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Beginner astronomers and nature lovers often choose a reflecting telescope. The reason behind this is the quality to price ratio. Now, it is known that reflecting telescopes use mirrors instead of lenses. This makes them a bit high-maintenance. The mirrors need to be perfectly aligned for a good picture; however, any ambitious astrologer won’t mind this and will manage that tedious part.
Normally, there are many reflecting telescopes out there, but only a few brands stand out. This article will narrow down the choice between Orion and Celestron. To be more precise, this review will put the Orion SpaceProve 130ST against the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ. Hence, let’s see how these two telescopes fare against each other.
Orion SpaceProbe 130ST | Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ | |
Image | ||
Weight | 24.20 lbs | 26.5 pounds |
Dimensions | 24 x 24 x 51 inches | 35 x 19 x 12 inches |
Aperture | 130 mm (5.1”) | 114 mm (4.48”) |
Focal Length | 650mm | 1000 mm |
Focal Ratio | f/5.0 | f/8.7 |
Magnification | 26x, 65x | 50x, 100x |
Eyepieces | 25mm and 10mm | 20mm and 11mm |
Finderscope Included | Yes | Yes |
Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Similarities between Orion SpaceProbe 130ST vs Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ
Reflecting Telescopes
If you’ve read the introduction or did a bit of research yourself, you know these are reflecting telescopes. They are also known as reflectors or Newtonian telescopes. Unlike the refracting ones, they use two mirrors to gather and focus light.
Although they are cheaper to make, therefore, more affordable, some avoid them since the mirrors have to be aligned for a good quality picture. Moreover, the telescope’s tube is open, so it requires frequent cleaning. Some users find this bit unpleasant and go for refracting telescopes instead.
Telescope Kits
Both the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST and the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ telescopes come in a package with accessories. What this means is that you won’t get just the telescope itself. You will get much more. Besides the telescope, both kits include a tripod, a mount, two eyepieces, a finderscope, and more. Finally, you can download the StarryNight software for an even better experience of stargazing.
StarryNight Astronomy Software
Speaking of the StarryNight astronomy software, you can have it when you buy either of these two telescopes. This desktop software is designed with beginners in mind. You can see realistic representations of the night sky. Furthermore, you can go through time and see what the sky looked like on any night in the past. Additionally, besides exploring space, you can create observing plans. There’s much more to this software, but that’s for you to explore.
Differences between Orion SpaceProbe 130ST vs Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ
We have seen similarities between these telescopes. But what are the differences between these telescopes? The biggest differences between the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST vs Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ telescope are in eyepieces and magnification, they also differ in focal length and ratio, and aperture. No less important than these differences is their difference in price.
Eyepieces and Magnification
Both the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST telescope and the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ telescope come with two eyepieces. The SpaceProbe has a 20mm and a 10mm eyepiece. On the other hand, the AstroMaster has a 20mm and an 11mm eyepiece.
When it comes to magnification, you have a few options. With the Orion SpaceProbe, you can zoom in up to 26x or 65x, depending on which eyepiece you use. In contrast, you can zoom in up to 50x or 100x thanks to the Celestron AstroMaster eyepieces.
Focal Length and Ratio
When it comes to focal length and ratio, there’s a clear difference here. The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial telescope has a focal length of 650mm and a focal ratio of f/5.0. These specifications will provide you with a wide field view. Alternatively, the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ comes with a 1000mm focal length and an f/8.7 focal ratio. Again, you get a wide-angle view and can see deep into the dark sky.
Aperture
Finally, the telescopes have different apertures. The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST has an aperture of 130mm while the Celestron AstroMaster has 114mm. The higher the aperture, the brighter the images. You will get bright and sharp, good quality images with these two products.
Value for Money
That’s about the main similarities and differences between the SpaceProbe 130ST and the AstroMaster 130EQ telescopes. But which one is actually worth the price it’s offered for?
Orion SpaceProbe 130ST
Unfortunately, the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST Equatorial telescope costs almost $40 more than the Celestron one. Even worse, it has a lower aperture, focal length, and magnification possibilities compared to the other model. But, if you are satisfied with these specifications and are willing to pay around $300, this telescope has good value.
Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ
The Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ offers higher numbers when it comes to magnification, aperture, and everything else–except the price. But, knowing these are telescopes for beginners, is it safe to assume that it can offer such amazing features for a price lower than $300? It might be worth it for a first telescope.
Orion SpaceProbe 130ST | Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ |
Pros | Pros |
Portable and easy to mount. | Lower price, below $300. |
Wide field of view. | Comes with great optics. |
Great images and awesome for deep space viewing. | Compact and portable. |
Cons | Cons |
Price above $300. | The EQ mount might be difficult to assemble. |
Instructions might be difficult to understand. | Not for astrophotography. |
Buy on Amazon | Buy on Amazon |
The Final Verdict
Finally, it’s time to choose the winner of this battle. Now, it’s important to know these are beginner telescopes, and the quality will match the price. In all honesty, any good-quality telescope can’t go below $200. Therefore, it’s safe to say the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST and the Celestron AstroMaster 130EQ meet all the requirements and will satisfy any amateur astronomer. However, there can be only one winner here, and this time it will have to be the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST. Yes, it’s a bit more expensive; nonetheless, the quality for that price is unmatched. You will get fantastic images and will get to see clearly behind the night sky, deep into space. Obviously, this is a clear win.
The winner – Orion SpaceProbe 130ST
FAQs
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