To see an object closer than what the included 25mm eyepiece included with the telescope shows you'll need a smaller number eyepiece not bigger. I used your part 1 video not realizing the instructions to put the base together was in the box with the telescope and not the base. Your instructions got the job done. I can't wait to get the chance to colimate my scope and use this part 2 video to get started seeing the sky as never before. Thanks for the help.
I just bought a Celestron Starsense Explorer 150mm dobs and I absolutely love it. the 6” mirror is a perfect balance between aperture size and portability, which is important to me because I travel with my telescope on our RV. The Starsense app is a complete game changer. I nearly bought another scope and changed my mind at the last minute to the Starsense and I feel like I dodged a bullet. I wouldn’t own any other telescope.
I'm so glad you are enjoying this. A small bit of advice for anyone getting into this. Get a good Barlow lens. It goes between the scope and eyepiece and basically doubles the magnification, like turns a 14mm into a 7mm. They don't cost a lot and this way you can buy fewer lenses. Also, before you buy high magnification lenses double check what the max magnification your scope can support. There's a bottomless rabbit hole you can go down deciding on lenses, trust me. Oh, and eye relief, the distance you can be away from the lens when looking into it. I wear glasses so need a higher relief but not everyone does.
I just got the same telescope for a grab and go and for my kid to use. Have a bunch for astrophotography, bigger dobs, etc...but the starsense dob is fantastic to just set up wherever you go and be out looking at things in minutes. Oh, and in eyepieces? Smaller numbers are actually more magnification. For jupiter/saturn you want something like a 7 or 8. If you go higher than your 24, it actually provides less magnification. =) I know it's confusing, it's basically the opposite of camera lenses.
Very informative video Amy. I have a Celestron 102 mm aperture refractor with StarSense App. I learned a lot about the StarSense App while watching your video. As others have commented you will want shorter focal length eyepieces to increase the magnification. Some people prefer using between and 8 mm to 12 mm eyepiece for planetary observations. When purchasing eyepieces you never want to buy one that will exceed the maximum magnification of your telescope. Your manual should provide this info. Magnification is a function of focal length of telescope divided by focal length of eyepiece. A decent Barlow lense will also increase focal length of telescope which in turn will increase magnification of eyepiece. Barlows generally come in 2X, 3X and 5X increments. Finally, I believe you have an 1 1/4 inch focuser on your Telescope. I may be wrong but I think that size focuser will accommodate a lense with a maximum focal length of roughly 32 mm. Longer focal lengths require using your scope with the 2 inch focuser, rather than the 1 1/4 inch focuser. Hope this helps.
Good point about a QUICK set up to view the heavens or nature. That phone app looks amazing. I am looking forward in seeing videos of the building of your observatory. Looks like you have dark skies there versus those stadium lights that you had before.
I am so thankful to be far away from those stadium lights. They were horrid. The DOB is so easy with the app. Very happy surprise. Our star party at Deerlick astronomy village is next month. Would love to see you there. Peach State Star Gaze Oct 24 week.
Nice set of videos Amy, very interesting for people to follow along, but ... you made a mistake, it's the other wat around, so shorter eyepieces give you a bigger magnification In other words, an 8mm will give you more magnification than a 20mm, hope this helps 🙂
11:20 Other way around... shorter eyepieces give higher magnification. Try a 10-mm eyepiece on Jupiter. You'll find that there are no 75-mm eyepieces. Welcome to visual astronomy! Something I've been doing for 54 years!
Yes, magnification = scope-focal-length ÷ eyepiece-focal-length. So, for this scope at 1200mm focal length, a 25mm eyepiece gives 48x magnification, which is just about right for most objects. Maybe look for a 17mm and a 10mm eyepiece to complement the 25mm. The real limit to effective magnification are the viewing conditions. I've found it's seldom worthwhile to go over 100x and never over 200x. Fainter objects disappear; seeing-induced wobble makes viewing details impossible; and the target moves out of the field of view too quickly.
This was awesome. I just got the 8" version and this was extremely helpful. Also just ordered that exact phone attachment. It was cool to see it in use. How did your night objects/images turn out?
Thank you! I have taken this out a few times now and love it. My iPhone likes to auto focus making it fussy. So I try to get the objects in focus before attaching the camera. This set up makes a fun night out with friends.
Hi Amy! I'm sure you'll have a blast! My bad eyes made me choose hyperstar and EAA to observe while imaging. Delivery this week! Michael Covington is correct, the magnification you get from an eyepiece is the focal length of the scope divided by the focal length of the eyepiece. Shorter eyepieces give more magnification because of this relationship.
thank you for this tutorial, I got a Nextstar 4SE and it was not worth the price that i paid for it. I even got more lenses which was an extra $200. I am sending it back today and getting a Starsense 8" Dobsinion. I would like to know if there is anything i should know about it before i use it?
I am very much considering the 10" version. In Ed Ting's review he does comment there is some stiction with the 10" dob set up. Has anyone, using the 10" regretting getting it for that reason? Not sure how to articulate this.
My only complaint with my red dot finder is that when I reach for the power knob sometimes I grab the left/right knob instead. I ended up putting a piece of tape over it.
I looked at the weight specs for the 10 vs the 8. It looks like it’s not much heavier than the 8. What do you think about it’s real feel weight of moving it around? Just the tube part? Like your videos! I’ll watch more of them., just found this one about the Celestron dobs.
To see an object closer than what the included 25mm eyepiece included with the telescope shows you'll need a smaller number eyepiece not bigger. I used your part 1 video not realizing the instructions to put the base together was in the box with the telescope and not the base. Your instructions got the job done. I can't wait to get the chance to colimate my scope and use this part 2 video to get started seeing the sky as never before. Thanks for the help.
I just bought a Celestron Starsense Explorer 150mm dobs and I absolutely love it. the 6” mirror is a perfect balance between aperture size and portability, which is important to me because I travel with my telescope on our RV. The Starsense app is a complete game changer. I nearly bought another scope and changed my mind at the last minute to the Starsense and I feel like I dodged a bullet. I wouldn’t own any other telescope.
I'm so glad you are enjoying this. A small bit of advice for anyone getting into this. Get a good Barlow lens. It goes between the scope and eyepiece and basically doubles the magnification, like turns a 14mm into a 7mm. They don't cost a lot and this way you can buy fewer lenses. Also, before you buy high magnification lenses double check what the max magnification your scope can support. There's a bottomless rabbit hole you can go down deciding on lenses, trust me. Oh, and eye relief, the distance you can be away from the lens when looking into it. I wear glasses so need a higher relief but not everyone does.
This whole hobby is a rabbit hole. lol Still learning.
I just got the same telescope for a grab and go and for my kid to use. Have a bunch for astrophotography, bigger dobs, etc...but the starsense dob is fantastic to just set up wherever you go and be out looking at things in minutes.
Oh, and in eyepieces? Smaller numbers are actually more magnification. For jupiter/saturn you want something like a 7 or 8. If you go higher than your 24, it actually provides less magnification. =) I know it's confusing, it's basically the opposite of camera lenses.
Thank you for letting me know!
Very informative video Amy. I have a Celestron 102 mm aperture refractor with StarSense App. I learned a lot about the StarSense App while watching your video. As others have commented you will want shorter focal length eyepieces to increase the magnification. Some people prefer using between and 8 mm to 12 mm eyepiece for planetary observations. When purchasing eyepieces you never want to buy one that will exceed the maximum magnification of your telescope. Your manual should provide this info. Magnification is a function of focal length of telescope divided by focal length of eyepiece. A decent Barlow lense will also increase focal length of telescope which in turn will increase magnification of eyepiece. Barlows generally come in 2X, 3X and 5X increments. Finally, I believe you have an 1 1/4 inch focuser on your Telescope. I may be wrong but I think that size focuser will accommodate a lense with a maximum focal length of roughly 32 mm. Longer focal lengths require using your scope with the 2 inch focuser, rather than the 1 1/4 inch focuser. Hope this helps.
Thank you for this insight. Very helpful. I hope to get the DOB back out soon.
Good point about a QUICK set up to view the heavens or nature. That phone app looks amazing. I am looking forward in seeing videos of the building of your observatory. Looks like you have dark skies there versus those stadium lights that you had before.
I am so thankful to be far away from those stadium lights. They were horrid. The DOB is so easy with the app. Very happy surprise. Our star party at Deerlick astronomy village is next month. Would love to see you there. Peach State Star Gaze Oct 24 week.
Nice set of videos Amy, very interesting for people to follow along, but ... you made a mistake, it's the other wat around, so shorter eyepieces give you a bigger magnification
In other words, an 8mm will give you more magnification than a 20mm, hope this helps 🙂
11:20 Other way around... shorter eyepieces give higher magnification. Try a 10-mm eyepiece on Jupiter. You'll find that there are no 75-mm eyepieces.
Welcome to visual astronomy! Something I've been doing for 54 years!
Yes, magnification = scope-focal-length ÷ eyepiece-focal-length. So, for this scope at 1200mm focal length, a 25mm eyepiece gives 48x magnification, which is just about right for most objects. Maybe look for a 17mm and a 10mm eyepiece to complement the 25mm. The real limit to effective magnification are the viewing conditions. I've found it's seldom worthwhile to go over 100x and never over 200x. Fainter objects disappear; seeing-induced wobble makes viewing details impossible; and the target moves out of the field of view too quickly.
Thank you! This helps.
This was awesome. I just got the 8" version and this was extremely helpful. Also just ordered that exact phone attachment. It was cool to see it in use. How did your night objects/images turn out?
Thank you! I have taken this out a few times now and love it. My iPhone likes to auto focus making it fussy. So I try to get the objects in focus before attaching the camera. This set up makes a fun night out with friends.
Hi Amy! I'm sure you'll have a blast! My bad eyes made me choose hyperstar and EAA to observe while imaging. Delivery this week!
Michael Covington is correct, the magnification you get from an eyepiece is the focal length of the scope divided by the focal length of the eyepiece. Shorter eyepieces give more magnification because of this relationship.
Thank you for sharing. I have a lot to learn still!
thank you for this tutorial, I got a Nextstar 4SE and it was not worth the price that i paid for it. I even got more lenses which was an extra $200. I am sending it back today and getting a Starsense 8" Dobsinion.
I would like to know if there is anything i should know about it before i use it?
What’s the telescope on? Where can I find that so I can move it around looks easier
Dear Amy, could you please share the dimension of the wooden cart that you are using？thank you.
What wheeled base is that? Seems very convenient.
I found it at harbor freight. Just a wheeled plant base. Great for moving it outside.
I am very much considering the 10" version. In Ed Ting's review he does comment there is some stiction with the 10" dob set up. Has anyone, using the 10" regretting getting it for that reason? Not sure how to articulate this.
My only complaint with my red dot finder is that when I reach for the power knob sometimes I grab the left/right knob instead. I ended up putting a piece of tape over it.
lol funny I have the same problem.
When I try to use the map telescope mode ( idk what it's called) It shows me the wrong direction of the stars and the moon how do i fix this
I have not had this happen. Check where your compass on the phone shows north. Sometimes my compass needs calibrating.
Are you coming to the put luck on the 24th? I'll give you a Celestron 5mm X-Cel that will bring those planets closer for you.
I would love to have a code for the starsense explorer app - so i can use it on a different telescope.
Reach out to Celestron. You never know.
@@AmyAstro I asked Celestron this same question for a binocular setup and they said, no.
@@jimwebster1015 bummer
Follow up under the night sky?
Soon, weather permitting. :)
You need a smaller mm eyepiece to see more magnified, fix that in your video, it’s misleading. Otherwise it’s good.
I never bought Dobsonian because I don't like pictures upside down. Second is collimation. 😒 Refractor telescopes are straight forward.
I looked at the weight specs for the 10 vs the 8. It looks like it’s not much heavier than the 8. What do you think about it’s real feel weight of moving it around? Just the tube part? Like your videos! I’ll watch more of them., just found this one about the Celestron dobs.