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Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope for the Serious Adult Astronomy Beginner - Portable Telescope for Stargazing & Deep-sky Objects
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Orion |
Optical Tube Length | 24 Inches |
Eye Piece Lens Description | Plossl |
Objective Lens Diameter | 130 Millimeters |
Telescope Mount Description | Equatorial Mount |
Product Dimensions | 24"D x 24"W x 51"H |
Focus Type | Manual Focus |
Finderscope | Reflex |
Item Weight | 24.2 Pounds |
Compatible Devices | Smartphone |
About this item
- This 5.1" aperture reflector telescope gathers an ample amount of light for great views of the planets and Moon, as well as brighter galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters
- Compact optical tube design for easy portability and fast f/5 focal ratio for pleasing wide-field performance makes the SpaceProbe 130ST EQ a very versatile telescope the whole family can enjoy
- Sturdy equatorial telescope mount and adjustable tripod allows manual slow-motion tracking of celestial objects as they appear to migrate across the night sky
- Complete assembled telescope weighs just 28 lbs. for convenient transport
- Includes two 1.25" Plossl eyepieces (25mm and 10mm), smartphone camera adapter, DeepMap 600, MoonMap 260, collimation cap, and more!
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Why Buy Orion Products?
Since 1975 Orion Telescopes and Binoculars has been offering telescopes for sale, with an unswerving commitment to best quality products, value and unmatched customer care.
Orion offers telescopes for every level: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Expert.
We offer binoculars for every viewing interest, including astronomical binoculars, compact binoculars, waterproof binoculars, birding binoculars, and sport and hunting binoculars.
And Orion's telescope and astrophotography accessories will enhance your telescope enjoyment without breaking the bank.
Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope
The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST reflector telescope is perfect for the more serious beginner or intermediate stargazer. With a 130 millimeter parabolic primary mirror, the 130ST provides great views of deep-sky objects on the included EQ-2 mount and stable tripod.
The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST telescope comes on a sturdy and precise EQ-2 equatorial mount with dual setting circles and slow-motion hand controls. After a simple polar-alignment procedure, the EQ-2 mount allows you to easily track celestial objects as they appear to migrate across the night sky, so you can observe them in detail. The adjustable-height aluminum tripod is strong yet lightweight and includes an accessory tray so you can keep eyepieces, flashlights, and other accessories close by while using the reflector telescope.
The relatively compact SpaceProbe 130ST EQ weighs just 27 pounds once assembled. It's an easy telescope to take out to your favorite stargazing spot, whether just outside the back door or in a more distant location away from streetlights and light pollution. If you're looking for a better-quality first telescope or a nicely portable telescope to complement your big Dobsonian, you'll love the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ Reflector Telescope.
Features of the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope
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Great ViewsThis 5.1 inch aperture parabolic reflector telescope gathers an ample amount of light for great views of the planets and Moon, as well as brighter galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters |
A Versatile Telescope24 inch long 'Short Tube' optical tube design for easy portability and fast f/5 focal ratio for pleasing wide-field performance makes the SpaceProbe 130ST EQ a very versatile telescope the whole family can enjoy |
Includes a Sturdy MountSturdy EQ-2 equatorial telescope mount and adjustable tripod allows manual slow-motion tracking of celestial objects as they appear to migrate across the night sky |
Everything You NeedThe complete Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ telescope comes with everything you need to explore starry skies! (some assembly required) |
25mm Sirius Plossl Eyepiece
The included 1.25 inch Orion 25 millimeter Sirius Plossl eyepiece provides a 26-power view when used with the SpaceProbe 130ST reflector telescope. Using this eyepiece's moderate magnification is a great way to begin exploring interesting objects in the sparkling night sky. Offering a wide 52° apparent field of view, the 25 millimeter Sirius Plossl eyepiece yields extremely sharp images of impressively high contrast. You'll be amazed at the crisp, clear views of sights like the cratered surface of the Moon and much more!
10mm Sirius Plossl Eyepiece
When you're ready to study objects with more magnification, use the included 10 millimeter Sirius Plossl eyepiece. When inserted into the SpaceProbe 130ST reflector telescope, the 10 millimeter Plossl provides a powerful, 65x view with a 52° apparent field of view, so you can inspect interesting objects more closely. We recommend starting out with the lower-power 25 millimeter Plossl, then switching to the 10 millimeter ocular to boost the power of your telescope's view.
6x30 Finder Scope
Following a simple alignment procedure, you can use the included 6x30 finder scope to accurately aim the SpaceProbe 130ST reflector at objects in the sky like the Moon, bright planets, galaxies and star clusters. Once aligned with the telescope, just peer through the finder scope and move the telescope until the cross hairs are centered on the object you want to see. Look in the telescope, and it'll be right there!
Starry Night SE Software
Explore starry skies anytime - even when it's cloudy! The SpaceProbe 130ST reflector telescope includes a free Special Edition of Starry Night astronomy software. With realistic sky simulations and a many useful features including telescope control, the user-friendly Starry Night Special Edition software will help you plan your observations and understand what you see. Requires PC running Windows 7, 8 or 10. Requires Macintosh running OS X 10.4 or higher.
Customer Reviews |
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Price | — |
Optical design | Reflector |
Optical diameter | 130mm |
Focal length | 650mm |
Focal ratio | f/5.0 |
Eyepieces | Plossl 25.0mm,10.0mm (1.25") |
Magnification with included eyepieces | 26x, 65x |
Lowest useful magnification | 19x |
Highest useful magnification | 260x |
User level | Beginner |
Best for viewing | Brighter deep sky |
Compare with similar items
This Item Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial Reflector Telescope for the Serious Adult Astronomy Beginner - Portable Telescope for Stargazing & Deep-sky Objects | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | $299.99$299.99 | $249.99$249.99 | $179.99$179.99 | $349.99$349.99 | $229.99$229.99 | $329.99$329.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Friday, May 17 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 | — | Get it as soon as Thursday, May 16 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
For beginners | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.0 | — | 4.7 |
Easy to assemble | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 | — | 5.0 |
Portability | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.2 | — | — | — |
Value for money | — | 5.0 | 5.0 | — | — | 5.0 |
Sold By | Orion Telescopes & Binoculars | Orion Telescopes & Binoculars | Orion Telescopes & Binoculars | Dianfan-US | Orion Telescopes & Binoculars | MEEZAA-us |
focal length | — | 650 millimeters | — | 650 millimeters | 500 millimeters | 650 millimeters |
focus type | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus |
eye piece lens | Plossl | Plossl | Plossl | Plossl | Plossl | Barlow |
objective lens diameter | 130 millimeters | 134 millimeters | 114 millimeters | 150 millimeters | 114 millimeters | 150 millimeters |
aperture diameter | — | 134 millimeters millimeters | 114 millimeters millimeters | — | 114 millimeters millimeters | 150 millimeters millimeters |
telescope mount | Equatorial Mount | Equatorial Mount | Equatorial Mount | Equatorial Mount | Equatorial Mount | Equatorial Mount |
lens coating | Lens coating | Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide | Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide | Fully Coated | Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide | Fully Coated |
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Product guides and documents
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 24 x 24 x 51 inches |
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Item Weight | 24.2 pounds |
ASIN | B00D05BKOW |
Item model number | 9007 |
Customer Reviews |
4.6 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #495 in Camera & Photo Products (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products) #10 in Telescope Reflectors |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | May 28, 2013 |
Manufacturer | Optronic Technologies, Inc |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
Our largest aperture SpaceProbe reflector telescope is the niftiest Newtonian reflector on an equatorial mount we've seen in a long time. The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ Reflector Telescope is a quality telescope with a fast parabolic mirror for more serious beginning or intermediate stargazers who want additional performance, particularly for targeting deep-sky objects. This "Short Tube", version of the SpaceProbe 130 reflector features a 130mm (5.1") primary mirror and focal length of 650mm (f/5), yielding a wider field of view and brighter images for a given eyepiece. The 130mm primary is a diffraction-limited parabolic mirror, the same type used on much larger reflector telescopes costing many times as much. A parabolic mirror is a must for focusing incoming light to a point and delivering sharp, detailed images. The included 1.25" 25mm and 10mm Plossl eyepiece provide a 26x and 65x view of the night sky. Use the 25mm to start exploring, and the switch to the 10mm for a close-up view. To make your evening under the sky more enjoyable, we've included the DeepMap 600, the MoonMap 260, and a smartphone adapter to take pictures of solar system objects. The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST telescope sits on robust equatorial mount with slow-motion control knobs. After a simple polar-alignment procedure, the EQ mount allows you to track celestial objects in the sky, so you can observe them in detail. The adjustable-height tripod is strong yet lightweight and includes an accessory tray so you can keep your observing gear close by while using the reflector telescope. The SpaceProbe 130ST EQ weighs 28 lbs. once assembled. It's an easy telescope to take out to your favorite stargazing spot, whether in the backyard or in a more distant location away from streetlights and light pollution. If you're looking for a better-quality first telescope or a nicely portable telescope to complement your big Dobsonian, you'll love the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST EQ Reflector Telescope.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the quality, value, and image quality of the telescope. For example, they mention it's well-made, fantastic for viewing the moon and stars, and a fantastic investment. Some appreciate difficulty, and performance. Opinions are mixed on ease of assembly, and portability.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the telescope. They mention it's well-made, sturdy, and heavy. The mount for this scope is very solid and works very well. The telescope is versatile and suitable for astrophotography.
"...The scope is a bit sensitive to movement. The tripod base was sturdy but once you got to the tube you could tap it and it would bounce slightly and..." Read more
"...Its versatility and high-quality optics make it a fantastic investment for those eager to explore the wonders of the universe...." Read more
"...First, with the pros:1. It has a rock-solid mount (however the scope is a little heavy with the counterweight)2...." Read more
"The equatorial mount for this scope is very solid, in fact very heavy, so if you are looking for something very light, look elsewhere...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the visibility of the telescope. They mention that it is fantastic for viewing the moon and stars, and is easy to set up. The scope itself allows you to see some amazing detail. It is great for imaging the moon, and provides excellent views.
"...3. It provided a very bright telescope ( f/5 ) with a wide field of view which was recommend to me to be better for a beginner.4...." Read more
"...Focuser is smooth and the finder scope is easy to use (opening your other eye will help you target objects while using the finder.)..." Read more
"...; aperature is a good size to see a LOT of the sky and pull great detail from the moon...." Read more
"...provides smooth and precise tracking, allowing me to easily follow celestial objects as they move across the night sky...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the value of the telescope. They say it's a fantastic investment for those eager to explore the universe. They appreciate the quality optics and the affordable price. Some mention that the build quality is decent for the price.
"...Not bad and not great, but a good value for the amount of money, especially compared to other scopes...." Read more
"...Its versatility and high-quality optics make it a fantastic investment for those eager to explore the wonders of the universe...." Read more
"...All in all I think this is a great scope for a great price...." Read more
"Over all decent build quality for price at this level .EQ mount much better than most provided at this entry level .Lens provided you'll see good..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the image quality of the telescope. They mention that it produces clear images of various objects in the sky, and the visual quality is quite noticeable. The scope is incredibly impressive in appearance, and it makes a cool art piece.
"...Pictures would not do it justice to how sharp and clear the images were...." Read more
"...The 25mm does great for general viewing and the 10mm did OK to get better detail on an object once I had it found with the 25mm eyepiece...." Read more
"...Its exceptional performance, user-friendly design, and stunning image quality make it a must-have for those seeking to unveil the mysteries of the..." Read more
"...SpaceProbe 130ST Pros:Nice looking telescope, seems very professionally made. We have seen some amazing sights in the first few nights...." Read more
Customers find the telescope easy to use and great for beginners. They say it's an entry-level instrument and good for learning to navigate the sky. Some customers also mention that the circles are handy and good to learn how to navigate. Overall, most are happy with the quality and ease of use of the telescope.
"...It works well and is really handy to have. Like I said, the optics are really crisp and I am very pleased with the purchase...." Read more
"...by the reviews here which generally stated that this was a solid instrument for beginners...." Read more
"...Over all, I would rate this as a first rate telescope for beginners, with plenty of quality, clarity of picture, and light gathering power, so that..." Read more
"...The included 25mm and 10mm Plossls are perfect for starting out and adding a shorty barlow to complement magnification make them even better...." Read more
Customers like the performance of the telescope. They mention it works well, the mount works smoothly, and is a great starter telescope. The finder scope works well and is easy to align. Some say there are no issues with the telescope and that the optics are outstanding.
"...5. This scope does a little bit of everything well enough and can let me grow or dabble into different areas without having to purchase another..." Read more
"...Performance:Overall the performance of the telescope is great. It is properly collimated, mount is stable and durable...." Read more
"...haven't learned how to work this type of mount very well, but it does work smoothly and I was able to use the small adjustment controls to keep..." Read more
"...Its exceptional performance, user-friendly design, and stunning image quality make it a must-have for those seeking to unveil the mysteries of the..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of assembly of the telescope. Some mention that the tripod and mount went together easy, the instructions were good, and collimation was very easy. Others say that the instructions are unclear at times and difficult to follow for beginners.
"...The instructions are good but a bit hazy and unclear during certain steps for a beginner...." Read more
"...the aligning, or collimating, of the mirrors, was quite difficult for this beginner and required a fair amount of manual dexterity...." Read more
"...Assembling the telescope is easy and it took me about 45 minutes (watch the video in youtube on how to assemble the scope, it will really help)..." Read more
"...The tripod and mount went together easy, but it was obvious that it is economically built...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the portability of the telescope. Some mention it's easy to transport, while others say it'll be difficult to move around due to its size.
"...Order of Assembly: 1. Mount tripods to Mount ( Mount is heavy! ) 2. Add and assembly accessory tray 3...." Read more
"...The compact and portable design makes it convenient to transport to various observation sites...." Read more
"...1. It has a rock-solid mount (however the scope is a little heavy with the counterweight)2...." Read more
"The equatorial mount for this scope is very solid, in fact very heavy, so if you are looking for something very light, look elsewhere...." Read more
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1. This scope is supposedly ( more on this later ) more portable then the 8" tube and base that I would have received. I have small two door car and would not have been able to fit the tub in the trunk and only in the passenger seat.
2. This scope is on a Equatorial Mount which would be needed if you wished to take long exposure AstroPhotography or wanted to have a the telescope track objects in the sky without having to continually adjust.
3. It provided a very bright telescope ( f/5 ) with a wide field of view which was recommend to me to be better for a beginner.
4. The mount could later be upgraded to attach a motor to automatically track objects. Again a plus for taking photos or if you have people over and would like it to stay centered on the object. I was amazed at how quickly objects will move out of view, even a few minutes and your object will disappear.
5. This scope does a little bit of everything well enough and can let me grow or dabble into different areas without having to purchase another scope or added features. At most, you would need two accessories. A Orion Shorty 1.25" 2x Barlow Lens to help with magnification ( The long tube version of this scope Orion SpaceProbe 130 EQ Reflector has a longer focal point as well as the Dobsonian reflectors which gets your more magnification for the same eyepeice) and a camera mount/accessories for taking photos.
This is my very first telescope and I will give you my opinion in each area of the product as well as issues I ran into as a beginner.
PACKAGING:
The scope arrived very well packed with many empty boxes inside the package to serve as cushion for the telescope and parts. It is a single box that is about four feet long and about 50 lbs. Unpacking may take a bit to carefully set up the parts for assembly.
INCLUDED ITEMS:
It comes with a manual, Orion's starry night software which I found helpful as beginner ( also notifies you of any upcoming events that you may want to watch) , tools for assembly of the telescope ( no hex wrench for collimation i.e. adjusting the mirrors ), collmination cap, and two eye pieces. A 10mm for 65x and a 25mm for 26x magnification.
ASSEMBLY:
The instructions list that this should take 30 minutes. I agree if I had to do this a second time and I could probably do it in 15 by the second or third time. However, as a beginner with no prior experience, expect an hour to 1 1/2 hour to assemble. The instructions are good but a bit hazy and unclear during certain steps for a beginner. This is due to the large area of controls, gears, and levers on the mount itself that can seem a bit over bearing at first before you are familiarized with the controls. It would be helpful to have smaller diagrams between steps showing exact controls or parts to move. You may have to re-read the steps a few time and continue to consult the single diagram for reference.
Order of Assembly:
1. Mount tripods to Mount ( Mount is heavy! )
2. Add and assembly accessory tray
3. Thread and add counterweight to mount ( Be very careful )
4. Add ring mounts ( will hold the telescope tube or OTA ) to mount. Remember to add the correct one to the correct side
5. Carefully set tube in ring mounts and tighten.
6. Adjust balance of telescope in both axis
7. Add slow control knobs to worm gears
Notes about assembly:
I ran into issues at first after installing the counter weight. I was under the impression that the locking bolts to secure the mount at a particular angle would hold the mount in place with the counterweight. No matter how tight you press the weight will force the mount down. I assumed something was broken but luckily I figured out that the latitude adjustment bolt needed to be set first. This bolt limits how low the mount will go. In my case, with the bolt not set the counterweight would flop down and hit the tripod legs. Setting this bolt to 30-40 degrees stops it from BENDING lower and the counterweight stays still now.
Second issue I had was mounting the tube rings on the wrong side. There is one right with a small metal wheel on top to be used for taking photos with a camera. That ring should be toward the FRONT of the telescope WHICH IS where the SLOW MOTION CONTROL for Declination is! This means the control knob ALSO points towards the front of the telescope.
COLLIMATION:
I used the included cap ( place over the focuser or eyepiece tube on the telescope ) to check if the mirrors were aligned. I looked through and it looked pretty close to me at first and I wanted to get out and test it. You should check it after receiving it as some of it may be off. Mine was as I realized later however it was close enough to still see brilliant images the first night. I corrected it today and after over an hour of the learning process I have mine aligned well and it did seem that the moon was sharper then the day before. This is a maintenance process that you have to do on these types of scopes. The first time, it's tough. If I had to do it again now I could do it in about 5-10 minutes or less.
Here are some of the mistakes a beginner like me made that caused confusion:
When you use the collimation cap, you are supposed to see all these "rings" and reflections of the mirrors. There are only two things you are going to adjust, the secondary mirror and the primary mirror ( the big one at the back of the tube). The secondary mirror is the tricky one. Basically, you look down the focuser and with the telescope parallel to the horizon ( in case you drop a screw or tool and don't' want it falling onto the mirror and breaking it! ) you look through and see if the dark black ring around the center is , well centered. If not you start by using a Philips screw to adjust on the front of the scope. There is a cross at the front and only one Phillips head screw in the center to modify. This Moves the mirror toward the back of the tube or toward the front. This just aligns it so that when you look through you are seeing the whole image of the secondary mirror through the focuser. You may rotate it if it's at an angle but only touch the stub, not the mirror itself. Then, you can use a 2mm Allen wrench to adjust the three screws to adjust the tilt to make that dark black ring in the center. There will be a ring shaped mark that you will see. don't worry about getting that centered yet, only the dark ring around it. Once that is done, you unscrew three screws at the back to take off a cover and then find 6 screws to adjust the back mirror. This is trial and error as well but you just have to move either of the screws a little bit and it will cause the ring mark to move and center with the dark dot directly in the center. This "dot" is the hole that you are looking through that you will see in the mirror reflection.
USING THE TELESCOPE
Finally, actually using the telescope is not so bad but you will have to get used to moving it around a equatorial mount. It does not move left to right and up and down. It moves in "arcs" that match the movement of the Earth. For the first night, I just moved the telescope around and moved it into position of the moon without polar aligning the mount. Since this was a quick test, I didn't care about that just yet. All the controls moved well and smoothly. I did have to tighten the RA and Dec knobs well to make sure no movement happened, though if you give it a hard nudge or rested your hand on the tube you could accidentally move it slightly. The scope is a bit sensitive to movement. The tripod base was sturdy but once you got to the tube you could tap it and it would bounce slightly and then stabilize. I feel this is normal for any mount in this price range of this type as I tested from tripod off tapping everywhere to see where I could make adjustments to make it more sturdy. All the pieces are heavy and solid, and I think once it gets to the tube itself there is some play in movement just because the telescope is a rolled metal tube.
Adding and taking off eyepieces is fairly easy. Simply loosen two screws pop into place. The focuser worked well. Some people complain that it is plastic, but it does not make it work poorly because of it. It was very smooth focusing and also held my DSLR camera with the Orion 1.25" Universal Camera Adapter in place fine.
IMAGE QUALITY
Fantastic. I had my neighbors over and we were all very impressed with shots of the moon. Pictures would not do it justice to how sharp and clear the images were. I also later that night pointed the telescope at Jupiter and with the 2x barlow lens and 10mm eyepiece could see Jupiter and all four moons. I was very impressed. The image was tiny in the eyepiece but you could see them clearly. I have purchased a 5mm eyepiece for higher magnification ( 130x base and 260x with a 2x barlow ).
OVERALL QUALITY
Everything is packaged well, seems of decent heft and weight, and is relatively good quality. I only found maybe a few parts that felt "cheap" but really, everything worked well and didn't degrade it from performing properly. I think for the price that this sells for I got good product.
SUMMARY
This telescope is wonderful and is versatile. It is a bright scope with a wide field of view. It is on a equatorial mount which if you plan on growing into the hobby will want to learn how to use. If you want to try AstroPhotography you have everything basically ready to start other than a mount for your camera. You can adjust the magnification to get very high power with a simple eyepiece upgrade to match other longer focal length scopes. It IS portable, if you take the tube and tripod/mount/counterweight apart before traveling. For me I will be able to fit each piece into my tight spaces and still have someone in the passenger seat. For those with larger vehicles, the Dobsonian telescopes might be more portable. Overall this is a well made scope with options to grow into and can give you some flexibility. My number one reason for buying this over a Orion xt8 is that I could learn and work with a little bit of everything in this new hobby.
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2011
1. This scope is supposedly ( more on this later ) more portable then the 8" tube and base that I would have received. I have small two door car and would not have been able to fit the tub in the trunk and only in the passenger seat.
2. This scope is on a Equatorial Mount which would be needed if you wished to take long exposure AstroPhotography or wanted to have a the telescope track objects in the sky without having to continually adjust.
3. It provided a very bright telescope ( f/5 ) with a wide field of view which was recommend to me to be better for a beginner.
4. The mount could later be upgraded to attach a motor to automatically track objects. Again a plus for taking photos or if you have people over and would like it to stay centered on the object. I was amazed at how quickly objects will move out of view, even a few minutes and your object will disappear.
5. This scope does a little bit of everything well enough and can let me grow or dabble into different areas without having to purchase another scope or added features. At most, you would need two accessories. A [[ASIN:B0000XMWQW Orion Shorty 1.25" 2x Barlow Lens]] to help with magnification ( The long tube version of this scope [[ASIN:B0000XMSWK Orion SpaceProbe 130 EQ Reflector]] has a longer focal point as well as the Dobsonian reflectors which gets your more magnification for the same eyepeice) and a camera mount/accessories for taking photos.
This is my very first telescope and I will give you my opinion in each area of the product as well as issues I ran into as a beginner.
PACKAGING:
The scope arrived very well packed with many empty boxes inside the package to serve as cushion for the telescope and parts. It is a single box that is about four feet long and about 50 lbs. Unpacking may take a bit to carefully set up the parts for assembly.
INCLUDED ITEMS:
It comes with a manual, Orion's starry night software which I found helpful as beginner ( also notifies you of any upcoming events that you may want to watch) , tools for assembly of the telescope ( no hex wrench for collimation i.e. adjusting the mirrors ), collmination cap, and two eye pieces. A 10mm for 65x and a 25mm for 26x magnification.
ASSEMBLY:
The instructions list that this should take 30 minutes. I agree if I had to do this a second time and I could probably do it in 15 by the second or third time. However, as a beginner with no prior experience, expect an hour to 1 1/2 hour to assemble. The instructions are good but a bit hazy and unclear during certain steps for a beginner. This is due to the large area of controls, gears, and levers on the mount itself that can seem a bit over bearing at first before you are familiarized with the controls. It would be helpful to have smaller diagrams between steps showing exact controls or parts to move. You may have to re-read the steps a few time and continue to consult the single diagram for reference.
Order of Assembly:
1. Mount tripods to Mount ( Mount is heavy! )
2. Add and assembly accessory tray
3. Thread and add counterweight to mount ( Be very careful )
4. Add ring mounts ( will hold the telescope tube or OTA ) to mount. Remember to add the correct one to the correct side
5. Carefully set tube in ring mounts and tighten.
6. Adjust balance of telescope in both axis
7. Add slow control knobs to worm gears
Notes about assembly:
I ran into issues at first after installing the counter weight. I was under the impression that the locking bolts to secure the mount at a particular angle would hold the mount in place with the counterweight. No matter how tight you press the weight will force the mount down. I assumed something was broken but luckily I figured out that the latitude adjustment bolt needed to be set first. This bolt limits how low the mount will go. In my case, with the bolt not set the counterweight would flop down and hit the tripod legs. Setting this bolt to 30-40 degrees stops it from BENDING lower and the counterweight stays still now.
Second issue I had was mounting the tube rings on the wrong side. There is one right with a small metal wheel on top to be used for taking photos with a camera. That ring should be toward the FRONT of the telescope WHICH IS where the SLOW MOTION CONTROL for Declination is! This means the control knob ALSO points towards the front of the telescope.
COLLIMATION:
I used the included cap ( place over the focuser or eyepiece tube on the telescope ) to check if the mirrors were aligned. I looked through and it looked pretty close to me at first and I wanted to get out and test it. You should check it after receiving it as some of it may be off. Mine was as I realized later however it was close enough to still see brilliant images the first night. I corrected it today and after over an hour of the learning process I have mine aligned well and it did seem that the moon was sharper then the day before. This is a maintenance process that you have to do on these types of scopes. The first time, it's tough. If I had to do it again now I could do it in about 5-10 minutes or less.
Here are some of the mistakes a beginner like me made that caused confusion:
When you use the collimation cap, you are supposed to see all these "rings" and reflections of the mirrors. There are only two things you are going to adjust, the secondary mirror and the primary mirror ( the big one at the back of the tube). The secondary mirror is the tricky one. Basically, you look down the focuser and with the telescope parallel to the horizon ( in case you drop a screw or tool and don't' want it falling onto the mirror and breaking it! ) you look through and see if the dark black ring around the center is , well centered. If not you start by using a Philips screw to adjust on the front of the scope. There is a cross at the front and only one Phillips head screw in the center to modify. This Moves the mirror toward the back of the tube or toward the front. This just aligns it so that when you look through you are seeing the whole image of the secondary mirror through the focuser. You may rotate it if it's at an angle but only touch the stub, not the mirror itself. Then, you can use a 2mm Allen wrench to adjust the three screws to adjust the tilt to make that dark black ring in the center. There will be a ring shaped mark that you will see. don't worry about getting that centered yet, only the dark ring around it. Once that is done, you unscrew three screws at the back to take off a cover and then find 6 screws to adjust the back mirror. This is trial and error as well but you just have to move either of the screws a little bit and it will cause the ring mark to move and center with the dark dot directly in the center. This "dot" is the hole that you are looking through that you will see in the mirror reflection.
USING THE TELESCOPE
Finally, actually using the telescope is not so bad but you will have to get used to moving it around a equatorial mount. It does not move left to right and up and down. It moves in "arcs" that match the movement of the Earth. For the first night, I just moved the telescope around and moved it into position of the moon without polar aligning the mount. Since this was a quick test, I didn't care about that just yet. All the controls moved well and smoothly. I did have to tighten the RA and Dec knobs well to make sure no movement happened, though if you give it a hard nudge or rested your hand on the tube you could accidentally move it slightly. The scope is a bit sensitive to movement. The tripod base was sturdy but once you got to the tube you could tap it and it would bounce slightly and then stabilize. I feel this is normal for any mount in this price range of this type as I tested from tripod off tapping everywhere to see where I could make adjustments to make it more sturdy. All the pieces are heavy and solid, and I think once it gets to the tube itself there is some play in movement just because the telescope is a rolled metal tube.
Adding and taking off eyepieces is fairly easy. Simply loosen two screws pop into place. The focuser worked well. Some people complain that it is plastic, but it does not make it work poorly because of it. It was very smooth focusing and also held my DSLR camera with the [[ASIN:B0000XMUO6 Orion 1.25" Universal Camera Adapter]] in place fine.
IMAGE QUALITY
Fantastic. I had my neighbors over and we were all very impressed with shots of the moon. Pictures would not do it justice to how sharp and clear the images were. I also later that night pointed the telescope at Jupiter and with the 2x barlow lens and 10mm eyepiece could see Jupiter and all four moons. I was very impressed. The image was tiny in the eyepiece but you could see them clearly. I have purchased a 5mm eyepiece for higher magnification ( 130x base and 260x with a 2x barlow ).
OVERALL QUALITY
Everything is packaged well, seems of decent heft and weight, and is relatively good quality. I only found maybe a few parts that felt "cheap" but really, everything worked well and didn't degrade it from performing properly. I think for the price that this sells for I got good product.
SUMMARY
This telescope is wonderful and is versatile. It is a bright scope with a wide field of view. It is on a equatorial mount which if you plan on growing into the hobby will want to learn how to use. If you want to try AstroPhotography you have everything basically ready to start other than a mount for your camera. You can adjust the magnification to get very high power with a simple eyepiece upgrade to match other longer focal length scopes. It IS portable, if you take the tube and tripod/mount/counterweight apart before traveling. For me I will be able to fit each piece into my tight spaces and still have someone in the passenger seat. For those with larger vehicles, the Dobsonian telescopes might be more portable. Overall this is a well made scope with options to grow into and can give you some flexibility. My number one reason for buying this over a Orion xt8 is that I could learn and work with a little bit of everything in this new hobby.
With that budget the dobsonians are out, I've really like the 6 inch built a telescope from orion but the shipping cost was really over the budget. Now the celestron astromaster 130 and this telescope.
Well I've read from the users that the celestron astromaster 130;
Cons
1. the tripod of the celestron can easily break
2. the dot finder was a challenge to use
3. plus there is no included collimation cap (you can easily make one)
4. Mirror has no center guide (though you can mark it yourself)
5. the included 20 mm plossl is not of good quality
Pros
1. Optics is really good with the astromaster 130
2. Parabolic mirror
3. Cost about 187 USD (sometimes it changes to 210 USD)
With this I chose the orion spaceprobe 130ST since I don't want to deal with the cons of the Celestron Astromaster 130.
After waiting about 50 days the telescope finally arrived.
Packaging:
It is well packed and it is double boxed to protect the items inside and there's a lot of small empty boxes to prevent the items from moving. The OTA is separated by a divider and tightly packed.
All items are complete, The finder scope, 2 eyepiece, dvd's and tools are in a separate box and the EQ mount is already pre-assembled. Assembling the telescope is easy and it took me about 45 minutes (watch the video in youtube on how to assemble the scope, it will really help)
Equatorial mount:
As for an equatorial mount you'll get the hang of it after several use and is actually convenient to use when tracking objects (its just a turn of a knob.) You can also use the scope like a dobsonian and an alt-azimuth (release the Dec and RA lock and you're free to move it around)
Advantaged of an EQ mount is that I tracks objects by a single turn of a knob and it can also be used for astro-photography when you want that on a later time.
Performance:
Overall the performance of the telescope is great. It is properly collimated, mount is stable and durable. The 2 eyepiece included is of good quality. Focuser is smooth and the finder scope is easy to use (opening your other eye will help you target objects while using the finder.)
260x is the rated useful magnification of this scope but I've tried 325x with the moon and jupiter (using a 6mm plossl and a 3x barlow) The view is not as crisp sharp for jupiter and but I can still see the major bands. I'll purchase the celestron 2.3mm soon and see how it goes.
Cons for the Orion spaceprobe 130ST
1. At high magnification the scope will become shaky when focusing. (I guess this is to be expected on the EQ2 mount. Let it settle for a few seconds and the view will steady)
2. My 25 mm siruis plossl has a big lint between the lens (Orion replaced it)
3. Some scratches on the tripod
4. Some dirt on the mirror
5. EQ mount is for latitude 16 and above only. Although you can remedy this by turning the scope so the front leg of the tripod is facing south and the counterweight will not hit the tripod leg.
11/3/2012
On a clear night just recently I spend the whole night looking at jupiter. I got a glimpse of the great spot! (And occasional eye floaters!! Damn)
Things I saw on our backyard with limited view
Pleiades - easy to spot and magnificent with the 25 mm Plossl
Orion nebula - by far easiest nebula to spot
Andromeda galaxy - Its just like a gray blur cloud in the sky
Jupiter - see above
Moon - great as always (don't expect to see the american flag)
Sun - Try to view at sunrise and sunset and use a baader filer or mylar
I'll update this review when I can.
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Reviewed in Germany on September 19, 2021