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Review: Orion Apex 102mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope
An All-Purpose Compact and Power-Packed Quality Scope

Confirmed: Quality, both the parts and the images.

Terrific feature: Portability and great value for money!

Good things do come in small packages and the proof of the pudding is in the eating.  Just take a peek into this Mak-Cass, both at night and during the day, will convince you of its quality delivered in a short one-foot compact tube.  Combined with its comparatively large 102mm aperture, it is able to serve up brighter and highly resolved images. In spite of its short housing, the 1300mm focal length is achieved through mirrors and lenses which folds the light several times.  This design allows Mak-Cass to perform many times more powerful than telescopes of similar size.

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For Terrestrial Viewing

The Apex 102 is excellent as a spotting scope as the 45° diagonal provides a correctly-oriented field of view.

For Observational Astronomy

For astronomy viewing, you may wish to get a 90-degree mirror diagonal.   Use this Mak-Cass telescope to view the planets, the Moon as well as nebulas and star clusters.  It accepts standard 1.25″ telescope eyepieces for nearly unlimited magnification options.  Because of the superb quality of its optics, you may wish to spend time studying detailed features on the Moon surface, the cloud patterns of Jupiter or even the ring of Saturn.  You may even use it to study brighter deep sky objects of up to magnitude 12 (our naked eyes can see up to magnitude 6).

Photography

The scope can be easily mounted on a telescope mount or camera tripod with the built-in 1/4″-20 adapter plate. It can be used as a high-power telephoto lens for photography by mounting a 35mm camera body (with optional T-ring) to the T-threads on the eyepiece holder.

Tips for adult beginner amateur astronomers: Consider getting a Mak-Cass 102mm telescope tube, an Orion HD-F2 Paragon Tripod and an Orion EQ-2 Mount.

Why?

* You’ll get more mileage from your initial investment in a Mak-Cass as it allows you to grow into this new hobby - all the way to astrophotography by mounting it on an equatorial mount with tracking functionality.  You get quality images and a wider spread of the night sky.

* Mount your Mak-Cass on the Orion HD-F2 Paragon and use it for terrestrial viewing in the day and as an astronomy telescope at night. This multipurpose usage is afforded by the unique smooth panning feature of the tripod.

* When you are ready to venture further with an equatorial mount, do consider the Orion EQ-2 mount since it gives you the option of adding tracking functionality in the future.

Truly a match made in heaven - for viewing the heavens!

Review: Orion HD-F2 Paragon Telescope Tripod
Verdict: An Excellent Multipurpose Tripod, highly recommended for any beginner stargazers.

This heavy-duty tripod is super compact and lightweight. It supports any medium-weight cameras, giant binoculars, spotting scopes and telescopes. With the stability provided by its wide leg spread, it can comfortably hold any small Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes. When fully extended, the tripod allows for comfortable eye-level viewing.

Panning can be easily done using the 11-inch long adjustable handle. The smooth panning feature is unique to this tripod, you can pan your scope smoothly and easily using the adjustment knobs for both axes. Its stability and fluid panning makes it the top choice for adult beginner stargazers. If you own a Mak-Cass telescope, you may mount it on this tripod for both terrestrial and celestial viewings. Leveling of your scope may be achieved with the built-in bubble level.

Tips for adult beginner amateur astronomers: Consider getting a Mak-Cass 102mm telescope tube, an Orion HD-F2 Paragon Tripod and an Orion EQ-2 Mount.

Why?

• You’ll get more mileage from your initial investment in a Mak-Cass as it allows you to grow into this new hobby - all the way to astrophotography!  You get quality images and a wider spread of the night sky.
• Mount your Mak-Cass on the Orion HD-F2 Paragon and use it for terrestrial viewing in the day and as an astronomy telescope at night. This multipurpose usage is afforded by the unique smooth panning feature of the tripod.
• When you are ready to venture further with an equatorial mount, do consider the Orion EQ-2 mount since it gives you the option of adding tracking functionality in the future.

Truly a match made in heaven - for viewing the heavens!

Sleek-looking Telescope Finder Scope for Beginners

Orion EZ Finder II

Zoom in to your desired night sky objects easily with the Orion EZ Finder II. This sleek-looking and reasonably priced finderscope offers all astronomy beginners great value for your money!  Highly recommended.

How to use the Orion EZ Finderscope

The red dot shows where your telescope is pointing.

This quality low-priced version of Orion’s range of finderscopes is simple and easy to use.  You can quickly find and pin-point the celestial objects you want to view by superimposing a tiny LED-illuminated red dot on the sky.  When properly aligned with your telescope’s field of view, it will show exactly where your telescope is pointing.  It’s much simpler to use than other standard finder scopes because what you see is what you get - the objects are neither magnified nor inverted, but are as you see them with your naked eyes.

Other useful features of this finderscope is that the brightness of the dot is adjustable.  It comes with thumbwheels allowing for easy positioning of the dot both horizontally and vertically to ensure precise alignment with the main telescope.

If you own an Orion telescope, the bracket that comes with this finder scope allows it to be easily fitted onto the quick-release dovetail mounting of your telescope.  For non-Orion telescopes, the dovetail can be purchased separately.

This finder scope comes with a 3-volt lithium battery and a one-year limited warranty.

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Shopping for Beginner Telescopes By Aperture

Telescopes with apertures of more than 200 mm

Telescopes with apertures of more than 200mm are considered as advanced level or professional telescopes.

Shopping for Beginner Telescopes By Aperture

Telescopes with apertures of between 150mm to 200 mm

Telescopes that come under this aperture range are intermediate to advanced level telescopes.

Shopping for Beginner Telescopes By Aperture

Telescopes with apertures of less than 150 mm

Most of the telescopes under this aperture range are Newtonian reflectors.

Starry Night Complete Space & Astronomy Pack

If you enjoy gazing at the night sky, this software pack will show you what the sky should actually look like at your location, light pollution or not.  It’s great to be able to check before you go outside.

It’s easy to use and you can easily learn it even if you have no knowledge of any celestial objects. For beginners, to complement your out-in-the-field stargazing activities, this is an ideal pack that has everything you need to get started. You get to see the various kinds of night sky phenomena and explore the Universe in the comfort of your couch. Travel to the edges of the known Universe. Travel through time, from 4713 BC to 3000 AD, and see what the Universe looked like thousands of years ago or what it will look like thousands of years from now.

What you can get from the software:

* See how the night sky looks like from anywhere on Earth;
* View your home location night sky;
* Learn how to identify planets, stars, and popular asterisms such as “The Big Dipper”; and
* Space travel to visit any planet in the solar system, its moons, or the Milky Way.

Highlights of the software:

All new discoveries will be automatically updated into the software.
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I just love this new version of Monopoly.

The “real estate” involved is so out of this world and the pictures are simply beautiful. It is most refreshing to play compared to the traditional version.

I find it an extremely useful and meaningful game that can be enjoyed by anyone, both children and adults alike. For kids, it is a great educational tool for teaching them the various aspects of the game: counting and handling money, buying and selling, the Universe, and most of all, the joy and thrill of playing the game.

The real estates up for sale include comets, planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies.  Instead of houses, you have the chance to build observatories.  The tokens are refreshingly cool too :  Meade telescope, Hubble space telescope, binoculars, radio dish, observatory and Mars Rover.

For stargazers, have fun with this board game when the weather is not on your side.

Makes a great gift and learning tool for any skywatchers age 8 and above.

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Capitalize on a child’s natural curiosity and introduce him or her to the mysteries of the night sky. Find interesting and captivating books on astronomy, the Universe, the night sky, specifically written and illustrated for children. They are so well presented, your kids will love them and will have fond memories in years to come.