a lot of damage if I want to observe from the seashore? I say this because of the salinity that can affect the lenses. Is there a trick to protect it and be able to go anyway?

[@scuttlebum]

Keep up the great content! Thank you!

[@OPTTelescopes]

Thank you so much

[@smassky]

I've been looking at getting the celestron 4se, but it has such a long backorder wait period. But the cool thing about it, as I understand it, it comes with a built in eq wedge.

[@TitanAnyMe]

If you have the budget, then go for the 5se. Also has a wedge but gathers more light which is better

[@roberthill7051]

Randomly stumbled across this video on my Google News feed. It answered alot of my telescope and astrophotography questions! You earned a like and a new subscriber.

[@OPTTelescopes]

We are so glad!

[@davidurrutia9735]

I would like your advise how can I make my Celestron Nextstar 130SLT get good results on planets specially Saturn

[@clla3393]

hello, could you recommend me a telescope to photograph small galaxies ?. I will use an azeq6 mount

[@GarnettLeary]

RC’s and Maksutovs deserve mentioning. A low budget option would be a Sirius mount and a 90mm Maksutov. Slow yes. Portable, affordable, and the right focal length.. key. Maks don’t need corrective lenses either. The setup I’m recommending is pretty dang cheap. You probably should have mentioned off axis guiders for this video. The focal lengths required for many of these targets are very demanding. Even an EQ6-R won’t do you much good with a piddly finder scope that comes with the scopes. Any idea when the Atlas 2 hits your shelf? I’ll smash the like button myself once I finally get mine.

[@PafMedic]

Almost My Grab And Go Set,I Have The Mak90 On The Exos NanoEq3

[@flyinglenses4shini4]

How would you increase the focal length of the 900mm telescope for you to get better galaxy photos?? Won't everything be to far??

[@iuliani1663]

@OPT Telescops Hey man, quick Q. Here in the God forsaken country that i live in, the Nexstar6SE goes for around 1500$+ while a Nikon P1000 goes for ~ 1000$. Which one would you go for actually? I'm interested in random night sky shootouts, some stars here and there, some planets why not, etc. Amateur here so i'm not really that good with specs...

[@danielbruhin6171]

Do all these telescopes can be coupled with a NIkon or Canon Full Frame cameras o mirrorless such as Fujiflm and what do we need to connect them to the different telescopes. Thank you. Good Video and nice hobby.

[@Clan0fGun]

Super large telescope are Alt-AZ..(The ONEs the size of BUILDINGS!) they use a field de-rotator or just fix the rotation in photo software. These are options 3 and 4 instead of getting a GEM mount. You're not totally dead in the water if that's all you have. While true you cannot do long exposures. Photo stacking will help in a lot of cases. Its not like the old day were film was used. So, while the GEM mount will help a lot and likely ideal, its not impossible with a Alt-Az. Especially for bright object i.e. Jupiter, Saturn, etc.. IF you stay in astronomy long enough you could end up with a Grab and go (often alt-Az mount) for those time you don't want to setup everything along with couple mounts and numerous telescopes. I try to keep it to two mounts and two telescopes. But its hard, I love my toys!

[@donaldmartin7109]

I like your video and store. Excellent staff. thank you.

[@push137]

What about the Orion xt8? And the new 10" coming up?

[@sarathappu1890]

Thank you for sharing

[@OPTTelescopes]

It is our pleasure

[@jaymankhan7329]

I will buy a celestron nexstar evolution 9.25. just wanted to let you know I can’t find much reviews of it on KZbin but I heard it is a very good telescope,if you don’t mind me saying can you review it ? 🥺🥺🥺

[@shawnstatzer95]

Awesome video. I loved it. Are there any professional-level (has the capability to see nebulas, deep space, etcetera) telescopes that are not digitalized? as I will not have easy access to wifi, internet, or even electric? Thank you.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Hey Shawn! There are certainly manual telescopes such as Dobsonians that will let you observe objects visually, and require no wifi or electricity. Get in touch with our helpful team here and we'll happily help you find one: optcorp.com/pages/contact-us

[@shawnstatzer95]

@@OPTTelescopes I will certainly do that. I appreciate it.

[@Mike__G]

I like your videos! One aspect of astronomy that might be worth mentioning is Electronically Assisted Astronomy or EAA. It is not quite as technically demanding as pure astrophotography, but it has opened up the night sky for a lot of folks. I’ve had a lot of fun with it this past year using a couple of scopes - a Skywatcher Equinox 80 on an AZ GTe mount and an Edge 9.25 on a Skywatcher AZ EQ6 in Alt Az mode. EAA, unlike pure astrophotography generally uses shorter exposures with highly sensitive cameras and software can compensate for field rotation to some extent so it can be done using an alt az mount.

[@noreaction1]

Do you have a video describing which telescopes are easiest to adapt for beginners who already have dslr like canon R5

[@OPTTelescopes]

Hey there! We don't have a video on that specifically, but most telescopes designed for astrophotography will be compatible with a DSLR/mirrorless camera. Here are some telescopes designed for astrophotography: optcorp.com/collections/telescopes?page=1&rb_filter_ptag_5e9749efa74cb08eff536f8647779444=Astrophotography And here is the t-ring you need to attach your specific camera to most of the above telescopes: optcorp.com/products/william-optics-48mm-t-mount-for-canon-eos-r

[@Martinko_Pcik]

Is it possible to use hyperstar attachment on NexStar 8" ?

[@kailongridge7752]

Yes

[@anata5127]

What about RC system compare to EdgeHD?

[@shubhkarmansingh2870]

Great content!

[@OPTTelescopes]

Thank you so much

[@johnbellisario4323]

Milky Way?! Now you got me thinking of candy!! Well played sir 👏👏

[@OPTTelescopes]

Nom Nom Nom

[@Chronobaroc]

Well done

[@RajeshwariN-uy1lk]

Can I use these telescopes for viewing also?

[@shrekshrek]

Which one should I buy to see galaxies and nebulas up close? Explore Scientific ED152 Or Explore scientific 127mm

[@elenahu7903]

How about SVBONY telescope?

[@AstroSoundscape]

Some pretty nice scopes, makes me wish I'd just gone with the EQ6 over the 5. Any recommendations for something an EQ5 would carry? Cheers.

[@roshany1595]

6 inch rc (TPO, iOptron, GSO) if you can deal with collimating it

[@BlueTrane2028]

@@roshany1595 5" Mak, 6" SCT, any newtonian up to about a 6" f/5, some refractors.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Some great suggestions in here. The weight capacity really helps with a bigger mount especially when adding things on, but like we mentioned in the video, sometimes the best gear is the gear we have!. I would say that most refractors and reflectors under 6" should do the trick. Just make sure you check the weight

[@anthonycaruso2336]

Can I ask you a question I really want a telescope badly but I cant afford the one I actually want. What would you suggest I buy I really want a good one badly very badly

[@christianvulpescu1398]

I enjoy the comodity of refractors because you mostly don't have to care about collimation but with my 10" Newton with f 4,7 am a powerfull ASI 2600 MM Pro, I take deep pictures in short time. Consider: with decreasing f the exposior time decreases logarithmically! I use a 450 mm refractor from Lacerta and a modefied 10" newtonian reflector. The are both cool but as allways in live, you can't have all in one.

[@Mike__G]

Option 3 for alt az mount image capture is EAA and stacking software which compensates for field rotation to a significant extent.

[@gy9326]

I think all stacking software does that. But you’re limited in how long your exposure can be. And you’ll end up clipping the corners off your image as the rotating target is stacked.

[@Mike__G]

@@gy9326 With EAA and live stacking, your exposure is typically very short. Field rotation will cause image clipping only with longer exposures.

[@gy9326]

@@Mike__G right. It’s definitely possible but using an alt az mount immediately becomes your limiting factor.

[@Mike__G]

@@gy9326 Here’s an excerpt from the Sharpcap user manual that elaborates on these points: Live Stacking Live stacking is a feature that enables the capture of deep sky images within SharpCap without the traditional requirements of a high accuracy, guided, equatorial mount and long sub-frame exposures. The capture of a larger number of shorter exposures and software correction within SharpCap for any drift or rotation of the field of view between frames makes deep sky astrophotography accessible to a much wider audience at much lower cost. The traditional requirements of long exposures and accurately guided mounts arise from traditional CCD cameras used for deep sky astrophotography have a high-level of read noise. If there is a high read noise every time that a frame is captured, long exposures are required to allow faint deep sky objects to be seen above the read noise level. Long exposures mean that an equatorial mount which tracks accurately and is typically auto-guided is required. This all changes when modern low noise CMOS cameras are used instead of CCD cameras. The low level of read noise means that faint objects can be detected in far shorter exposures (and can be enhanced by stacking many short exposures - something that would not be possible without low read noise). If exposures are short enough (often 30s or less), mount accuracy is less important as the amount of drift during a 30s exposure is far smaller than the drift during a 300s exposure. Away from the zenith, field rotation due to the use of an ALT/AZ mount is also not usually going to be significant during a single 30s exposure. SharpCap corrects for any gradual drift or rotation between successive frames by tracking the movement of the brightest stars in the image. As the number of frames captured increases the noise level visible initially visible in the stacked image will reduce giving astounding deep sky images with the minimum of fuss.

[@gy9326]

@@Mike__G interesting. Your making the sacrifice of exposure time and total integration to get an image though. I don’t doubt it can be done well on bright objects, but on some fainter targets you need fairly long “5min plus” exposures before your well above read noise. Doubly so with narrow band filters.

I'm Brazilian and I really like your videos

[@triple9finestacker631]

I was looking on your site, but everything im interested in is out of stock of heavily backordered...

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

Good video Mack! Keep up the good work!

[@OPTTelescopes]

Thank you so much!

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

@@OPTTelescopes M pleasure !

[@jasontrevino2164]

what about RC scopes? No mention??

[@OPTTelescopes]

Definitely amazing telescopes for galaxy season. We probably should have given it an honorable mention.

[@ricardmcgaha1136]

I would like a refractor telescope for under 6500$ but no dirt cheep ones got any suggestions I would like to see a planet that is not in our soler system if possible

[@OPTTelescopes]

Hey Ricard! Directly photographing exoplanets isn't possible with consumer telescopes, but you can still detect them by measuring their light curves as they pass in front of a star with photometry. Get in touch with our helpful sales team and they'll set you up with the right gear. Email [e-mail]

[@cardinalrule4652]

Hey OPT is an Orion 180mm F/15 good for up close galaxys?

[@cardinalrule4652]

Yet I wish I had one.

[@oneonlynono]

OUTSTANDING VIDEO... THUMBS UP... i have a Skywatcher Maksutov-Cassegrain MAK127 f11.8 Telescope and would like to know if i can fit it on my Telescope 1.25" ? Please

[@OPTTelescopes]

Thank you very much! that means a lot. I'm not fully understanding the question but we would be glad to help. If you can elaborate, we would be glad to help.

[@tomjones2121]

it's the scope I want but they don't have any , LOL

[@scadet17]

Too bad Celestron can't fulfill EdgeHD orders to save their lives right now. I'll probably be waiting 3-5 months in total to get mine. I guess it adds to the anticipation!

[@hatrez4285]

Best telescope I can get for around 200€ (±25€). Is there anything good in this price range?

[@astrojourneyuk]

Funny and informative. I’m beginning to think that I need to hit the like button!

[@BRP42]

Indeed. You do. ;)

[@OPTTelescopes]

This is the way

[@aTillasSister]

Can you actually supply any of these during galaxy season? Edge HDs are back ordered.

[@OPTTelescopes]

We do get these in stock more frequently than last year. Unfortunately due to COVID, manufacturing telescopes has been slower than normal while demand for astrophotography has gone up. But with COVID starting to hopefully come to a close we should have a lot more in stock and more frequently. We update our website as much as we can with whatever new information we get from our manufactures. Our biggest advice is to order the telescope you want, which puts your name in line to receive one the moment it comes into stock. The day it hits our warehouse is the same day it gets shipped out to you.

[@olliecrabtree]

as a young astronomer, what cheap mounts would you recommend... if any?

[@OPTTelescopes]

The Celestron AVX is a good start-off EQ mount that can handle a decent amount of weight. If you have a very light set up, for example a small telescope and camera you can always use a Skywatcher StarAdventurer

[@olliecrabtree]

@@OPTTelescopes thanks for the advice

[@Rockanory247]

Straight away i need a camera and to hit that like button. No thank you!

[@dragosmarinescu5520]

What are you saying?! That I can't see galaxies with a 5 " Maksutov ?

[@matthew944]

Those are some amazing telescopes and mounts you are advertising! It would be great if you actually had them to sell. Actually it would be great if you had any telescopes, at all, to sell.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Unfortunately, while demand for astronomy gear has gone up, manufacturing this gear has slowed down due to limited staff because of COVID regulations. This has affected every retailer. Our biggest advice is to order the gear you need, which will put you in line to receive one, and the day it comes into our warehouse (Except Saturday and Sunday) it will be shipped out to you. We just ask that you are patient with shipping times. On the bright side though, Since COVID is slowly going away and restrictions are being lifted, We have been getting more stock more frequently.

[@matthew944]

@@OPTTelescopes Ok I'll just order it now. Any idea on a timeline? 3 months? 6? 🔭

[@tomjones2121]

LOL spot on brother , and nothing but excuses ...

[@tomjones2121]

@@matthew944 don't give them a dime , you'll wait 9 months for it .

[@k.h.1587]

I just found out opt is closed permanently. That is a bummer. I was in scope sales there from 2006-2011, and the first person to ever dethrone Mike W as top salesman. The full end of an era, but when Craig sold the company was the beginning of the end, it just took over a decade to die. What did it in and when did it end? Covid? Shortages during covid? Maybe Wikipedia might have some info, im gonna check

[@alfa0mega74]

this was the best video and I watched too many.

[@antiquarian1773]

wow, these are expensive. I guess I will have to wait til after college to pick up one of these beauties.

[@joeangeles1230]

all the scts you show are only Celestron, why not show a few of meades? both companies are basically top 2 and variety is always good so it doesn't look like you only want to sell 1 kinda sct in your store

[@davidburrows4801]

Doesn't a Nikon p900 or 1000 wipe all this out?

[@DemiLeFlame]

"Most galaxies are tiny" this distracted me for a long time

[@ConnorRoss]

"dont get alt-az mount" *recommends nexstar alt az mount*

[@owenotley]

"get an equatorial mount if u want to take photos" clearly and concisely stated both in the video as well as the description. Might not be correct but it sure is made clear.

[@BlueTrane2028]

If you want to take photos with an 8SE, just get an 8" OTA and an EQ mount separately. The 8SE is too much for the mount. I have a 6SE and an 8SE, but I moved the 8" OTA to an Orion Sirius EQ-G. I feel that if you buy the 8SE, you're paying extra for a mount you'll probably end up being unhappy with. Wedging the 6SE would be fine though. Perhaps not AVX, EQ6, EQG, etc fine, but better than plain altazimuth. The 8SE is perfectly fine if you keep the tiny red dot pointer and only ever use lightweight Plossl eyepieces or similar. Any additional weight will result in the mount being pushed past its limits, and we all know how astrophotographers do.... The 6SE is a fine visual telescope, a nice middle of the road all 'rounder. Can also use a focal reducer or slap on a 2" diagonal to see wider targets. With the 2", your camera will show vignetting but your eyes probably won't. For my personal ultimate though, I need to get my 12" Meade LX200 up and running. Those tiny faint fuzzies at 303mm f/10 are sure to pop.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Yea, if you use your 6SE or 8SE on an EQ mount, just make sure that your mount can handle it. Most mounts these days can the weight but its always good to double check

[@priyanthikumari4236]

Kiyada

[@cryptojihadi265]

I'm so pissed. I wish I had seen this sooner. I dropped big bucks on my dream Astro Physics Mach 2 GTO mount and it can't even FIND the Thumbs Up Galaxy!

[@OPTTelescopes]

If you look hard enough under the video you will find its interactive glory. just make sure it's activated and turned blue, then you can start shooting it.

[@vietnamvet6474]

Great video but not for someone just starting out unless you won the Lottery.

[@kaidoChess]

1:15 I swore you said fake galaxy’s 😮‍💨🤣

[@hhhh-eg4ev]

Hey astrophiles

[@davidemancini7853]

Ye great video but you guys missed the actual proper telescope for galaxy the “RC” this is the ultimate telescope for galaxy......and to be honest all that F10/f13 are just good for planets, they are a waste of time for deep sky, unless you want to do a 45min exposure frame with a 30 grand Micron mount......

[@annularity60]

I wish I had the money

[@skulpy6776]

first always wanted to do that :p

[@OPTTelescopes]

All of us here at OPT would like to award you this Digital Galactic High-Five. One of our greatest honors! Thanks for supporting the channel. #OPTeam

[@Cowdog1]

Doesn't anyone talk about just looking through the scope anymore? It's all astro-photography now.

[@evomore8542]

You still look at it through the telescope, but you can't see many things without giving a camera a long exposure time.

[@kasey7638]

6:16 The Eq 6r pro mount is 1.25x more expensive than the $1600 Celestron 8 SE that I literally can't even see Mars with. Then on top of that I need to buy a camera and a T ring plus download a photo editing software AND earn how to use it before I can even begin to enjoy astrophotography. Yeah, I like space but this hobby is bullshit unless you're loaded or know someone who does this. For fuck sake I bought my Celestron 8 for 2k and it's like I'm looking at little grains of sand.

[@OPTTelescopes]

Planets are difficult to capture well, and Mars is one of the harder planets to capture! The 8SE can capture Mars with a proper Barlow lens and planetary camera. It is added cost, but shouldn't set you back too much. We'd be happy to recommend some specific gear to help you capture the planets if you email us at [e-mail].

[@kasey7638]

@@OPTTelescopes I already bought a 2x barlow I just dont have a camera. Does a camera help you get a clearer view? I'm talking about just viewing through the camera not after you take the picture. I real want to enjoy this hobby but it's a headache man.

[@OPTTelescopes]

@@kasey7638 Email us at [e-mail] :) We'll be able to answer all your questions there!

[@Revelation13-8]

Give me the best ultimate setup for 600-800 dollars , anyone ?

[@OPTTelescopes]

Hey Janah! Reach out to our helpful sales team at [e-mail] and we'd be happy to set you up with the right gear. For that budget, we recommend a star tracker like the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro with a DSLR and telephoto lens.

[@anthonyvalentino2516]

HELLO, and MAYDAY. I'm not an astronomer, "BUT" I want to buy a telescope up to $3000.00. My problem is > I don't believe in Reflectors telescope, because just the name alone tell me that you cannot amplify the view at all. I went to the store here in Germany and ask them for a demonstration and I notice that the system don't work without software, always showing the same thing. That makes me believe, all you see is CGI photos and not the reality. NOW on the refractor telescope there is no software at all, and you can see the same as my binoculars in all directions, but you cannot do that with those huge rounded reflector telescope. So I am very confused, because so many youtubers here claim they can see galaxies and planets, but they cannot see across the streets to the moon... Can somebody please explain to me that? I am more confuse than Confucius, and I refuse to spend up to 3000 dollars or Euros, just to get NASA-CGI == I am not an astronomer, and all I want is to see my Reptilian mother-in-law landing on the moon, with her Reptilian boyfriend.

[@rockmusicvideoreviewer896]

what kind of medication are you on?

[@anthonyvalentino2516]

@@rockmusicvideoreviewer896 Just wait until you see my reptilian mother-in-law.

[@Kiauze]

This is great content, but the constant "hit that like button" jokes get a bit tiresome after a few videos.

[@rupee3]

Who’s down wit OPT?! Ya you know me! Who’s down wit OPT!? Evvvvverybody.

[@OPTTelescopes]

I scream, You scream, We all scream for OPTeam!

[@kief4diamonds]

god damn im poor

[@farnkums]

ha thanks to the biden admin, the price of all these telescopes have gone up 200-400 dollars, thanks old dude...

[@Mistr_A]

how many kidneys need to be sold in order to afford all of this tyuff? It's all well to promote famous youtubers but you lend them your equipment to do what they do. A lot of these cost a lot of money

[@BhojinderpalSingh]

I clicked dislike button! Why ask people to like the video even before they watch it? Why praisee the content yourself as great? Marketing gimmick in the age of internet?

[@lmanna]

Equ-A-torial my friend ! Bad spelling drops you credibility to near zero !

[@joecavaliere4919]

Repeatedly begging for "likes" is off putting and achieves the opposite response.

[@PafMedic]

Ok,So I Put The ES AR102/f9.8 😂Up On My Eqm35 Pro..I Havent Had A Decent Sky In Over A Year,Camera’s Are Zwo120Mini(Guiding)Zwo385mc.Neximage10,And Canon t6