Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsBeginning And Living Small?
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2021
Then this is definitely a telescope to check out.
Right now, I am primarily reviewing the setup and storage features, since I just got it, and I am still learning all of its features.
First off, setup was a breeze, So far, I love the tripod. It collapses and sets up easily and is stabilized by the easily removable tray. (If you usually use a patio or balcony for your star-gazing, this shouldn’t be a steadiness issue. (If you are viewing in rocky or uneven settings, or have lots of floor space, the tray can be, just as easily, fixed in place.)
The actual telescope attaches to the tripod, in quite a clever way, to fix it firmly in place when in use, but easy to remove and gingerly store in a padded case, when not in use.
So, if you live in a small space, with not much access to wide open viewing spaces, but can still get a good view of the cosmos from your space, this is a good starter.
The telescope so far:
With probably less than an hour of fidgeting and re-reading the instructions/provided information, I got a good view of a hot air balloon a couple of miles or so away. This is great for me, because I don't live where there is much to be seen on the ground, tall enough to be seen from a mile away, and that is really what you need to get this thing focused, in the daytime, when first using it, as is recommended.
A stop sign would be great, because it's red, but the yellow and orange balloon worked a treat. (Something bright in color makes it easy to hone in on something extremely blurry in the distance. Green leaves of tall trees, not so much.)
Hint: Do not try to focus on something less than .5 mile (0.804672km) away (like inside your house) or you will think you have a faulty one.
Hint: Probably best not to buy this the day before some amazing celestial event, unless you are really proficient with telescopes and the study of the great out there.
Sure you can see things far away, but it's not instantaneous or "point and shoot" (unless, see above.)
Now to check out the moon at night.
First (easily viewable) things, first!
(Updates as I become more familiar with it.)
5-22-21 Update: Saw Jupiter and 3 of its moons! No definition to Jupiter (yet) but it was exciting all the same.