Is this a good scope for a beginner?

[snabald]

Because someone got me one, not looking a gift horse in the mouth, just want to know what I can expect to see being that it will probably be cloudy for the next month...

http://telescopes.com/products/Meade_114EQ-AST_Short_Tube_EQ_Reflector_BLACK_TUBE_42685.html

[The_Radiation_Specialist]

Looks like it can view Galaxies, Star Clusters, Nebulae, the Moon and Planets

[mickal555]

The mount is a tricky design for a begginer... but it should be OK...

[Tog_]

I had a scope very similar to that when I first started. It was a good one. Do a little digging and get some info on collimation. The f ratio is pretty high, so it shouldn't need a lot to maintain it, but the mirror is small enough that if it's off by a little bit, it can make a bigg difference.

You might consider replacing the finder with a Telrad or similar item. They run about 40-45 bucks and will probably be more useful in the long run. You could run both though.

One thing I noticed on the site which is wrong is the YES under Astrophotography. It has no motor drive, meaning no tracking, meaning any picture longer than about 1/1000 sec will be streaked. This limits you to the Moon and Polaris. Also the mount may be a little light for photos.

For straight visual observing, it's a good scope. Try and get a copy of the book Turn Left at Orion. It's an awesome guide written for scopes that size, with sketches of what you'll see. Not a big pretty image taken with some monster scope, but a pencil sketch of how things look in a 2-4 inch scope from the middle of a city.

Bundle up, take it out and enjoy.:)

[LadyV]

na na na na nana.....told ya so. I thought it was a good one to get ya! :dance:

[snabald]

na na na na nana.....told ya so. I thought it was a good one to get ya! :dance:

Knew it was a good one, I am chomping at the bit to use it and wanted to know if anyone had used a similar scope - stupid clouds :(

[LadyV]

Sucks doesn't it! I have only used ours a fw times casue the won't cooperate! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Dave Mitsky]

The tube appears to be too short to be a true 4.5 inch (114mm) Newtonian having an f/ratio of f/8.8. This leads me to believe that it may by a Jones-Bird design, which by necessity incorporates a correcting lens system. Generally speaking, it is better to avoid this design.

Dave Mitsky

[snabald]

The tube appears to be too short to be a true 4.5 inch (114mm) Newtonian having an f/ratio of f/8.8. This leads me to believe that it may by a Jones-Bird design, which by necessity incorporates a correcting lens system. Generally speaking, it is better to avoid this design.

Dave Mitsky
Nope... no correcting lenses, just a big mirror, a little mirror, and an eyepiece.

[square_peg 114GT]

Nope... no correcting lenses, just a big mirror, a little mirror, and an eyepiece.

Look again, down inside the focuser drawtube. There's a barlow/corrector down there. It's the only way they can get a 1000mm focal length in a 500mm tube. That lens also helps to correct the scope's spherical mirror.

They aren't a bad scope for the money and they're a good enough scope to start with. I started with something very similar. Enjoy it.


Pegster

[Dave Mitsky]

This design allows the manufacturer to use a cheap, easily manufactured spherical mirror and a less robust mount since the OTA is shorter and therefore less heavy.

Dave Mitsky