Orion GoScope 70mm Refractor
by Orion Telescopes and Binoculars
Our Price: $149.99
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Digital Camera
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Digital product summary information
Manufacturer: Orion Telescopes and BinocularsProduct features:
- Grab-and-go day and night refractor telescope and lightweight aluminum tripod for folks on the go
- Rugged, specially designed backpack holds the telescope, tripod and all accessories
- Excels at daytime birding use and viewing wildlife, scenery and casual nighttime observing of the Moon and bright planets
- Includes EZ Finder II red dot finder scope for easy aiming and two 1.25" telescope eyepieces (20mm and 10mm) for 17-power and 35-power views
- Weighing in at a mere 6 lbs. the GoScope 70 will go wherever you do!
- Orion Shorty 1.25" 2x Barlow Lens
- Sky Atlas for Small Telescopes & Binoculars
- Orion DeepMap 600 Folding Star Chart
- 1.25" Orion 13% Transmission Moon Filter
- Orion RedBeam SP Self-Powered LED Flashlight
Digital camera reviews of Orion GoScope 70mm Refractor
Digital camera Review: It is what it is
Summary: 4 Stars
Before buying any telescope (like many things), do some research and find out what you what--for the layman, shopping around for one can be as complicated as buying a computer.
I wanted something I could carry easily on hikes, camping trips, and weekend getaways--and introduce my kids to the stars. The Orion GoScope fits all of those categories. Weighing in at only six pounds (!), it is VERY light, small, and transportable. It's also inexpensive and you get two eyepieces and a backpack (that's a good value).
It's also a refractor and that means you can also use this scope for terrestrial observation (birds, boats, beaches, etc) and refractors have excellent, precision imaging. The GoScope has very good optics. We can see the moon very well, Jupiter and its moons (the bands can just be made out), and Saturn's rings and largest moon fairly well (though small). Stars and deep space objects are pinpoints of light. Definitely add a Barlow 2x lens to bump up the magnification. (get a moon filter too)
The bad. Don't expect too much. That's always a problem with telescopes--one expects to see SO much more than what the scope can actually do. Keep that in mind. Saturn is tiny. You're not going to see great detail on anything, except the moon. This is a 70mm scope, or 2.75 inches... slightly better than 10x50mm binoculars. If you really want to see more space objects, you'll need a 6" scope, or over 114mm at very least. For serious views with portability and excellent imaging, get a Schmidt (Maskatov)-Cassegrain.
The tripod is improved, but without a stable base or motor drive, you're going to have a hard time finding smaller objects and keeping them in sight. The mount is still shaky and wobbles at the slightest touch when focusing. Unless you're willing to spend more money (over $350)... get used to that. (Backyard astronomy teaches patience!)
I enjoy using the GoScope, though it can be frustrating if you're trying to zone in on Saturn. But I'm a layman and this scope is very easy to pickup and take to the backyard. Easy setup and storage. The kids like it.. so.. This scope is what it is.
Summary of Orion GoScope 70mm Refractor
Ships to the US including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Excludes California. Orion GoScope 70 Backpack Refractor Telescope Ultraportable "day and night" telescope for folks on the goIncludes telescope plus full-length aluminum tripod with retractable legsRugged backpacks holds the telescope, tripod and all accessoriesIncludes EZ Finder II red dot finder scope and two eyepieces for low-and high-power viewsAlso includes Starry Night stargazing CD-ROM Here's a versatile refractor telescope designed to pack up and go whenever you hit the road, the trail, or the air. It excels for daytime birding, nature study, and scenic long-distance viewing, and will take you way beyond the Earth's horizon after sunset for some casual nighttime stargazing and Moon-watching. The Orion GoScope 70 Backpack Refractor Telescope features a 70mm achromatic lens system for high-resolution images of distant subjects. The telescope sets up in seconds on the retractable aluminum tripod,newly upgraded to provide smoother motion and a wider, more stable stance. The three-way pan head allows smooth, easy pointing of the telescope. It comes with a correct-image prism diagonal, quality 20mm and 10mm Kellner telescope eyepieces (1.25"), and EZ Finder II red dot finder scope. It's a complete observational system that tucks away neatly in the specially designed backpack! Includes Starry Night Special Edition astronomy software. Weighs 6 lbs. This item cannot be shipped internationally due to its size and weight.Refractors
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