There have been some major changes to the Dobsonian Orion telescopes. They have redesigned the cast-aluminum cell to provide more ventilation which will reduce cool down time. They have also center marked the mirror for easy collimation.
Also improved was their focuser to the new 2″ aluminum rack-and-pinion which will fit both 2″ and 1.25″ eyepieces. Now if the improvements aren’t enough, orion has also lowered the price from $499 to $429, making these Orion telescopes excellent value.
With the larger aperture, the viewing from this Dobsonian won’t let you down. If you have been reading my other reviews on the Dobsonian you will know that I am a fan of this type of telescope.
The reason being is that you will get more aperture per dollar than any other telescope, and its simplicity in design and use. If you want to know the difference between Magnification (which you may hear some say is important) and aperture read my page on Telescopes-Myths and Misconceptions.
I have owned many Dobs over my 20+ years of astronomy and still get a kick out of showing them off at star parties. The superior viewing you will get from the Dob will keep you happy for many years.
Planetary viewing is excellent, I was viewing Mars last night under very clear sky and could see a lot of detail. Viewing Saturn and Jupiter was also excellent.
You can clearly see 3 cloud bands on Jupiter and if you’re viewing at the right time you will also catch sight of the great red spot. You can also see some color in Jupiter. Both planetary and lunar views are crisp, clear, and well defined.
Deep sky viewing is also a treat with the 8″ Dob. You can view Nebulae, Galaxies, star Clusters and an array of celestial objects that will keep you very busy.
These are easy to operate Orion telescopes, and the only problem I found with the Dob is the placement of the handle you use to carry it which has been poorly aligned to the telescope. When you pick it up the tube will swing upwards.
The navigation knob at the top of the tube, which you use to position the telescope, is an excellent idea.
Orion Telescopes Recommendation
This is a great telescope for the beginner or intermediate user and for anyone on a budget who wants the large aperture. The redesigning and excellent optics, in my opinion has made this one of best Dobsonian telescopes you can buy.
You are getting value for money with these Orion telescopes and with the price drop even more so.
I highly recommend the Dobsonian Orion telescopes. You will find this along with a large selection of orion telescopes at CatalogCity.
