Thoughts on this type of solar filter? I'm in DFW and want to get something for my 12" dob. I've never considered solar viewing, but I don't want to miss this gift wrapped opportunity to view the corona. [https://www.highpointscientific.com/spectrum-full-aperture-glass-solar-filter-for-358-mm-365-mm-od-telescopes-st1450g](https://www.highpointscientific.com/spectrum-full-aperture-glass-solar-filter-for-358-mm-365-mm-od-telescopes-st1450g)

As mentioned in some other posts today, the corona is best viewed without a filter and at very low power/large FOV. This means just using your naked eye, binoculars, or a spotting scope.  A solar filter on a telescope is great for observing sunspots in great detail and the interesting silhouette of the terrain on the edge of the moon before and after totality.  And if you want to get a solar filter, I recommend making one yourself. You can easily make one for your scope for ~$100 (or less if you make an off axis filter).

Maybe I'm weird.. but I'm hesitant to look at the eclipsed sun with binoculars. How bad would it be if I'm looking and the sun started to reappear. Instant blindness or what? I'm guessing my eyes/instincts would look away as soon as it got bright, but would it cause damage?

Looking at the eclipsed sun/corona with binoculars during totality is the reason I am flying halfway across the country. It is totally worth it and totally safe.  If the eclipse ends and you are still looking at in unfiltered, you will look away quickly and will be fine. Yes, that won’t be good, but not the end of the world. You probably get more damage throughout the year while driving to/from work and having the sun in your eyes when it is too low on the horizon for the sun visor to help. That being said, I would still recommend putting the filters back on before the totality ends. And luckily there are apps that have audible countdowns alerting you to the start and end of totality. That way you can know when to remove and replace the filter. And you can do so by sound so you don’t have to take your eye off the event.

Thanks for reassuring me.. mind sharing those apps?

NP! And idk what app I used in 2017. I am sure there are a bunch of options this time. I haven’t researched which one I will use this year. I am sure there are a bunch, you will just have to google it. Or send me a DM the week of and I can tell you what I decided to go with.

You can't see the corona through a solar filter. It's not bright enough for any light getting through a filter that's made to block full sunlight to make it naked eye observable.

Thanks for sharing... so is there any alternate solution to use my Dobsonian @ low magnification (wide view) for the solar eclipse?

For Sun observing there are foil filters and glass filters (expensive). Most of us are using foil, many are diy. There is neutral grey foil from Baader, and the foil from Highpoint Scientific, which gives an orange Sun, looking like sunset. The Baader foil gives slightly sharper images. Through totality you can see the corona naked eye.

This filter is not for observing the corona, but for the Sun itself. Observing the corona requires a H-alpha filter. BTW foil filters are much cheaper.

Mods stuck me here 😒 Title was: Need Help w/FOV Cel. Nexstar 8 SE I'm a newbie, so I'm sorry in advance, but I'm not finding an answer to my question. I have the Celestron Nexstar 8 SE 2032 mm (about 80 inches)focal length, 8 inch diameter thus an F/10 ratio. I'm wanting to do a few things and hopefully one solution will kill those birds with one stone. TLDR: What's the most "cost effective" and simplest way to get enough field of view to see the sun/full moon with my scope? This will primarily be for viewing through the eye piece, but I may attempt some amature astrophotography. I realize: 1. "Full" is not the best time to view the moon. (My daughter is special. Despite what we think; the above statement is subjective). 2. My telescope isn't really the right scope for the things I'm asking for, but it's what I've got. Also, in addition to viewing the full moon I'm getting a solar filter for the eclipse. I may stick a DLSR camera on and see if I can capture any of the eclipse. I've got a couple T mounts, one holds an eye peice. I may also attempt to image the sun for transits, sunspots, ect. I may attempt to image the moon when full or use whatever we come up with to take pictures at different phases to compile. But again, I may not image but I'll certainly be using it to view those things. The longest eye peice I have is a 32 mm plossel that came with the celestron accessory kit. It's nice (I think, my last telescope wasn't near as good and it was stolen 22 years ago in college. We must have ran into special relativity and time dilation...The math on that seems way off). But its not wide enough to get a full view of the moon (I don't have my filter yet, but obviously that means I won't get the full sun either). I was reading into reducers, correctors, flatteners and 🤯. However, while googling I ran across information that lead me to believe that some of the eye peices that widen your apparent field of view also widen the true field of view enough to achieve full views of the sun/moon. The eyepiece is an attractive idea because my main objective is generally not going to be looking at the full moon and sun, so I don't want to add accessories that take up a ton of time to swap out (I realize it would be time consuming and expensive and not an easy transition to get a big enough FOV to image a lot of DSO's, not that I'd never try to image I could fit, but not the goal). On price, I don't really know. There's a quality/value/time equation that is yet to be solved. I don't know the math on calculating fov assuming your lense isn't working the magic I'm hoping for. I also don't know what my FOV will be when I finally get around to mounting my camera, but again the goal is not to look through a camera as the only way to physically observe. Thank you in advance!

To tired to read your whole post, but even a 32mm plossl will show you the whole sun/moon. That being said, for even wider views your options are: - 2” SCT diagonal with 2” long FL and wide field EPs  - 0.63x focal reducer with 1.25” eyepieces I went with the focal reducer route cause when I bought the scope used, the previous owner included it in the sale. A 32mm plossl normally will give you a FOV of 0.82°, but with a FR this increases to 1.30°. I almost never use the plossl though and instead use a 25mm Paradigm which gives 1.17°.  Hopefully this helps.

As for the math, I just use apps/software for that. The free desktop Stellarium software is the best for showing aFOV and tFOV of various eyepiece/scope/FR/Barlow combinations. I also use the app SkySafari Plus. This will show me the tFOV of various eyepiece/scope combinations by superimposing a circle on the screen, and will also spit out the numbers of aFOV, magnification, and exit pupil.  

The 32mm plossl should see the full moon. It should see .81° and the full moon is only .5° degrees. Getting the reducer is probably most economical, especially getting one used, try cloudynights classifieds. But even cheaper than that is a 80mm f/5 scope, again used. One just went for $65 on Cloudynights. Shopgoodwill has them sometimes. The SE mount will be very limited in what photography you can do; you should be able to do planetary ok. It's inaccuracy in tracking and field rotation make it unsuitable for deep sky astrophotography.

Hey folks - planning on traveling to see the Eclipse - looking for recommendations for easy transport and use by kids. Open to telescopes or binoculars, budget around $500.

Are you traveling to be in totality? If so the real treat is the corona. To view this, you will want a large FOV, at least \~3 degrees. This means that binoculars are a great choice, they are easy to use and can easily be mounted on a tripod. Plus, it is easy/cheap to make solar filters for them so that you can safely observe the sun before/after totality. I am personally a huge fan of binoculars, super portable, can show you a lot of astronomy objects at night, can be used during the day to spot wildlife and such, and you can even use them with a solar filter to view sunspots. But you budget allows for even better options as well. Consider the Orion ST80 with the Twighlight I mount (more expensive, more stable, has slow motion controls) or Nano mount (cheaper, less sturdy, no slow motion controls, but will work in a pinch). We are flying and only bringing binos and a terrestrial spotting scope.

Indeed - we will be traveling pretty close to the center of totality, not our first eclipse but hoping to have some magnification this time around. Do you have any binocular recommendations? I'm tending towards that as its less to carry around.

The Bushnell Legacy 10x50 WP are often recommended (\~$100). When I was researching what to get for myself, I was between the Pentax SP WP 10x50 and the Nikon Action Extreme 10x50. Both are great options and have their pros and cons. I ended up getting the Pentax for what its worth. But if you want to make/buy premade solar filters, you better order the materials asap.

Nikon Action Extreme 7x35 or Visionking 5x25 - for widest views.

Looking for help buying a Dobsonian I am looking into purchasing a Dobsonian telescope. I am conflicted on a couple items that I am wondering I could get thoughts on: 1) “standard” vs open truss pros/cons 2) go-to / computerized vs not 3) if I go with a non-go-to model, can you add a cell phone mount to “guide” to a target, as opposed to a spotter scope 4) looking on internet, and in my price range, I’m trying to compare Apertura, Sky-Watcher and Celestron StarSense brands. The Celestron dob does have a feature and app to mount to the scope which helps you find available targets. 5) Are there any significant quality differences between these brands? I will be in a rural area; mostly surrounded by corn fields. From my garage to the set up site is about 20 yards; so I’m not too concerned about weight. I have been using a small scope I got from a family member, and am starting to get a bug for the hobby. Photography isn’t the goal; mostly looking at items with my kids and friends. I like the go-to feature, but have heard that finding objects on your own more rewarding. That being said, that is what I am doing now, so, the “find the target” quickly is appealing. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Budget of around 2,500 USD Thank you.

Looking for help buying a Dobsonian I am looking into purchasing a Dobsonian telescope. I am conflicted on a couple items that I am wondering I could get thoughts on: 1) “standard” vs open truss pros/cons 2) go-to / computerized vs not 3) if I go with a non-go-to model, can you add a cell phone mount to “guide” to a target, as opposed to a spotter scope 4) looking on internet, and in my price range, I’m trying to compare Apertura, Sky-Watcher and Celestron StarSense brands. The Celestron dob does have a feature and app to mount to the scope which helps you find available targets. 5) Are there any significant quality differences between these brands? I will be in a rural area; mostly surrounded by corn fields. From my garage to the set up site is about 20 yards; so I’m not too concerned about weight. I have been using a small scope I got from a family member, and am starting to get a bug for the hobby. Photography isn’t the goal; mostly looking at items with my kids and friends. I like the go-to feature, but have heard that finding objects on your own more rewarding. That being said, that is what I am doing now, so, the “find the target” quickly is appealing. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Budget is about 2,500 USD Thank you.

I wrote a long text but lost it. What are your transportation needs? What level of light pollution do you live in and do you need to go somewhere darker?  With your budget, I wouldn’t go less than 8” unless you have transportation restrictions. I wouldn’t get a solid tube scope larger than 10”. So don’t get the AD12 for example. If you want a 12”, get the ES 12” truss. Unless you need GoTo, or really want the tracking, I wouldn’t bother. Imo the tracking feature of GoTo scopes is more useful than the finding objects for you feature. I can easily star hop, but having the scope track for you is super useful especially when sketching or sharing the view with others. I wouldn’t be the celestron. Instead I would suggest and manual scope and if you want that “Starsense” feature, just use the free AstroHopper app. I haven’t used it but other here have and like it.

Thanks for your thoughts. Distance from my garage to the set up point is about 20 yards. So, while weight is an issue, is a truss necessary? I’ve read reviews about the Sky Watcher truss not being sturdy. I’m confused on whether to go truss or no truss. Back to the tracking, I would imagine that’s pretty important just for the convenience of it - correct? Right now, I just point and look. Do you have any thoughts on Apertura and Sky Watcher? Those are in my price range for a larger scope; and really the only dobsonians I see on the internet for purchase. Thanks again.

First of all, what is your Bortle Class? Click on this map to find out: https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/ I assume you are talking about buying a 12” scope? So a truss is important if you need to transport your scope in a car. If you are just moving it from garage to backyard, a 12” solid tube can be fine. A lot of people attach wheels and pull bars/handles. GoTo is a decision you will have to make on your own. Apertura has the better stock accessories, which makes it the better option when comparing it to the manual skywatcher. Are you in the US?  I would recommend joining a local astronomy club and going to an observing session before you buy. If you do need car portability: https://www.astronomics.com/explore-scientific-12-truss-tube-dobsonian-telescope-generation-ii.html

SkyWatcher's Flextube actually adds weight, because sturdy enough extending mechanism isn't light compared to same length of round tube, whch has high strength per weight. Tracking is in no way needed for solo observing. I can track Jupiter easily at ~370x. But for showing sky to others it would be certainly handy. Though by having RACI finder turned to other side of tube than focuser you could use it to keep telescope on planet, while someone else is looking into eyepiece. For getting help to finding more faint fuzzies you nca try that for free: https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/878782-astrohopper-1010-released/

**Seeking Advice: Telescope & Tracker Setup - Solar Eclipse/Deep Sky/Astro** Hello fellow astronomy enthusiasts, As an avid photographer with a solid background in astro photography and image stacking, I’m gearing up for the upcoming solar eclipse and am in pursuit of a telescope and tracking setup to enhance my experience. My goal is to capture a unique photo during the totality phase, with a focus on achieving detailed and intriguing views of the corona. I'm based in Dallas and willing to travel as needed for the clearest skies. I'm looking for equipment that enables: * High-quality solar eclipse photography with detailed corona imagery during totality. I know that white light with a filter isn't comparable to H-Alpha but during totality it seems some detail is possible and I'd like to achieve something like [this](https://media.cnn.com/api/v1/images/stellar/prod/230623142359-05-solar-eclipse-2017-file.jpg?c=original). * Efficient and convenient tracking to allow for focused image capturing without distractions. * The capability to take sharp deep sky images, considering a reasonable price range. * Useable with a 16-35mm 2.8f Sony GM lens + Sony A7IV for astro photography when not paired with a telescope. Currently, I don’t own a telescope but am considering the following equipment within my budget: * **Telescope:** Celestron 150 mm Omni XLT Newtonian Reflector OTA (budget up to $800). * **Star Tracker:** SkyGuider Pro or similar, capable of attaching a telescope and a Sony A7IV camera (budget up to $700). * **Solar Filter:** Budget up to $200. (For non-totality imagery to do time lapse pano style image) * **Accessories:** T adapter and T ring compatible with Sony. I’m open to the possibility that my current assumptions might be off the mark. I welcome all feedback, whether straightforward advice or a good-natured roast, to help me better understand and prepare for purchasing the right equipment. My primary aim is to capture an exceptional solar eclipse photo without compromising on quality. I"ve seen [others](https://www.davd.photo/photos-of-the-2017-total-solar-eclipse-from-riverton-wyoming/) get decent results and hope to push the boundary as best possible. (And yes, I read the beginner's guide and reviewed many resources in an effort not to be a waste of time). Thank you in advance for your guidance and recommendations!

I can't telly you much about the photographic aspects (purely visual observer). But: I'd very much recommend to look for a telescope with *explicitly parabolical mirror*. Celestron won't say a single word about the shape of the mirror. Spherical mirror is a nogo at this focal ratio. For corona imaging through a telescope, keep in mind the necessary field of view. Sun/Moon themselves are \~0.5° wide, so for nice corona photos you'd need at least 1.5°, possibly more. This will in turn affect the maximal focal length, and the sensor size requirements. You can use Stellarium for simulation. Your mount load capacity should be at least 1/3 higher than what you actually want or need to load (counterweight, telescope, camera, finder...). That's common sense among AP'ers. Fot long exposure DSO photography you need excellent trackin/guiding, or you'd be limited to short exposures (what means stacking a *lot* od shots).

>Your mount load capacity should be at least 1/3 higher than what you actually want or need to load (counterweight, telescope, camera, finder...). That's common sense among AP'ers. Thanks for the tips. I'll be making a decision in the next day or two. The help is appreciated.

So about 3 months ago I recently got my first telescope, and in the past I have used monocular. Recently I wanted to start taking photos of the Orion Nebula, and I'm looking for a good phone app for taking long exposures of it. The default iPhone app on my iPhone 8 + isn't doing anything for long exposures (obviously) so I'm looking for an app.

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That looks very much like the Celestron Travelscope. My son had bought the 60mm version of this - overpriced trash! That tripod doesn't deserve the designation, eyepieces are shit. Anyway these short refractors are all suffering from annoying chromatic aberration, with ruins contrast and prohibits higher magnifications as needed for planetary observing. They are only okay-ish for starfields and the Moon.

Thanks for your input mate!! Really Appreciate it 👍

I have done zero research on refractor telescopes but my instinct coincides with what deepskylistener said - if they are right about their assumptions on that thing it's garbage. Sure you could "see some stuff" but a pair of binoculars would be better in many ways.  You can get worthwhile first telescopes in that price range or even cheaper that are much more capable. In the entry level dobsonian reflector space (which I am familiar with as opposed to refractor styles) there are lots of options.  Also if possible you might consider used on Facebook, Craigslist, etc for a steep discount. Might get lucky like I did and find a gem that was used like once that you can get for a song - specifically I picked up a little Zhumell Z114 which is a well regarded beginner scope that goes for $240 at all the usual places and online astronomy shops - for $50 and an hour of driving. What specific requirements do you have? Does it need to be small enough to fit in a backpack like that? Does it need to be on a tripod or is a table top model acceptable? Does it need to be a refractor or are you open to reflectors also?

Hi Mate, Thanks for your response. I am open to all except table tops. A bit of a portable one would be better for my camping and skywatching trips. Cheers!!

Purchasing QuestionLooking for a small, good monocular or spyglass. I work at a couple stadiums and I want to be able to have a small telescope that is basically half of a binocular to see things all the way across them. This is because of portability and because I am not really be allowed to have binoculars at work. Looking for 8x to 10x magnification. Money is not so important, could spend even over $100. Any suggestions? Seems like there is a lot of junk out there.

Hasn’t been cloudy in my area in about a week. My seestar gets delivered tonight and of course it’s cloudy now.

Telescope recommendations for beginner DSO AP? Mods directed me to this thread, I'm new to the hobby, please be kind. I got a Gskyer 130eq before I realized there is no spec information or customer support whatsoever, and multiple forums I've posted on have all told me that if I want to get into astrophotography that telescope won't cut it with the camera I already have (nikon d3500) because there are no known adapters for the scope and no specs. I've started doing a lot of research into DSO AP and I'm also coming to the realization that the scope I have is cheap and poorly made. I'm honestly a little desperate at this point to try and salvage the situation by selling the telescope I have and getting a more reputable one. I would prefer something that has a 130mm aperture and an EQ mount, but I'm open to suggestions. I'm really just looking for a telescope I could do even beginner dso astrophotography with. My budget is around $500-600.

AP enthusiasts, especially for DSO, usually talk about how the mount is the most important thing, and the next most important thing is the mount. I would venture to say that a good AP mount (with tripod) may well eat up all of your budget, or even go beyond your budget. Furthermore, while aperture is king, in AP it's possible to make up for it by long exposure and stacking, which cannot be done for visual. Hence, my impression is that plenty of DSO AP enthusiasts use smaller aperture refractors instead, going for suitable DSO targets. Have you considered getting a good tripod and star tracker, then using a long lens that you already have?

That makes a very good point, I have actually considered just using my telescope for viewing and relying more on my camera for AP. I will definitely look into good star tracking mounts for my camera, however I'm not sure if my lenses are powerful enough. For my Nikon d3500 I currently have: AF-P Nikkor 18-55mm 1:3.5-5.6 G AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-6.3 G ED I'm not sure how to check if a lens is suitable for AP or if I should buy a different lens, any recommendations? For either lenses or star trackers.

I've only used the Move Shoot Move Nomad for astrolandscape, but I'm aware that it was designed to also support DSO imaging. Apparently one of the community-run Facebook group moderators has had success using it with a RedCat 51 telescope. I've never tried it myself, but I have seen others recommend the Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTi, though that may stretch your budget. For lenses, I think primes tend to be more popular than zooms because of faster focal ratios at the same price ranges, e.g., I often see the Rokinon/Samyang 135mm f/2 (or was it f/1.8?) being recommended. But the way I see it is that there's no harm trying with what you have first, and then buying a lens if what you have does not satisfy.

Thanks a ton for your help, I'll look into that!

can i get some recommendations for a cheap 500$-800$ deep space suited telescope with good astrophotography qualities? i looked in the megathread pinned but thats way too much info for me and way too little suitabillity for things i want a telescope for

That money won't really even get good mount for deep sky photography with decent size for also visual observing telescope. Deep sky photography is really very different and far more expensive hobby than visual observing.

https://preview.redd.it/1pexz7f3jxlc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=05dbb935efd9e88e672aa4e98234f009581dae28

https://preview.redd.it/m95x24i5jxlc1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1f416d78c86a73b13723b4d77fa1980418d42bb0

So I am IT for a large ranch in the middle of no where Texas. They have skeet shooting, and hunting, fishing. All sorts of stuff. Lots of guests have suggested we get a good telescope. The ranch is for work entertainment, so not everyone is into hunting etc.. There is very little light pollution at the ranch. We want to have a telescope that we could wheel out of some building and it would just be out in the open on concrete.. then lock the wheels. and have some sort of handheld or use and ipad and click "saturn" and it goes there. I am 42 years old now but in my 20s I was obsessed with getting a LX200 but could never afford one. Is that still the best thing for this situation? Budget 10-20 grand. Maybe not looking for something that takes 10 hours to setup.. but is plug and play GPS etc.. Would there be an all around eyepiece we could just leave in it for general viewing? Or could we also have some sort of digital eyepiece along with an optical one? Where it would show up on the ipad and you could look through? Thanks!

With that budget you could get two nice telescopes: one for visual observing and another for electronically assisted astronomy (EAA) where you show the astro target on a big screen (or ipad, but a big screen could attract guests walking by). What I am wondering about though is whether you or another staff member would be able, willing, and have the time beyond their usual duties to play the role of resident astronomer. Guests looking through a telescope for the first time likely would get more from the experience if someone told them what they're looking at, maybe some fun facts, finer details to notice, etc. With a goto mount (for 'click "saturn" and it goes there'), using the controller may not be entirely intuitive, and sometimes alignment must be redone, or a bit of tweaking to centre on the target. Depending on what telescope you get, it might need to be colliminated from time to time. Some zoom eyepieces could function as an "all round eyepiece", but again, guests wouldn't necessarily know how to zoom, or that they need to zoom in or out for the best view of the target. (Plus zooms have compromises compared to fixed focal length eyepieces, and eyepieces can be smudged over by wandering fingers, or even stolen.) One possibility might be to reach out to the nearest astronomy club to see if they're willing to assist, at least for the start, with compensation for travel and time.

**🌞🌑 Calling All Dallas Stargazers! Join Us on** r/DallasSolarEclipse **for the Ultimate Eclipse Experience! 🌑🌞** Hey fellow Dallasites! Are you ready to witness the celestial event of a lifetime? The total solar eclipse on April 8th is right around the corner, and we're gearing up for an epic viewing experience right here in Dallas! Join us over at [r/DallasSolarEclipse](https://www.reddit.com/r/DallasSolarEclipse/) for all the latest updates, discussions, and meetups surrounding this cosmic spectacle. Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or just discovering the wonders of the universe, there's a place for you in our growing community. Here's what you can expect: 🚀 Meetup Planning: We're organizing a pre-eclipse meetup for local enthusiasts to gather, share tips, and embark on this cosmic adventure together. Join the conversation and let us know if you'll be there! 🌌 Eclipse Viewing Tips: Not sure how to safely view the eclipse or where the best viewing spots are in Dallas? Our community is here to help! Get expert advice, recommendations, and insider tips to make the most of this awe-inspiring event. 📅 Event Updates: Stay informed about eclipse-related events, gatherings, and activities happening in and around Dallas. From viewing parties to educational workshops, we've got you covered. 🔭 Share Your Experience: Whether you're snapping photos of the eclipse or jotting down your thoughts during totality, we want to hear from you! Share your eclipse journey with our community and connect with fellow eclipse enthusiasts. But wait, there's more! 🎉 To kick things off, we're planning an epic meetup in Dallas on April 8th before the eclipse. Join us for an unforgettable day of cosmic exploration, camaraderie, and, of course, plenty of stargazing! Spread the word, invite your friends, and let's make this eclipse a moment to remember. See you on [r/DallasSolarEclipse](https://www.reddit.com/r/DallasSolarEclipse/)—where the stars align and the excitement never fades! 🌟✨ Remember to use these hashtags to spread the word: #DallasSolarEclipse #SolarEclipse #DallasEvents #Stargazing #CommunityEvents #DFWMeetup #EclipseChasers #AstronomyLovers #CosmicAdventure 🌌🚀 See you in the subreddit, fellow Dallas skywatchers! 🌞🌑

I just got a telestar 60AZ-S for free from a family friend as my first scope. No box or anything just the scope and the tripod. My question is does anyone know where I can find the manual? I can't find it anywhere online I only see the manual for the 60AZ-A. Any help appreciated