I remember looking at my very first planet, Jupiter, with it's 4 brightest moons, 127/1000 mm Newtonian reflector telescope, I kept smiling for the next 2 hours non stop, one of the best feelings ever.. Then I observed the Pleiades cluster, Andromeda, and then I fell in love, for me there is no better hobby than stargazing with a scope..
@@theaurumtheory Science always makes you feel above the earthly problems. Whether it is a difficult looking maths problem you solve, the first calculator circuit you built and see it working, a code for the small game you write or Seeing sunspots for the first time with a very basic scope. I also felt really excited after seeing Saturn rings with just a 70mm scope and invited my whole family on the roof to see it (In India roofs of homes are flat unlike earth). Even the moon was unbelievably great.
I remember how I went from looking through a kit EP on my 80mm refractor (total $120) and suddenly I was in deep with 925 evo and televue and baader eps! It escalated quickly
I'm 42 and I've had a love affair with astronomy my whole life but never been able to do it. I don't have a garden or garage and i work a day job on the city meaning i can't stay up through the night. As a teenager i used to go and sit in the local park at night with a pair of binoculars and a star map. Most nights i go to bed listening to videos about neutron stars or quantum mechanics. Maybe one day I'll be in a better position to enjoy this incredible hobby.
I have a pair of Celestron Skymaster binoculars mounted on a tripod and it works great! Its a wonderful, inexpensive and portable way to get into astronomy.
@@bigsby6bender Mate i literally just bought a pair of skymaster 17 x 50 and went on a trip to Cornwall with them, returned today. Laying on my back in the garden was immense. I saw a planet with 3 visible moons (geusing mercury) 2 satelites (dam those things can move) and more stars than I've ever seen in my life. There was only one clear night sadly but it's given me the desire to do more and reacquaint myself with the clusters i leaned as a youth. I just need to find a convenient safe place to indulge the hobby. I have a balcony but a lot of the views are obstructed and the light pollution is horrible. In Cornwall even without the binocs the views were great, just goes to show what a negative impact light pollution has.
Yes, It's sad that we're the ones being called ignorants. We all like bizarre things we've never seen before, but when one small content creator makes one about it and tells us to try it out, we're already called "ignorants" by people with serious trust issues, which is like 20% of the world.
As the newbie know-nothing, and an old fart at that, you've been a true inspiration to me. I've maintained a lifelong love of photography, though without any training or self-education, I've still managed to find my way to astrophotography. Unfortunately, living on a fixed disabled Vietnam veteran's pension, I could never afford the equipment you have, just watching your videos have been an eye-opening, exciting adventure for me. Thank you for opening a whole new world to me!
I remember seeing Saturn for the first time and it was by accident, the words that came out of my mouth in front of my dad weren't the best chosen words, but he laughed it off because I was so excited. I also experienced looking at the Ring Nebula for the first time this summer and I was on the verge of tears. It's amazing how looking up can change everything.
May I ask what size your telescope was when you viewed the ring nebula? I have a 4.5 inch telescope however havent gotten the opportunity to see any DSO's, and I would like to know from someone who also owns a 4.5 inch telescope if DSO's are viable.
@@epicgamer747 my workhorse is a 4.5" dob. DSO's are very viable, depending on the object. The Ring Nebula is a great DSO target to start with, since it's fairly bright and compact. It can stand up to some decent magnification. You're not going to see much detail, but you'll definitely be able to tell you're looking at a distinct ring-object. I also have a large wide-field eyepiece for my scope and I *highly* recommend getting ahold of one of those if you can, the bigger the better. With a 4.5" scope and a wide field lens objects like the Orion Nebula and various Open and Globular clusters are simply breathtaking. imho sacrificing some magnification to see these objects in context to the sky around them is well worth it. And hey, it's not much of a "sacrifice" anyway, as you can always just switch eye pieces lol!
Dude! Yes! I saw the Ring Nebula for the first time this past summer and I FREAKED out! It was my first actual deep sky object that I had to search for and once I found it, I said some words and jumped around like a little girl and went back to the eye piece. I was amazed!
I visited our local planetarium in the 6th grade 70 years ago. After a long career as a chemist at the University, I’ve now decided to go back to my first love…astronomy. Thank you for your introduction. I can’t wait to learn more and order my first scope.
One of our members bought a Meade 8" Dob at a garage sale for $30, because the person that sold it "couldn't get it to work." He brought it to a meeting, and we collimated it. Excellent scope. $30 and five minutes with a laser. Oh... To be in the right place at the right time.
@@Robert08010 That's odd. I've heard Orion is known for excellent customer service. In any case, a base is easily constructed from plywood and a few screws. Or just switch to tripod mount.
Noah L I really hope you got the telescope. It will truly change your life forever. I only have a cheap telescope, around $100 (Celestron Powerseeker 70AZ). When I looked pointed it at the moon, Saturn, and Jupiter, and looked through the eyepiece, everything changed for me.
I shall remember my first night with a telescope looking at the moon and then jupiter for the rest of my life. The emotion in this video is so powerful and relatable. Thank you Trevor. 2 years obsessed with astronomy thanks to your channel
I recently bought a stellalyra 8 inch dob as my first scope.I used a 20mm eyepiece and decided to look at what I thought was a bright star.I couldn’t believe my eyes as it was Jupiter and four moons.I could even see the bands.I will never forget my first time using my dobsonian!
Looking at something as simple as the moon through a telescope for the first time can be a magical experience. We see it so often that we don't even really think about it, but when you're viewing it magnified through a scope, suddenly there's depth to the craters and individual shadows, it's almost like you're actually seeing it for the first time.
I bought budget dobsonian 130/650. For the value it is really good, but with this small size i cant really see much in my class 6-7 sky. Havent tried go to darker area yet, but in urban sky its pretty shit views, only moon and pleiades stars was quite easy to find with decent view.
I remember the first time looking through a hobby level telescope, at the moon, and embarrassing myself by saying "wow, it's like it's just floating there"...
Hi Trevor. I have been a traditional hobbiest photographer for years (mostly portraiture and landscapes/nature ) with a deep interest in astronomy and space exploration since I was a kid and bolstered after the first time I read Sagan's Cosmos. I had never really considered combining these two interests beyond the occasional Milky Way or Moon shot. I always assumed the 'real thing' was beyond my grasp. Now as an adult with a couple kids of my own, the spark was re-ignited when my wife's parents brought her childhood toy telescope to my home around the holidays for my children to play with. I guess I never realized how accessible getting into a _real_ telescope could be. I came across this video after a few days of research and decided to take the plunge on your recommendation. I lucked out in that the day after the scope arrived I got a nice clear and cold night and took her for a spin. I decided the Orion Nebula would be my first target. As I'm sure many others understand, that first time of looking into the eyepiece and seeing a real nebula, right there, in real time, its photons hitting my eyeball... well, it was breathtaking. I absolutely felt like a kid again, with that awe-inspiring sense of wonder that usually only a child can experience. Thank you for the inspiration, your channel is a blessing! Seeing the remarkable images you're able to capture has me really thinking hard about considering the equipment to get into Deep Sky imaging in the not-to-distant future; the perfect confluence of art and science.
Nailed It !! I remember my fist telescope, a some 60mm typical refractor that looked amazing but gave every star a "beautifull" tail, like a comet but better....lol, yes, can your scope to that..? lol. BUT I loved it. I was out there every night. It was a honeymoon that lasted for years..... and in some ways im still there as a child. I used to drool over all the Telescope adds listed in the national geographic that came from the US, I was in Australia. I even wrote to Celestron for a brochure, and they sent it. I was sooooooo wrapped with them to get a brochure direct from the USA. And just drooled over every page. Amazing times when you can just go out there and watch. LOVE IT and you nailed it. One day I will own something like the scopes you have but for now ill enjoy it with my binoculars and little 80mm f5 scope......a nice ebay snag. Keep these vids coming......this video will stay with me for a long time Thank You !!
@Bhagwandas Ramchandani For Nebulae and Galaxies there might star trail ONLY if he reduces his camera shutter speed for better, clear/sharp,colourful pics...but if he wants only a normal, acceptable he might not get star trails..
I truly apologize, please excuse my brain compelling me to respond with the following: I believe you meant mortar tube, the mortar is the round itself. I’ll see myself out.
I purchased my first telescope a few weeks ago and went with the Zhumell Z8 for the same features that scope has. I'm 60 y/o and viewed Jupiter and Saturn with my own eyes for the first time in my life and was blown away.. Was also able to view Comet Neowise and what a view it was.... Thanks for all your video's they are a great help Trevor...
Ha, yes, I'm right there with you! Bought the Apertura AD8, received it about 4 days later, built it the next night, looked outside and it was Clear! Got some nice views of Neowise...then saw Jupiter and it's moons, as well as Saturn last weekend. Still waiting for the Barlow to arrive. The moon! Beautiful!!
I watched this video a few times and was convinced by Trevor that an 8" dob was a perfect fit. However, AD8 was back ordered and so was the Zhumell Z8. Searched surrounding states and found the Z8 for $275. The guy that I bought it from from was very kind. He brought a 4" Bushnell go-to telescope and asked me if I wanted that too! Both in mint condition. Bought a couple of new wide FOV eyepieces from Gary at Russell Optics and headed to my local Observation park. I viewed Saturn, Jupiter, the Lagoon Nebula and finally the Andromeda galaxy...what a night. Love the 8" dobsonian and now planning my targets weekly. I agree the 8" size is as big as I can transport on a regular basis. Thanks for the inspiration Trevor!
Your link to order is to a different telescope package. Your link is to a Apertura DT8 8", one lens, no mirror cooler, no laser collimator. I think this is the telescope that you are describing, Apertura AD8 8" Dobsonian Telescope with Accessories
I've always been in awe of the night sky, but never made anything of it, until I became a Dad. Recently my little boy just turned 1, and over the course of his first year here on Earth, we have gazed with our eyes upon the night sky. We both love it. Just the other day, headed home from work at 0500, I noticed a very thin finger nail of a moon with a very bright object next to it. When I got home, I Googled what it was. Turns out Venus made her appearance along side the moon (8/14-8/16). I of course had to show my son what I had seen, and he loved it. It's one of the perfect bonding experiences for him and I. I told my wife that I will be finding a telescope and some books so that we can take it that step further. I just want to say thank you for a very well made video. I truly think you are a genuine guy with a strong passion, and show true emotion. I definitely cannot wait to see for myself. You've earned my sub. Thank you!
Kind of understand how you feel. Drove to Missouri to see the solar eclipse with my family. The moment of totality it felt like I could reach up and touch the sun and moon. Almost a spiritual experience.
I did the same thing. Was worried as hell about the weather reports but I'll never forget seeing that, feeling temp drop and hearing the cicadas go crazy. The next one is in 2027!
I did that in 99 in Turkey. I still remember the eerie silence when the sun disappeared. Such a strange and primitive feeling like no other. It makes u wonder how our ancestors felt thousands of years ago when there was no scientific explanation yet.
My first telescope was a 5” Newtonian on a manual eq mount. I was shocked to see the moons of Jupiter and the rings around Saturn. A few months later, I bought an Orion 8” on a Dobsonian mount and was blown away. It took me forever, but I observed star clusters, the Ring and Dumbbell Nebulae as well as the Andromeda Galaxy. My wife endured me sitting in the backyard for hours to catch a glimpse of a deep sky object. I was even able to image several planets. I’m working on getting a goto EQ mount so I can get some good Astro images. The 8” newt is indeed the best investment for observing the night sky!
Great video. My first scope was a 50mm Tasco refractor. Great for moon and planets. Nearly 50 yea s later I got a 10" DOB. Andromeda, Orion Nebula....absolutely breath taking! I totally agree; the 8" DOB is a fantastic first telescope.
@@daviewavie112 "25% increase in resolution and 56% more light" The area of a circle being Pi x radius squared you get 201 square inches for the 8" and 314 square inches for the 10 inch. You can check out the specifications of your desired scope to see the weights. The 8" is light enough for most adults to carry assembled. But it is awkward and there is the possibility of falling and damage. My 10 is is about 70 lbs total but the tube and base are each about 35 lbs and it takes like 15 seconds to assemble. If you plan to travel to dark sites, be sure to check the specifications for size and measure your vehicle. Dobs do take up some room.
@@daviewavie112 I re-watched this great video and I see Trevor moving his 8" Dob assembled. Each piece probably weighs about 20 lbs, so carrying the 40 lbs total a short distance is no big deal. I've gotten "lazy" and moved my 70 lbs 10" Dob short distances before but try to avoid doing that to save my back and prevent disaster (tripping in the dark). The 8" is great and more convenient; the 10" will give better views of dimmer objects. (PS. If you buy the 8", don't look through anything smaller than a 12" or 16". ;)
Because of this channel i asked my father to use his telescope he bought at costco. A Celestron powerseeker. My first time looking at the moon (in my 30's) i literally cried. Today, UPS pulled up with my first official Telescope, a Apertura AD8, because of this video. I can't wait to set it up tonight, go in my backyard with it and get this emotional, thanks Trevor.
I am retired and bored, so about a month ago I put star gazer on my phone and stood outside for over an hour looking at the night sky. I got very excited being able to look at Mars and know I was looking at Mars. Fast forward a few weeks and here I am now and I am getting this for Christmas. Last Christmas I got a VR headset and was fairly excited/anxious while waiting for Christmas to arrive, that aside, this is the most excited I have been for Christmas since I was a kid. Cant wait to look through that telescope!!!!
I'm new to telescopes and astronomy and wanted to get into it. I didn't know what telescope to get and this video sold me on it. I'll buy it as soon as possible and start!
Joshua I did and I love it. I can't seem to figure out how to make my bigger eye peice focus on the stars but with my smaller one they look sharp. The moon looks incredible with it. I'm hoping to learn to use it correctly and see far. Definitely a good telescope in my books even if idk how to use it
JokerBrand64 do you recommend it to someone like me? I’ve never used a telescope either and I’ve really been wanting to buy a telescope problem is I don’t know which one to buy.
Oof it’s me Girly is recommend. Idk how to use it very much but from the few times I’ve looked at the moon and stars I’d say it’s worth it. I bet if I can learn to use it more I’ll be able to get more out of it. It is a big telescope tho. I enjoy it
I just gotta say man, your enthusiasm choked me up a couple times there. As a boy, I always wanted a telescope but our family could never afford one, so the passion I had for the stars fell out pretty quickly. I've always looked up and wanted to see more and a few times in life I've gotten a chance to look through some crappy walmart style telescopes and even a few decent spotting scopes, but always had to step away from them knowing I'd never look through em again. But about a week ago, after 40+ years, I bought one of these AND I DON'T GET IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH!!! Seeing you talk about this thing is truly moving, I can't imagine what it would do for a kid that still whole heartedly gets excited over things. Thanks bud, for sparking wonder in an old man (or aging anyway) and giving me the opportunity to actually get excited over something again for the first time in decades.
My first telescope had a much smaller aperture than this one and although I still fell in love with the hobby and used it for over 3 years, I have this model now and I am jealous of any newcomer who takes this guy's advice! I am only now starting to see how bright the Orion nebula actually is, and although Saturn isn't even a particularly great target this time of year, I still can see it better and clearer than I ever did with a 90mm refractor. Comparing my first scope to this, the portability buff and cost savings weren't really worth it, and it's hard to say whether a manual EQ mount or a manual AZ is better overall.
Finally someone who do not only talk about the equipment ---- but the experience and feeling of gazing at the stars. I just ordered my telescope - nothing particularly expensive, just enough to enjoy it - and I am just not so into the equipment thing. Just want enough to give nice experiences. I'm so looking forward to it arriving here!! I will subscribe to you. Thank you for this!
I've had the 10" version of that dob for some years now, its my 3rd telescope after upgrading from my first 4.5" reflector and then an 8" dobsonian, which back then were sold under the Zhumell brand, all I can say is I love those dobs, both optical and mechanical quality is unbeatable at that price!
I've always liked the stars. Did research on them when I was in high school and took an intro astronomy class in college. They had a night class where we were going to look at the moon through a telescope. I had never used a telescope before so I was pretty excited when it was my turn to look through the eye piece. The word breathtaking is an understatement, Its more like soultaking. When the light of the moon hit my eyes its like time stopped and it felt like I stopped hearing everything around me and only heard the moon, pure silence. The whole time I thought it would look like zooming into a picture on your phone but the effect of that light hitting your eye is literally out of this world. I even felt like crying from seeing something so astonishing. Watching you express your love with space literally gave me goosebumps I could feel your emotions, those feelings and now I really have to buy that telescope.
I have a 6" Saxon (GSO clone) and LOVE it. I can't go bigger cos of back problems and lifting limits. Anything larger won't fit in my car either if I wanna travel to a dark sky site.
I love my 12inch dobsonian . I always thought that bigger focal length is most important in a telescope. Turns out I bought a ( Mak Cassigrain) 1900mm focal length by 6 inch apreture . Great magnification but light gathering was ok but not great . So I sold that one and bought a 1250mm focal length by 12 inch dobsonian. It's a big boy but its totally worth it for brightness . Its heavy but when I take it out I know it's going to give my very good light gathering results . Even have a 2inch eyepiece that came with it .
Every once in a while you find an absolute gem of a RUclips channel. I just have with this one. It was the last couple of minutes that sealed the deal, you've got a really nice way about you and you're obviously passionate about the hobby. Great video and thanks for sharing your knowledge. I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos. Regards from North East Scotland 👍🏻
I sincerely bought this dobsonian because of this video. My wife’s and daughters reaction to seeing Saturn was well worth all the money and research. Thanks again for making this and convincing me to take the plunge.
I just wanted to thank you so much for this video. A year or two ago, I decided to do something that I'd meant to do for about the last 30 years - namely, get started with amateur astronomy. I had looked through binoculars for a while, and decided that I was ready for a telescope...but what kind? So many choices, and me with no idea what I was doing. I stumbled across this video, and your enthusiasm was absolutely infectious. Shortly thereafter, I purchased my own 8" Dobsonian (a Zhumell Z8), and I've been watching the skies with it for about the last 10 months, and I love it! Thank you for such a great video, such a great explanation, and for helping me start on my amateur astronomy path!
I remember looking at Jupiter and Saturn for the first time through a telescope. It was a 70 mm refractor and it showed me and my family the bands of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. We all went "WOW!" when peeking through the eyepiece. It was (and still is) an incredible feeling. Then I got a 130 mm tabletop dobsonian, which taught me to navigate the night sky and showed me quite a lot, and now, this past weekend, I got an Apertura AD8. I got to use it for the first time on Saturday night. Wow, just wow! Incredible views. I completely understand your excitement, Trevor. I've been a long-time fan of your channel and your astrophotography work. Thanks for sharing this video. Clear skies!
Bro, beautiful video. The way you expressed how it feels to see what you see through the lens yourself is exactly how I feel. I'm using a $50 cheap Walmart Celestron, and I'm ordering this AD8 right now. Last night I saw Jupiter, and finding it was exactly that feeling especially with the shaky telescope I have. My first experience ever was Saturn- absolutely stunned me. Thank you for taking the time to post such an informative and passionate video!
What can you see with the celestron? I wanna buy one of this bad boys but because of work getting to a dark place is hard (I live in a very crowded city) so I wanna buy a smaller cheaper one to know what I can see from my home
crystalgolem you can see a lot actually. I have great pics of the moon, and saw Jupiter and its stripes pretty clearly. That’s what is pushing me to get the telescope he recommends.
So I ordered this specific telescope based solely on this video.. it was on backorder... so I waited and waited.. then it arrived!!!!! Its a beast and I LOVE IT! Its a substantial step up from my orion funscope!!!! BUT after staring at saturn and Jupiter I decided to scroll the sky. To the right of jupiter I found a dense cluster of stars and my mind was yet again blown BUT somewhere around that part of the sky I found a blur!!! Gazzilion stars crystal clear and this one blur.....? It slightly resembled neowise when I had looked at it through the funscope.. could it have been a comet???? I’m so curious to find out what it was.....!!!!???? Hmmmm
@@perlalopezflores4355 It was about a 1.5 months but the day they emailed to tell me it was in and ask if I still wanted it they overnighted it to me !!!!
Just got my AD8, took your advise and bought as my fist Telescope, I cant belive how in Detail I can see the moon, and craters. cant wait to keep exploring. Thanks for the info very helffull.
I just assembled my Orion XT-8” Dobsonian telescope this week and had some amazing experiences. I live in Southern California about 50 miles east of Los Angeles. While looking at the moon in the western sky just after sunrise I had a passenger jetliner out of LAX or John Wayne airport fly right thru my eyepiece and perfectly across the moon diagonally south to north as it ascended into the morning sky. I pulled back from the eyepiece in complete surprise and watched it continue to climb for a bit. What a wonderful treat. Thank you for sharing your presentation with us. It was well done. Newly subscribed from Rancho Cucamonga, CA. Take care.
We went camping at North Fork Park near Ogden Utah. It has an astronomy designation. The night was mostly plagued by people, their fires, noisey generators, drunkenness and then by endless flashlight wanderers. Once my wife and kid were satisfied we took refuge in the tent. Then we shivered all night. The coldest part of the morning I had to leave the tent for a moment. When I emerged from the tent they sky had become a thick soup of unbelievably numerous stars. People were asleep and the stars unhindered by headlights, lamps and other glare came down to the mountain and blew my mind without telescope or binoculars to aid them.
My dad got me a little cheap 20$ telescope when I was 13 and I remember looking at the moon through it, even though it was blurry and I couldn’t see no defined features of it (just the different colored blobs) I can’t explain the rush I felt when I was looking at it through it, needless to say I’m super excited to get this telescope!!!
I'd also add, don't use any form of cheat like the Orion Intellescope system so you're using star charts, and maybe adding a Telrad finder. A 2" Explore Scientific ultra wide field eyepiece is a good thing too.
I have an 11 year old son who wanted nothing more than a telescope for his birthday(yesterday) to view deep space objects. We're hoping to purchase our first telescope soon. I just wanted to say that MY hope is that he's gifted with the same level of passion for the subject as you. You inspire, sir.
What? an 8' dob? Can you tell me how's it and your experience with it. I'm also looking to buy one. Will I be able to see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons? And Is Neptune or Uranus visible if we see thru it?
@@jiteshraghav3791 i can say it how it is:D So its really beautyful when you have good atmospheric condicions and when u cooled ur telescope off then you can see really nice details on jupiter( you see many bends even the small ones and the moons ) with saturn( you see one darker bend really good and you can even see the gap in the ring clearly even a little color difference between those two ring parts if you have a good looking) Mars( you can see the poles and the darker spots really good) Venus( so its yellow:D) i dont have seen uranus, naptun and mercury yet because its really hard to see them especially neptune and uranus. but you would just see a blue dot. it depends in which light polluted level area you live you can see deep sky objects really nice too. so its a perfect telescope
Please don’t worry about what the ignorant idiots on the internet comment. Please! They do not have the capacity to understand astrophotography. Please keep up the good work and thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Trevor your Dog Rudi is adorable! He's so laid back and when you stroke him and hug him/show him love, it's heart melting to watch. I'm a huge animal lover, so whenever i see people looking after and loving there pets ( Members of their Family ) it makes me so happy. Thank you for being such a great Daddy to Rudi. God Bless You, Wife, Rudi and Family Sir.
The 4.5” Newtonian was my first scope too and seeing Saturn for the first time was mind blowing. I got mine at Costco but it came on an EQ Mount with autostar. It was tricky to set up and I ended up taking off the go to motors. But I always wanted a dobsonian Mount because its so simple and organic. Well now costco is selling the 10” truss tube dobsonians for only $599 so I upgraded and wow what a difference that it. It’s so challenging and fun to Star hop. Took me an hour jumping from 4-10 magnitude stars in Aquarius but I located Ceres and Neptune for the first time and it was so satisfying. I think the truss tube dobsonians are just a tad bit more difficult for beginners but I love the big aperture and how it fold down very compact. I think the 8” dob is a good match for portability and ease of set up for beginners and you probably won’t have to Collimate every time like a truss dob. Good review. But for people looking for the largest aperture in a high quality set up at a great value. Check out that explorer scientific 10” truss tube dob that costco has right now on their online store. The mirror box is about 40lbs but i found it easy enough to transport and it fits in a small car trunk easily for going to a dark sky. Clear skies.
@@kiranjohn8573 I got mine from the link in the description of the video, so I'm not sure what other sites it's available on. When we did look into it, the site in the description had the best price and it came decently fast.
I recently had my life changed significantly by seeing Jupiter through a telescope at a public viewing session. That was at the World Science Festival in Brisbane in March 2018, I will never forget that night. Found your channel while researching what should be my 1st telescope, with an 8" dob being the top candidate by far. This video confirms that without a doubt in my mind, & I am so fking excited. Gaining a serious interest in the stars/science/space programs has irreversibly changed my life + perspective, this shit is pure fire. Thanks for your great video(s) mate
Thank you!! Very similar stories across the world. In a hobby with so many mixed opinions - most agree that you can never go wrong starting with an 8" dob!!
@@AstroBackyard Absolutely no question of why so many feel the same way.. Our entire lives the wondrous expanse lies out there, just above our heads, hiding itself from our supercomputer ass eyes while our nuclear spaceball breathes us day, and life - until night when it shows its beauty (fk off clouds!!) All of this clicked for me over the past ~14 months, such a fantastical experience. I'm 23 and am sure in my heart that a life of astronomy is ahead of me. Can't wait to get my hands on this Dob and geez through some of ya vids to guide me. Cheers mate, hope you take the time to read this
@@jesusmerkel Hey mate, sorry, just saw this! I bought a SkyWatcher 8 inch collapsible Dobsonian. I love it dearly, but the main drawback is that the manual aspect makes it difficult to share views with others at high magnifications. Since the object in view 'moves' so quickly (due to Earth's rotation), they only have a few seconds to look before you have to step in and find the object again. I hope that makes sense! Please reply again if you have any questions
Thank you for posting your video for all of us beginners. In all honesty this telescope seems very intimidating to me. The size is huge and I don't know if it's possible to be taken out every night, or if it is supposed to stay in one place due to its size. This really doesn't seem like a beginners telescope to me, but then again I know nothing about telescopes.
My AD8 is on its way, and I couldn't be more excited. Thank you for this great, thorough walkthrough and for your obvious love for the science and art.
Looking over this package and, if the optical quality of the primary is good, this telescope is a real bargain. You don't find such an impressive array of accessories with competing models at this price point. Dual speed Crayford focuser, 2" wide-field Plossl eyepiece, 8X50 finder, cooling fan and a laser collimator. It can't get any better. The big finder, a good starchart and/or Stellarium on a 'scope-side laptop will have you star hopping to deep sky wonders like an old pro in short order. Commercial telescopes like this just didn't exist when I built my first telescope (a 6" Newtonian on a pipe-thread alt-az mount) back in 1966. Kind of makes me envious of folks that are getting started in the hobby today. Folks, if you're starting out in the hobby or just looking for a portable, easy-to-use light bucket to add to your collection, jump on this. Even though I have telescopes that outstrip this one in terms of aperture or technical features, I'm sorely tempted to get one for myself. Trevor, thanks for the "heads-up" on this one.
i have a z10. basically same scope with a 10" primary. the cooling fan is a very nice feature but the laser collimator is junk. i use a collimation cap and cheshire. the eps are okay but i picked up some televue plossls cheap, but for deep sky the explore scientific 82 degree series eps i bought make the z10 shine.
for all the haters, pause the video at 2 minutes, have a good look around at the equipment this man has. there is at least 10 or 15 thousand dollars there. you dont spend that kinda money to fake a video. and thanx to astro for making these kinds of videos. i enjoy watching.
I was asked to help a college professor do a star party with his large astronomy class. He had a 10 inch sct with go to capability. I brought my 8 and 10 inch dobs. I learned over the years how to star hop my way through the night skies before star hopping was a popular term. The professor couldn’t get his go to, to, uh, well, go to. I stayed very busy the whole evening. After the students thinned out the professor came over and asked if I could find M13. I went straight to it. After several other requests the professor asked me how I am able to do that. I simply stated, “I don’t have a go to.”
Im still new to astronomy. Im a nerd when it comes to space and astrophysics but Im an amateur when it comes to using a telescope. I started my journey with a small 50mm refractor and i remember how cool the moon was. I used that telescope for many years and i still have it. About 2 years ago I got an Apertura AD8 8" Dob and im still getting blown away with the stuff im seeing. I have no experience with electronic tracking and only a little bit of image stacking. I know a dobsonian isnt really the best for astrophotography. But even just getting a camera adapter and starhopping to different objects in space is one of the most satisfying and relaxing experiences. I live in the suburbs so there is some light pollution but once i went to the middle of nowhere and saw Bode's galaxy and it was awesome seeing something thats about 12 million light years away.
For those of us who have scopes of varying specs, it is a duty to share the view, especially to kids. Heck, even just the act of looking up at the night sky, we should get as many people as we can to look up. It's a good metaphor for seeing the world in a new way, and it's a good way of knowing our place in the greater scheme of things...
@Slim Charles I'm having the same thoughts. I think the best views are with astrophotographpy and not the live views. Dont take my word on it, I'm very new to this, but having the same question as you.
I love this channel! And I love the passion that you bring forth for Astronomy. Your expertise/experience is obvious but your passion is what makes this channel a must see everytime that you post are new video. Great work!!!
This guy has an infectious enthusiasm and genuine love of astronomy. Watching this video has contributed to me buying a Dobsonian telescope. It hasn't arrived yet but I am looking forward to getting started and hopefully experiencing some of the amazing sights out beyond our beautiful planet.
I was going to remind you that the link that is in the description leads to the product without the accessories. I think you might want to update the link
This video sold me on the apertura. I went with the AD10, but your video sent me on the path toward it. I’ve wanted to get one for years, but had no idea what to get at the time. I have 3 kids, all under 12. The AD10 has done a great job of getting them excited about astronomy. You making this particular video really helped me and my family. Your effort is appreciated.
I understand that astronomy is an expensive hobby and people can't afford the best. However, more times than not, people end up wanting to buy bigger and better. Which ends up costing far more than if you just waited and saved up to buy the best to begin with. You are never going to get better pictures than what have already been taken with the hubble or other ground based telescope far better than anything you can ever have. Which is why people want to keep buying bigger and better. Hoping to get the same great pictures taken by telescopes bigger than your house
This was a really helpful and earnest video. I'm preparing to purchase this one for my husband for a big birthday. We went to our first star party and both saw Saturn for the first time. I found the AD8 recommended throughout reddit and it's great to hear your journey to arrive at similar feedback. While it's stretching my budget, I feel like making the reach to have something that gives him everything he wants is worth it thanks to your reaction. It's a hobby he can share with our future kids. Thanks!
Bought my first Dobsonian (an old cardboard-tubed Orion 6") in 1998 at the age of fifteen after saving my pennies for two years. Still have it, alongside an 8" and a PST that sit on the observing deck of my backyard observatory. I'm strictly a visual guy, but you'll never run out of things to see with a scope even of that size.
AstroBackyard i don't know if you will read this.... but i will always support you as you make me laugh sometimes and those beautiful pictures of the astro... best luck and could it be possible to shot those sky things near 4K resolution if you can... good bye and best wishes ... if i got the chance i will visit you just after knowing your adress🤗
I bought a 8" Zhumel from a friend about a year ago and it has been in storage in my shed this video has me excited about taking it out and using it. I am going to try and use it this weekend. Thanks Trevor I'm stoked!!!
@@randomu22 It was delivered on time, had all the parts and was easy to assemble. I am a novice astronomer, but found the Apertura easy to maneuver. Spend most of the night looking at Jupiter and 4 moons and Saturn. The planet and rings were very clear.
@@GeofVasquez Thanks for letting me know I wanna buy a telescope but Im new to astronomy and trying to figure out which scope i should buy. I wanna start with a beginner scope however i still want good visual quality, would you say this telescope is worth it and can you view any galaxies with it?
@@randomu22 I can view pretty much whatever I point the the scope at through my 10 inch dob. Dark sky's help like a low light pollution area or if your in the city I suggest getting a light pollution filter, It will make viewing galaxy's and nebulae just a bit easier👍 This reply is probably too late but good luck🙂
My first telescope was an 8" Cave on an German equatorial mount bought in the later 1970s. About five or six years later I got a C-11. To me, though, the most important thing was joining a great astronomy club with many active observers. It didn't hurt that Al Nagler of Tele Vue was a member and was just starting to ramp up his business in the early 1980s. Imagine being able to be one of the first to try out his Nagler, Wide Field, Type 2, etc. eyepieces. Those were good times. I'd still recommend beginners to find an active club if they can even if they don't yet have a scope. Amateur astronomers love sharing the universe.
I had a 6" Meade telescope in 2004 I can remember opening it at Christmas and crying lol I set it up and saw Jupiter and Saturn, I was completely blown away, and suddenly felt so small. I recognized my place in the universe. Times got tough and I had to sell it. But I've saved a bit of cash for a new one. I had my heart set on a an 8" or 10" Dobsonian but not sure now as I love photography & would love doing astrophotography but after watching all these awesome videos from AstroBackyard, I am not sure if that will be the right one for me.
I still remember my first time looking through a telescope. I was sharing a huge house with another twelve people and I found a refractor telescope lying on one of the living rooms. One of the guys said it was his, but has never used it. I couldn't believe it. So I took it, run upstairs and mounted it on the balcony. It didn't have the little tube to search, so I had to point it like if it was a rifle without sights, just aligning the length of the tube with the objective I had chosen, the brightest in the sky at that moment. And there it was, Jupiter in all it's glory, some tiny withe dots on both sides, and I could swear I was grasping the different bands,but with the chromatic aberration it was hard to tell. Boy I was excited!! Next, to the second brightest I could see from the balcony, and Bingo! Neptune!! With it's rings!!! I can't tell you how happy I was. It's curious but there's people that, maybe because they do not understand the scale of the solar system and the universe, or maybe they're just a bit dead inside, but of twelve people that were there, just four decided that could be worth the effort to rise their ass from the couch and take a look, from those four just one of them was struck by the fact of watching planets with his own eyes, the other two reacted like if they were astrononers tired of seeing it everyday and went back to the couch, unmoved. The other guy and me spent a couple of hours that night looking through it. It was painful cause the tripod wasn't much stable and the mount wasn't equatorial, so you had to be adjusting it every minute and had to kneel to look through it but man what experience. Now I would love to buy this one, but have no space were I'm living now, and the thing is bulky.
I splurge once a year and buy myself something nice with a $1000 limit. Since price isn't an issue for me, would you recommend the AD12 (or 10) over the AD8? Any of these 3 are within my price range. To be fair, virtually anything would be an improvement over the $25 walmart telescope I have now. I'll do more research and figure out the pro's and con's of the different models, but right now I'm under the impression that bigger is better, despite the increase in weight and cost. Still, any input would be appreciated.
Rasta Get the 12 inch dobsonian if portability isn’t an issue. The views will be better, higher resolution and more detail will show on fainter objects.
It happens again as he pans the camera back to the left at 12:38 ish. Definitely a reflection unfortunately. It would have been cool if it was a meteor.
this is very inspiring, my wife bought me a cheap basic telescope, saw Saturn's rings, the moon and some blurry stars that was a universe. i think getting a Dobsonian reflector will be the way the to go. I got hooked to your channel, keep it up
16:10 Sabes que estás realmente enamorado de algo, cuando se te terminan las palabras para describirlo... You know when you really love something, when you run out of words to describe it...
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
I remember looking at my very first planet, Jupiter, with it's 4 brightest moons, 127/1000 mm Newtonian reflector telescope, I kept smiling for the next 2 hours non stop, one of the best feelings ever.. Then I observed the Pleiades cluster, Andromeda, and then I fell in love, for me there is no better hobby than stargazing with a scope..
Aurum Exact same experience here!
@@theaurumtheory Science always makes you feel above the earthly problems. Whether it is a difficult looking maths problem you solve, the first calculator circuit you built and see it working, a code for the small game you write or Seeing sunspots for the first time with a very basic scope. I also felt really excited after seeing Saturn rings with just a 70mm scope and invited my whole family on the roof to see it (In India roofs of homes are flat unlike earth). Even the moon was unbelievably great.
I remember how I went from looking through a kit EP on my 80mm refractor (total $120) and suddenly I was in deep with 925 evo and televue and baader eps! It escalated quickly
Aurum um your very first planet is earth bro.
I remember with my Orion starseeker 100mm seeing Jupiter and it's 4 brightest moons for the first time, that really got me hooked, it was amazing.
I'm 42 and I've had a love affair with astronomy my whole life but never been able to do it. I don't have a garden or garage and i work a day job on the city meaning i can't stay up through the night. As a teenager i used to go and sit in the local park at night with a pair of binoculars and a star map. Most nights i go to bed listening to videos about neutron stars or quantum mechanics. Maybe one day I'll be in a better position to enjoy this incredible hobby.
I wish you luck! Maybe, I'll enjoy this someday too.
You just need a small telescope that is portable to watch the moon and the planets. And in case you travel the week - ends you get it with you.
You will!
I have a pair of Celestron Skymaster binoculars mounted on a tripod and it works great! Its a wonderful, inexpensive and portable way to get into astronomy.
@@bigsby6bender Mate i literally just bought a pair of skymaster 17 x 50 and went on a trip to Cornwall with them, returned today. Laying on my back in the garden was immense. I saw a planet with 3 visible moons (geusing mercury) 2 satelites (dam those things can move) and more stars than I've ever seen in my life. There was only one clear night sadly but it's given me the desire to do more and reacquaint myself with the clusters i leaned as a youth. I just need to find a convenient safe place to indulge the hobby. I have a balcony but a lot of the views are obstructed and the light pollution is horrible. In Cornwall even without the binocs the views were great, just goes to show what a negative impact light pollution has.
I can't believe some people called you a fake! The word ignorant is too good for them!
Yes, It's sad that we're the ones being called ignorants. We all like bizarre things we've never seen before, but when one small content creator makes one about it and tells us to try it out, we're already called "ignorants" by people with serious trust issues, which is like 20% of the world.
because they are so dumb
@@ian5869 Dumb and also desperate to get attention, what's your opinion?
More people need to start looking up and looking more closely at the night sky. And at the world in general.
@@kswsquared that cause light pollution make people space fake thomas edisson and tesla you created wrong colour light (orange street light)
As the newbie know-nothing, and an old fart at that, you've been a true inspiration to me. I've maintained a lifelong love of photography, though without any training or self-education, I've still managed to find my way to astrophotography. Unfortunately, living on a fixed disabled Vietnam veteran's pension, I could never afford the equipment you have, just watching your videos have been an eye-opening, exciting adventure for me. Thank you for opening a whole new world to me!
I remember seeing Saturn for the first time and it was by accident, the words that came out of my mouth in front of my dad weren't the best chosen words, but he laughed it off because I was so excited. I also experienced looking at the Ring Nebula for the first time this summer and I was on the verge of tears. It's amazing how looking up can change everything.
celestialunae “holy shit!”
May I ask what size your telescope was when you viewed the ring nebula? I have a 4.5 inch telescope however havent gotten the opportunity to see any DSO's, and I would like to know from someone who also owns a 4.5 inch telescope if DSO's are viable.
@@epicgamer747 my workhorse is a 4.5" dob. DSO's are very viable, depending on the object. The Ring Nebula is a great DSO target to start with, since it's fairly bright and compact. It can stand up to some decent magnification. You're not going to see much detail, but you'll definitely be able to tell you're looking at a distinct ring-object. I also have a large wide-field eyepiece for my scope and I *highly* recommend getting ahold of one of those if you can, the bigger the better. With a 4.5" scope and a wide field lens objects like the Orion Nebula and various Open and Globular clusters are simply breathtaking. imho sacrificing some magnification to see these objects in context to the sky around them is well worth it. And hey, it's not much of a "sacrifice" anyway, as you can always just switch eye pieces lol!
You can say that again.
Dude! Yes! I saw the Ring Nebula for the first time this past summer and I FREAKED out! It was my first actual deep sky object that I had to search for and once I found it, I said some words and jumped around like a little girl and went back to the eye piece. I was amazed!
I visited our local planetarium in the 6th grade 70 years ago. After a long career as a chemist at the University, I’ve now decided to go back to my first love…astronomy. Thank you for your introduction. I can’t wait to learn more and order my first scope.
One of our members bought a Meade 8" Dob at a garage sale for $30, because the person that sold it "couldn't get it to work."
He brought it to a meeting, and we collimated it.
Excellent scope. $30 and five minutes with a laser.
Oh... To be in the right place at the right time.
Just don't buy an Orion dob without the base. I did that. It turns out Orion will not sell you a replacement base.
@@Robert08010
That's odd. I've heard Orion is known for excellent customer service. In any case, a base is easily constructed from plywood and a few screws. Or just switch to tripod mount.
I bought an Orion 6 inch with a broken base, I could rebuild it with some screws and spare wood
Just under $500 for those of you wondering how much this beaut costs. I'm impressed, I thought it'd cost a couple thousands.
Cheddaframanga
I have $480 I think I might buy it because I’m fascinated with astronomy!
The Subaru Baja can wait.
Noah L I really hope you got the telescope. It will truly change your life forever. I only have a cheap telescope, around $100 (Celestron Powerseeker 70AZ). When I looked pointed it at the moon, Saturn, and Jupiter, and looked through the eyepiece, everything changed for me.
Only 500? Am in europe dont know how much that is in Euro. But i think it doesnt is that big diffrence. Think am gonna buy one. Love this.
@@micro_aggressor
Like 450 Euro I think. Its defiantly under 500 Euro I know that.
I shall remember my first night with a telescope looking at the moon and then jupiter for the rest of my life. The emotion in this video is so powerful and relatable. Thank you Trevor. 2 years obsessed with astronomy thanks to your channel
I recently bought a stellalyra 8 inch dob as my first scope.I used a 20mm eyepiece and decided to look at what I thought was a bright star.I couldn’t believe my eyes as it was Jupiter and four moons.I could even see the bands.I will never forget my first time using my dobsonian!
It "didn't feel fifty pounds" because of the adrenaline rush from excitement......
How could you not get excited?
welp not everyone is the same, guess you didnt connect
I just went through your link and purchased an ad12 apertura dobsonian for 1299.00! I can't wait for it to arrive. So excited!
Looking at something as simple as the moon through a telescope for the first time can be a magical experience. We see it so often that we don't even really think about it, but when you're viewing it magnified through a scope, suddenly there's depth to the craters and individual shadows, it's almost like you're actually seeing it for the first time.
I want a telescope so bad I’ve been watching so many videos but they’re so expensive especially if you’re a college student
I bought budget dobsonian 130/650. For the value it is really good, but with this small size i cant really see much in my class 6-7 sky. Havent tried go to darker area yet, but in urban sky its pretty shit views, only moon and pleiades stars was quite easy to find with decent view.
Lazy 73 get some decent 10x50 binos a good mount and start the amazing trip....
Hahaha same to me. I always struggle by the high price
They have some for 120 bucks that are pretty darn good
Join your university astronomy club! or start one and get a grant from the college for a telescope!!!
I remember the first time looking through a hobby level telescope, at the moon, and embarrassing myself by saying "wow, it's like it's just floating there"...
haha well strictly speaking, it is just "floating there" isn't it!?? haha you don't sound silly to me my friend!
Hi Trevor. I have been a traditional hobbiest photographer for years (mostly portraiture and landscapes/nature ) with a deep interest in astronomy and space exploration since I was a kid and bolstered after the first time I read Sagan's Cosmos. I had never really considered combining these two interests beyond the occasional Milky Way or Moon shot. I always assumed the 'real thing' was beyond my grasp. Now as an adult with a couple kids of my own, the spark was re-ignited when my wife's parents brought her childhood toy telescope to my home around the holidays for my children to play with. I guess I never realized how accessible getting into a _real_ telescope could be. I came across this video after a few days of research and decided to take the plunge on your recommendation. I lucked out in that the day after the scope arrived I got a nice clear and cold night and took her for a spin. I decided the Orion Nebula would be my first target. As I'm sure many others understand, that first time of looking into the eyepiece and seeing a real nebula, right there, in real time, its photons hitting my eyeball... well, it was breathtaking. I absolutely felt like a kid again, with that awe-inspiring sense of wonder that usually only a child can experience. Thank you for the inspiration, your channel is a blessing! Seeing the remarkable images you're able to capture has me really thinking hard about considering the equipment to get into Deep Sky imaging in the not-to-distant future; the perfect confluence of art and science.
Be sure to join some astrophotography facebook groups to share your shots and get advice!
Visit /r/Astrophotography on Reddit. Lots of useful info and people willing to help, critique, and share experiences with you.
Nailed It !!
I remember my fist telescope, a some 60mm typical refractor that looked amazing but gave every star a "beautifull" tail, like a comet but better....lol, yes, can your scope to that..? lol.
BUT
I loved it. I was out there every night. It was a honeymoon that lasted for years..... and in some ways im still there as a child.
I used to drool over all the Telescope adds listed in the national geographic that came from the US, I was in Australia. I even wrote to Celestron for a brochure, and they sent it. I was sooooooo wrapped with them to get a brochure direct from the USA. And just drooled over every page.
Amazing times when you can just go out there and watch. LOVE IT and you nailed it.
One day I will own something like the scopes you have but for now ill enjoy it with my binoculars and little 80mm f5 scope......a nice ebay snag.
Keep these vids coming......this video will stay with me for a long time
Thank You !!
How i connect canon m50 to this to take photos?
DJFITME you can probably buy an adapter to the size of your camera
@Bhagwandas Ramchandani For Nebulae and Galaxies there might star trail ONLY if he reduces his camera shutter speed for better, clear/sharp,colourful pics...but if he wants only a normal, acceptable he might not get star trails..
Strong tape.
@@jamielonsdale3018 absolute mad lad
T ring
It looks like a mortar tbh. 😂
the light bucket mortar of doom
Maybe that’s how it was invented. Guy looks through the scope like oh shit I can see the moon
Hahahaha
"shot out"
I truly apologize, please excuse my brain compelling me to respond with the following:
I believe you meant mortar tube, the mortar is the round itself.
I’ll see myself out.
I purchased my first telescope a few weeks ago and went with the Zhumell Z8 for the same features that scope has. I'm 60 y/o and viewed Jupiter and Saturn with my own eyes for the first time in my life and was blown away.. Was also able to view Comet Neowise and what a view it was.... Thanks for all your video's they are a great help Trevor...
Ha, yes, I'm right there with you! Bought the Apertura AD8, received it about 4 days later, built it the next night, looked outside and it was Clear! Got some nice views of Neowise...then saw Jupiter and it's moons, as well as Saturn last weekend. Still waiting for the Barlow to arrive. The moon! Beautiful!!
I watched this video a few times and was convinced by Trevor that an 8" dob was a perfect fit. However, AD8 was back ordered and so was the Zhumell Z8. Searched surrounding states and found the Z8 for $275. The guy that I bought it from from was very kind. He brought a 4" Bushnell go-to telescope and asked me if I wanted that too! Both in mint condition. Bought a couple of new wide FOV eyepieces from Gary at Russell Optics and headed to my local Observation park. I viewed Saturn, Jupiter, the Lagoon Nebula and finally the Andromeda galaxy...what a night. Love the 8" dobsonian and now planning my targets weekly. I agree the 8" size is as big as I can transport on a regular basis. Thanks for the inspiration Trevor!
Your link to order is to a different telescope package. Your link is to a Apertura DT8 8", one lens, no mirror cooler, no laser collimator. I think this is the telescope that you are describing, Apertura AD8 8" Dobsonian Telescope with Accessories
I just ordered one for my wife's Birthday. Your video was heartfelt and we are looking forward to using it.
I've always been in awe of the night sky, but never made anything of it, until I became a Dad. Recently my little boy just turned 1, and over the course of his first year here on Earth, we have gazed with our eyes upon the night sky. We both love it. Just the other day, headed home from work at 0500, I noticed a very thin finger nail of a moon with a very bright object next to it. When I got home, I Googled what it was. Turns out Venus made her appearance along side the moon (8/14-8/16). I of course had to show my son what I had seen, and he loved it. It's one of the perfect bonding experiences for him and I. I told my wife that I will be finding a telescope and some books so that we can take it that step further.
I just want to say thank you for a very well made video. I truly think you are a genuine guy with a strong passion, and show true emotion. I definitely cannot wait to see for myself. You've earned my sub.
Thank you!
Kind of understand how you feel. Drove to Missouri to see the solar eclipse with my family. The moment of totality it felt like I could reach up and touch the sun and moon. Almost a spiritual experience.
I did the same thing. Was worried as hell about the weather reports but I'll never forget seeing that, feeling temp drop and hearing the cicadas go crazy. The next one is in 2027!
I drove from NJ to SC to see it. Great experience!
I did that in 99 in Turkey. I still remember the eerie silence when the sun disappeared. Such a strange and primitive feeling like no other. It makes u wonder how our ancestors felt thousands of years ago when there was no scientific explanation yet.
My first telescope was a 5” Newtonian on a manual eq mount. I was shocked to see the moons of Jupiter and the rings around Saturn. A few months later, I bought an Orion 8” on a Dobsonian mount and was blown away. It took me forever, but I observed star clusters, the Ring and Dumbbell Nebulae as well as the Andromeda Galaxy. My wife endured me sitting in the backyard for hours to catch a glimpse of a deep sky object. I was even able to image several planets. I’m working on getting a goto EQ mount so I can get some good Astro images. The 8” newt is indeed the best investment for observing the night sky!
Great video. My first scope was a 50mm Tasco refractor. Great for moon and planets. Nearly 50 yea s later I got a 10" DOB. Andromeda, Orion Nebula....absolutely breath taking! I totally agree; the 8" DOB is a fantastic first telescope.
MrGp3po do you think the extra surface area of the 10” mirror is worth the extra size/weight/inconvenience over the 8”?
@@daviewavie112 "25% increase in resolution and 56% more light" The area of a circle being Pi x radius squared you get 201 square inches for the 8" and 314 square inches for the 10 inch. You can check out the specifications of your desired scope to see the weights. The 8" is light enough for most adults to carry assembled. But it is awkward and there is the possibility of falling and damage. My 10 is is about 70 lbs total but the tube and base are each about 35 lbs and it takes like 15 seconds to assemble. If you plan to travel to dark sites, be sure to check the specifications for size and measure your vehicle. Dobs do take up some room.
@@daviewavie112 I re-watched this great video and I see Trevor moving his 8" Dob assembled. Each piece probably weighs about 20 lbs, so carrying the 40 lbs total a short distance is no big deal. I've gotten "lazy" and moved my 70 lbs 10" Dob short distances before but try to avoid doing that to save my back and prevent disaster (tripping in the dark). The 8" is great and more convenient; the 10" will give better views of dimmer objects. (PS. If you buy the 8", don't look through anything smaller than a 12" or 16". ;)
Because of this channel i asked my father to use his telescope he bought at costco. A Celestron powerseeker. My first time looking at the moon (in my 30's) i literally cried. Today, UPS pulled up with my first official Telescope, a Apertura AD8, because of this video. I can't wait to set it up tonight, go in my backyard with it and get this emotional, thanks Trevor.
Ok, you're enthusiasm and sincerity sold me, just ordered it!
Same lol
How much is it ?
Could you give me the website from where you found it ?
@Rob Fiss You're so lucky, living in the city sucks
@@steveshorter look at high point science
I am retired and bored, so about a month ago I put star gazer on my phone and stood outside for over an hour looking at the night sky. I got very excited being able to look at Mars and know I was looking at Mars. Fast forward a few weeks and here I am now and I am getting this for Christmas. Last Christmas I got a VR headset and was fairly excited/anxious while waiting for Christmas to arrive, that aside, this is the most excited I have been for Christmas since I was a kid. Cant wait to look through that telescope!!!!
I'm new to telescopes and astronomy and wanted to get into it. I didn't know what telescope to get and this video sold me on it. I'll buy it as soon as possible and start!
JokerBrand64 did you get it
Joshua I did and I love it. I can't seem to figure out how to make my bigger eye peice focus on the stars but with my smaller one they look sharp. The moon looks incredible with it. I'm hoping to learn to use it correctly and see far. Definitely a good telescope in my books even if idk how to use it
JokerBrand64 do you recommend it to someone like me? I’ve never used a telescope either and I’ve really been wanting to buy a telescope problem is I don’t know which one to buy.
Oof it’s me Girly is recommend. Idk how to use it very much but from the few times I’ve looked at the moon and stars I’d say it’s worth it. I bet if I can learn to use it more I’ll be able to get more out of it. It is a big telescope tho. I enjoy it
I just gotta say man, your enthusiasm choked me up a couple times there. As a boy, I always wanted a telescope but our family could never afford one, so the passion I had for the stars fell out pretty quickly. I've always looked up and wanted to see more and a few times in life I've gotten a chance to look through some crappy walmart style telescopes and even a few decent spotting scopes, but always had to step away from them knowing I'd never look through em again. But about a week ago, after 40+ years, I bought one of these AND I DON'T GET IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH!!! Seeing you talk about this thing is truly moving, I can't imagine what it would do for a kid that still whole heartedly gets excited over things. Thanks bud, for sparking wonder in an old man (or aging anyway) and giving me the opportunity to actually get excited over something again for the first time in decades.
My first telescope had a much smaller aperture than this one and although I still fell in love with the hobby and used it for over 3 years, I have this model now and I am jealous of any newcomer who takes this guy's advice! I am only now starting to see how bright the Orion nebula actually is, and although Saturn isn't even a particularly great target this time of year, I still can see it better and clearer than I ever did with a 90mm refractor. Comparing my first scope to this, the portability buff and cost savings weren't really worth it, and it's hard to say whether a manual EQ mount or a manual AZ is better overall.
Finally someone who do not only talk about the equipment ---- but the experience and feeling of gazing at the stars. I just ordered my telescope - nothing particularly expensive, just enough to enjoy it - and I am just not so into the equipment thing. Just want enough to give nice experiences. I'm so looking forward to it arriving here!! I will subscribe to you. Thank you for this!
I've had the 10" version of that dob for some years now, its my 3rd telescope after upgrading from my first 4.5" reflector and then an 8" dobsonian, which back then were sold under the Zhumell brand, all I can say is I love those dobs, both optical and mechanical quality is unbeatable at that price!
If you ever wanna gift anyone one of your old telescopes .. im here..
I've always liked the stars. Did research on them when I was in high school and took an intro astronomy class in college. They had a night class where we were going to look at the moon through a telescope. I had never used a telescope before so I was pretty excited when it was my turn to look through the eye piece. The word breathtaking is an understatement, Its more like soultaking. When the light of the moon hit my eyes its like time stopped and it felt like I stopped hearing everything around me and only heard the moon, pure silence. The whole time I thought it would look like zooming into a picture on your phone but the effect of that light hitting your eye is literally out of this world. I even felt like crying from seeing something so astonishing. Watching you express your love with space literally gave me goosebumps I could feel your emotions, those feelings and now I really have to buy that telescope.
I had astronomy in college. Intro class. Total shithouse waste. Taught me absolutely nothing. Oh, here is how the stars age and blow up. Yeah, okay.
I have a 6" Saxon (GSO clone) and LOVE it.
I can't go bigger cos of back problems and lifting limits. Anything larger won't fit in my car either if I wanna travel to a dark sky site.
Easy see Cassini on Saturn M13 ,m57 etc
@@joeimbesi99 can't see M13 from downunder I think. I have seen m57, but that was years ago with my 4" SkyWatcher equinox on my goto mount.
I love my 12inch dobsonian . I always thought that bigger focal length is most important in a telescope. Turns out I bought a ( Mak Cassigrain) 1900mm focal length by 6 inch apreture . Great magnification but light gathering was ok but not great . So I sold that one and bought a 1250mm focal length by 12 inch dobsonian. It's a big boy but its totally worth it for brightness . Its heavy but when I take it out I know it's going to give my very good light gathering results . Even have a 2inch eyepiece that came with it .
Every once in a while you find an absolute gem of a RUclips channel.
I just have with this one.
It was the last couple of minutes that sealed the deal, you've got a really nice way about you and you're obviously passionate about the hobby.
Great video and thanks for sharing your knowledge.
I'm looking forward to watching more of your videos.
Regards from North East Scotland 👍🏻
I sincerely bought this dobsonian because of this video. My wife’s and daughters reaction to seeing Saturn was well worth all the money and research. Thanks again for making this and convincing me to take the plunge.
Just need to get yourself down to Aus or NZ to see the better half of the universe :)
Yeah the eta carina nebula through a UHC-S filter is something to behold, not to mention the large and small magellanic clouds!
I'm from Aus and planning to get an 8" Dobsonian telescope!! :)
Bro there are so many planets and stars in NZ and au. It truly is amazing.
Northern lights are better ;)
Got a fren there, now im gonna go internet surfing for a scop :D
I just wanted to thank you so much for this video. A year or two ago, I decided to do something that I'd meant to do for about the last 30 years - namely, get started with amateur astronomy. I had looked through binoculars for a while, and decided that I was ready for a telescope...but what kind? So many choices, and me with no idea what I was doing. I stumbled across this video, and your enthusiasm was absolutely infectious. Shortly thereafter, I purchased my own 8" Dobsonian (a Zhumell Z8), and I've been watching the skies with it for about the last 10 months, and I love it! Thank you for such a great video, such a great explanation, and for helping me start on my amateur astronomy path!
If I can see a galaxy far far away with this, but I can't see a nude beach way over in France, then the world must be round right?
Yes
Atmospheric density.
@@bobbytwotoes3726 Sophism.
I remember looking at Jupiter and Saturn for the first time through a telescope. It was a 70 mm refractor and it showed me and my family the bands of Jupiter and the rings of Saturn. We all went "WOW!" when peeking through the eyepiece. It was (and still is) an incredible feeling. Then I got a 130 mm tabletop dobsonian, which taught me to navigate the night sky and showed me quite a lot, and now, this past weekend, I got an Apertura AD8. I got to use it for the first time on Saturday night. Wow, just wow! Incredible views. I completely understand your excitement, Trevor. I've been a long-time fan of your channel and your astrophotography work. Thanks for sharing this video. Clear skies!
Bro, beautiful video. The way you expressed how it feels to see what you see through the lens yourself is exactly how I feel. I'm using a $50 cheap Walmart Celestron, and I'm ordering this AD8 right now. Last night I saw Jupiter, and finding it was exactly that feeling especially with the shaky telescope I have. My first experience ever was Saturn- absolutely stunned me. Thank you for taking the time to post such an informative and passionate video!
What can you see with the celestron? I wanna buy one of this bad boys but because of work getting to a dark place is hard (I live in a very crowded city) so I wanna buy a smaller cheaper one to know what I can see from my home
crystalgolem you can see a lot actually. I have great pics of the moon, and saw Jupiter and its stripes pretty clearly. That’s what is pushing me to get the telescope he recommends.
So I ordered this specific telescope based solely on this video.. it was on backorder... so I waited and waited.. then it arrived!!!!! Its a beast and I LOVE IT! Its a substantial step up from my orion funscope!!!! BUT after staring at saturn and Jupiter I decided to scroll the sky. To the right of jupiter I found a dense cluster of stars and my mind was yet again blown BUT somewhere around that part of the sky I found a blur!!! Gazzilion stars crystal clear and this one blur.....? It slightly resembled neowise when I had looked at it through the funscope.. could it have been a comet???? I’m so curious to find out what it was.....!!!!???? Hmmmm
@@perlalopezflores4355 It was about a 1.5 months but the day they emailed to tell me it was in and ask if I still wanted it they overnighted it to me !!!!
@@perlalopezflores4355 Not until It was shipped
You seem to be such a nice person with a genuine love for stargazing. Respect!
Just got my AD8, took your advise and bought as my fist Telescope, I cant belive how in Detail
I can see the moon, and craters. cant wait to keep exploring. Thanks for the info very helffull.
where did u find the AD8?
Just ordered an Orion 8944 SkyQuest XT6 Classic Dobsonian Telescope can't wait !!!!!
Can I have a review of this telescope
👆🏼
I just assembled my Orion XT-8” Dobsonian telescope this week and had some amazing experiences. I live in Southern California about 50 miles east of Los Angeles. While looking at the moon in the western sky just after sunrise I had a passenger jetliner out of LAX or John Wayne airport fly right thru my eyepiece and perfectly across the moon diagonally south to north as it ascended into the morning sky. I pulled back from the eyepiece in complete surprise and watched it continue to climb for a bit. What a wonderful treat. Thank you for sharing your presentation with us. It was well done. Newly subscribed from Rancho Cucamonga, CA.
Take care.
Timestamps for everybody in a hurry:
01:10 🔭 Telescopes offer unforgettable celestial views.
04:17 🌌 Adequate aperture enhances night sky appreciation.
05:12 🪐 Beginners benefit from 8-inch Dobsonian telescopes.
09:15 🌙 Aperture AD8 includes essential accessories.
14:19 🌠 Manual telescopes offer a rewarding experience.
We went camping at North Fork Park near Ogden Utah. It has an astronomy designation. The night was mostly plagued by people, their fires, noisey generators, drunkenness and then by endless flashlight wanderers. Once my wife and kid were satisfied we took refuge in the tent. Then we shivered all night. The coldest part of the morning I had to leave the tent for a moment. When I emerged from the tent they sky had become a thick soup of unbelievably numerous stars. People were asleep and the stars unhindered by headlights, lamps and other glare came down to the mountain and blew my mind without telescope or binoculars to aid them.
Your passion really comes through in this video. Great job
My dad got me a little cheap 20$ telescope when I was 13 and I remember looking at the moon through it, even though it was blurry and I couldn’t see no defined features of it (just the different colored blobs) I can’t explain the rush I felt when I was looking at it through it, needless to say I’m super excited to get this telescope!!!
I'd also add, don't use any form of cheat like the Orion Intellescope system so you're using star charts, and maybe adding a Telrad finder. A 2" Explore Scientific ultra wide field eyepiece is a good thing too.
I have an 11 year old son who wanted nothing more than a telescope for his birthday(yesterday) to view deep space objects. We're hoping to purchase our first telescope soon. I just wanted to say that MY hope is that he's gifted with the same level of passion for the subject as you. You inspire, sir.
Late to find this. Never mind the critics. Keep doing and sharing what you enjoy.
Just got mine! And I've seen Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and the Moon in great detail!
What? an 8' dob?
Can you tell me how's it and your experience with it. I'm also looking to buy one. Will I be able to see Saturn's rings and Jupiter's moons? And Is Neptune or Uranus visible if we see thru it?
@@jiteshraghav3791 i can say it how it is:D So its really beautyful when you have good atmospheric condicions and when u cooled ur telescope off then you can see really nice details on jupiter( you see many bends even the small ones and the moons ) with saturn( you see one darker bend really good and you can even see the gap in the ring clearly even a little color difference between those two ring parts if you have a good looking) Mars( you can see the poles and the darker spots really good) Venus( so its yellow:D) i dont have seen uranus, naptun and mercury yet because its really hard to see them especially neptune and uranus. but you would just see a blue dot.
it depends in which light polluted level area you live you can see deep sky objects really nice too. so its a perfect telescope
@@FisTheDucc Thanks! I will be buying a 10" or maybe a 12" dob in some weeks.
@@jiteshraghav3791 nice:p
Please don’t worry about what the ignorant idiots on the internet comment. Please!
They do not have the capacity to understand astrophotography. Please keep up the good work and thank you for sharing your knowledge.
This is a garbage beginner scope.. and this is definitely not for astrophotography 🤣🤣🤣🤡
Trevor your Dog Rudi is adorable! He's so laid back and when you stroke him and hug him/show him love, it's heart melting to watch. I'm a huge animal lover, so whenever i see people looking after and loving there pets ( Members of their Family ) it makes me so happy. Thank you for being such a great Daddy to Rudi. God Bless You, Wife, Rudi and Family Sir.
This is going to be my next scope. Just waiting for them to be restocked!
Own the meade 130 and 127 Polaris.
The 4.5” Newtonian was my first scope too and seeing Saturn for the first time was mind blowing. I got mine at Costco but it came on an EQ Mount with autostar. It was tricky to set up and I ended up taking off the go to motors. But I always wanted a dobsonian Mount because its so simple and organic. Well now costco is selling the 10” truss tube dobsonians for only $599 so I upgraded and wow what a difference that it. It’s so challenging and fun to Star hop. Took me an hour jumping from 4-10 magnitude stars in Aquarius but I located Ceres and Neptune for the first time and it was so satisfying. I think the truss tube dobsonians are just a tad bit more difficult for beginners but I love the big aperture and how it fold down very compact. I think the 8” dob is a good match for portability and ease of set up for beginners and you probably won’t have to Collimate every time like a truss dob. Good review. But for people looking for the largest aperture in a high quality set up at a great value. Check out that explorer scientific 10” truss tube dob that costco has right now on their online store. The mirror box is about 40lbs but i found it easy enough to transport and it fits in a small car trunk easily for going to a dark sky. Clear skies.
I'm getting this for Christmas!! It looks amazing and simple
Hey did you get it and how do you like it?
@@xfilesseasonteneponeandsix8346 Yea I got it and its pretty cool! It was pretty easy to set up and I've been using it when I can. :)
Can we get this telescope in amazon
@@kiranjohn8573 I got mine from the link in the description of the video, so I'm not sure what other sites it's available on.
When we did look into it, the site in the description had the best price and it came decently fast.
Just ordered the apertura dt12 after owning the ad8 for a year😀
I recently had my life changed significantly by seeing Jupiter through a telescope at a public viewing session. That was at the World Science Festival in Brisbane in March 2018, I will never forget that night.
Found your channel while researching what should be my 1st telescope, with an 8" dob being the top candidate by far. This video confirms that without a doubt in my mind, & I am so fking excited.
Gaining a serious interest in the stars/science/space programs has irreversibly changed my life + perspective, this shit is pure fire. Thanks for your great video(s) mate
Thank you!! Very similar stories across the world. In a hobby with so many mixed opinions - most agree that you can never go wrong starting with an 8" dob!!
@@AstroBackyard Absolutely no question of why so many feel the same way.. Our entire lives the wondrous expanse lies out there, just above our heads, hiding itself from our supercomputer ass eyes while our nuclear spaceball breathes us day, and life - until night when it shows its beauty (fk off clouds!!)
All of this clicked for me over the past ~14 months, such a fantastical experience. I'm 23 and am sure in my heart that a life of astronomy is ahead of me. Can't wait to get my hands on this Dob and geez through some of ya vids to guide me. Cheers mate, hope you take the time to read this
AstroBackyard my sisters bought me this telescope for my birthday. Two years ago, they also bought me a Celestron Omni XLT 102.
@@iAWP- which one did you end up getting?
@@jesusmerkel Hey mate, sorry, just saw this! I bought a SkyWatcher 8 inch collapsible Dobsonian. I love it dearly, but the main drawback is that the manual aspect makes it difficult to share views with others at high magnifications. Since the object in view 'moves' so quickly (due to Earth's rotation), they only have a few seconds to look before you have to step in and find the object again. I hope that makes sense! Please reply again if you have any questions
Thank you for posting your video for all of us beginners. In all honesty this telescope seems very intimidating to me. The size is huge and I don't know if it's possible to be taken out every night, or if it is supposed to stay in one place due to its size. This really doesn't seem like a beginners telescope to me, but then again I know nothing about telescopes.
Awesome! As a Newtonian fan, you nailed it! Affordable light bucket is a great choice. I started with a 6" 47 years ago....
So YOU are Grout.
My AD8 is on its way, and I couldn't be more excited. Thank you for this great, thorough walkthrough and for your obvious love for the science and art.
Looking over this package and, if the optical quality of the primary is good, this telescope is a real bargain. You don't find such an impressive array of accessories with competing models at this price point. Dual speed Crayford focuser, 2" wide-field Plossl eyepiece, 8X50 finder, cooling fan and a laser collimator. It can't get any better. The big finder, a good starchart and/or Stellarium on a 'scope-side laptop will have you star hopping to deep sky wonders like an old pro in short order.
Commercial telescopes like this just didn't exist when I built my first telescope (a 6" Newtonian on a pipe-thread alt-az mount) back in 1966. Kind of makes me envious of folks that are getting started in the hobby today.
Folks, if you're starting out in the hobby or just looking for a portable, easy-to-use light bucket to add to your collection, jump on this. Even though I have telescopes that outstrip this one in terms of aperture or technical features, I'm sorely tempted to get one for myself. Trevor, thanks for the "heads-up" on this one.
i have a z10. basically same scope with a 10" primary. the cooling fan is a very nice feature but the laser collimator is junk. i use a collimation cap and cheshire. the eps are okay but i picked up some televue plossls cheap, but for deep sky the explore scientific 82 degree series eps i bought make the z10 shine.
The Optics for Apertura, zhumell are made by GSO. i myself own a ORGINAL GSO 8" DOB. Fine piece of equipment.
for all the haters, pause the video at 2 minutes, have a good look around at the equipment this man has. there is at least 10 or 15 thousand dollars there. you dont spend that kinda money to fake a video. and thanx to astro for making these kinds of videos. i enjoy watching.
I was asked to help a college professor do a star party with his large astronomy class. He had a 10 inch sct with go to capability. I brought my 8 and 10 inch dobs. I learned over the years how to star hop my way through the night skies before star hopping was a popular term. The professor couldn’t get his go to, to, uh, well, go to. I stayed very busy the whole evening. After the students thinned out the professor came over and asked if I could find M13. I went straight to it. After several other requests the professor asked me how I am able to do that. I simply stated, “I don’t have a go to.”
Im still new to astronomy. Im a nerd when it comes to space and astrophysics but Im an amateur when it comes to using a telescope. I started my journey with a small 50mm refractor and i remember how cool the moon was. I used that telescope for many years and i still have it. About 2 years ago I got an Apertura AD8 8" Dob and im still getting blown away with the stuff im seeing. I have no experience with electronic tracking and only a little bit of image stacking. I know a dobsonian isnt really the best for astrophotography. But even just getting a camera adapter and starhopping to different objects in space is one of the most satisfying and relaxing experiences. I live in the suburbs so there is some light pollution but once i went to the middle of nowhere and saw Bode's galaxy and it was awesome seeing something thats about 12 million light years away.
Wow Trevor the end was soooooo emotional!!!!! I could feel it!!!! I know what you mean!
Stay tuned Trevor. We love you!
Thank you!!
For those of us who have scopes of varying specs, it is a duty to share the view, especially to kids. Heck, even just the act of looking up at the night sky, we should get as many people as we can to look up. It's a good metaphor for seeing the world in a new way, and it's a good way of knowing our place in the greater scheme of things...
@Slim Charles I'm having the same thoughts. I think the best views are with astrophotographpy and not the live views. Dont take my word on it, I'm very new to this, but having the same question as you.
I love this channel! And I love the passion that you bring forth for Astronomy. Your expertise/experience is obvious but your passion is what makes this channel a must see everytime that you post are new video. Great work!!!
This guy has an infectious enthusiasm and genuine love of astronomy. Watching this video has contributed to me buying a Dobsonian telescope. It hasn't arrived yet but I am looking forward to getting started and hopefully experiencing some of the amazing sights out beyond our beautiful planet.
I took some surprisingly good images through my 8" dob--lunar images were sharp. Ofcourse it helped alot using a televue Panoptic!
I had a 16” Dobsonian. Loved it. It was too heavy for my 55 year old back. Now I have a 10”. Want a tracking scope now.
You make pursuing this passion so much easier for beginners. Thank you for sharing this.
I was going to remind you that the link that is in the description leads to the product without the accessories. I think you might want to update the link
Stumbled on to this video and now I'm $450 poorer. Can't wait for it to arrive!
Wait, this cannon (as in weapon, not a camera) is only $450?
@@PDXMILO correct
This video sold me on the apertura. I went with the AD10, but your video sent me on the path toward it. I’ve wanted to get one for years, but had no idea what to get at the time. I have 3 kids, all under 12. The AD10 has done a great job of getting them excited about astronomy. You making this particular video really helped me and my family. Your effort is appreciated.
I understand that astronomy is an expensive hobby and people can't afford the best. However, more times than not, people end up wanting to buy bigger and better. Which ends up costing far more than if you just waited and saved up to buy the best to begin with. You are never going to get better pictures than what have already been taken with the hubble or other ground based telescope far better than anything you can ever have. Which is why people want to keep buying bigger and better. Hoping to get the same great pictures taken by telescopes bigger than your house
This was a really helpful and earnest video. I'm preparing to purchase this one for my husband for a big birthday. We went to our first star party and both saw Saturn for the first time. I found the AD8 recommended throughout reddit and it's great to hear your journey to arrive at similar feedback. While it's stretching my budget, I feel like making the reach to have something that gives him everything he wants is worth it thanks to your reaction. It's a hobby he can share with our future kids. Thanks!
When you watch this channel and want to try it out, but then you remember you live at 69° North and it doesnt get dark before october again
Bought my first Dobsonian (an old cardboard-tubed Orion 6") in 1998 at the age of fifteen after saving my pennies for two years. Still have it, alongside an 8" and a PST that sit on the observing deck of my backyard observatory. I'm strictly a visual guy, but you'll never run out of things to see with a scope even of that size.
Only about an hour to go now! :D I want to see some member badges and custom emoji's in the chat!!
I bought an 8 in dob for my first scope and it has never let me down. I’m saving now to purchase my first astrophotography scope in the near future
AstroBackyard i don't know if you will read this.... but i will always support you as you make me laugh sometimes and those beautiful pictures of the astro... best luck and could it be possible to shot those sky things near 4K resolution if you can... good bye and best wishes ... if i got the chance i will visit you just after knowing your adress🤗
Can you also use this telescope for astrophotography or is it just an ordinary telescope?
I bought a 8" Zhumel from a friend about a year ago and it has been in storage in my shed this video has me excited about taking it out and using it. I am going to try and use it this weekend. Thanks Trevor I'm stoked!!!
I just ordered my Apertura last night, I can't wait for it to arrive.
Update us when you get it and how everything goes
@@randomu22 It was delivered on time, had all the parts and was easy to assemble. I am a novice astronomer, but found the Apertura easy to maneuver. Spend most of the night looking at Jupiter and 4 moons and Saturn. The planet and rings were very clear.
@@GeofVasquez Thanks for letting me know I wanna buy a telescope but Im new to astronomy and trying to figure out which scope i should buy. I wanna start with a beginner scope however i still want good visual quality, would you say this telescope is worth it and can you view any galaxies with it?
@@randomu22 I assume you can, but have not tried. Only had it for a week and I am a novice like you.
@@randomu22 I can view pretty much whatever I point the the scope at through my 10 inch dob. Dark sky's help like a low light pollution area or if your in the city I suggest getting a light pollution filter, It will make viewing galaxy's and nebulae just a bit easier👍 This reply is probably too late but good luck🙂
My first telescope was an 8" Cave on an German equatorial mount bought in the later 1970s. About five or six years later I got a C-11. To me, though, the most important thing was joining a great astronomy club with many active observers. It didn't hurt that Al Nagler of Tele Vue was a member and was just starting to ramp up his business in the early 1980s. Imagine being able to be one of the first to try out his Nagler, Wide Field, Type 2, etc. eyepieces. Those were good times. I'd still recommend beginners to find an active club if they can even if they don't yet have a scope. Amateur astronomers love sharing the universe.
Love your videos keep it up.
Thanks man
I had a 6" Meade telescope in 2004 I can remember opening it at Christmas and crying lol I set it up and saw Jupiter and Saturn, I was completely blown away, and suddenly felt so small. I recognized my place in the universe. Times got tough and I had to sell it. But I've saved a bit of cash for a new one. I had my heart set on a an 8" or 10" Dobsonian but not sure now as I love photography & would love doing astrophotography but after watching all these awesome videos from AstroBackyard, I am not sure if that will be the right one for me.
Good production! Good content, good editing, good music. I like :)
I still remember my first time looking through a telescope. I was sharing a huge house with another twelve people and I found a refractor telescope lying on one of the living rooms. One of the guys said it was his, but has never used it. I couldn't believe it. So I took it, run upstairs and mounted it on the balcony. It didn't have the little tube to search, so I had to point it like if it was a rifle without sights, just aligning the length of the tube with the objective I had chosen, the brightest in the sky at that moment. And there it was, Jupiter in all it's glory, some tiny withe dots on both sides, and I could swear I was grasping the different bands,but with the chromatic aberration it was hard to tell. Boy I was excited!! Next, to the second brightest I could see from the balcony, and Bingo! Neptune!! With it's rings!!! I can't tell you how happy I was.
It's curious but there's people that, maybe because they do not understand the scale of the solar system and the universe, or maybe they're just a bit dead inside, but of twelve people that were there, just four decided that could be worth the effort to rise their ass from the couch and take a look, from those four just one of them was struck by the fact of watching planets with his own eyes, the other two reacted like if they were astrononers tired of seeing it everyday and went back to the couch, unmoved. The other guy and me spent a couple of hours that night looking through it. It was painful cause the tripod wasn't much stable and the mount wasn't equatorial, so you had to be adjusting it every minute and had to kneel to look through it but man what experience.
Now I would love to buy this one, but have no space were I'm living now, and the thing is bulky.
GREAT VIDEO! Very dedicated and inspirational man. Thank you.
I splurge once a year and buy myself something nice with a $1000 limit. Since price isn't an issue for me, would you recommend the AD12 (or 10) over the AD8? Any of these 3 are within my price range.
To be fair, virtually anything would be an improvement over the $25 walmart telescope I have now. I'll do more research and figure out the pro's and con's of the different models, but right now I'm under the impression that bigger is better, despite the increase in weight and cost. Still, any input would be appreciated.
Rasta Get the 12 inch dobsonian if portability isn’t an issue. The views will be better, higher resolution and more detail will show on fainter objects.
Trevor, did you notice the meteor? At 12.30 just a few seconds after pointing out Mars, just beside the roof a meteor fly's by. Great vid
wow thats sick. youre right!
That was just a reflection from the eaves. :D
It happens again as he pans the camera back to the left at 12:38 ish. Definitely a reflection unfortunately. It would have been cool if it was a meteor.
this is very inspiring, my wife bought me a cheap basic telescope, saw Saturn's rings, the moon and some blurry stars that was a universe. i think getting a Dobsonian reflector will be the way the to go. I got hooked to your channel, keep it up
16:10 Sabes que estás realmente enamorado de algo, cuando se te terminan las palabras para describirlo...
You know when you really love something, when you run out of words to describe it...
To let people know. The Apertura AD8 is back in stock at High Point Scientific. Yes it is pricey but well worth it.