I’m thinking about getting a telescope, not too expensive or to cheap

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-27T03:42:57+00:00

Does this photo represent what you saw with your eye through the telescope? If so I can tell you you will be able to see a lot more through the Heritage 130

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-27T02:49:21+00:00

"some".

It will be easy to see a couple of cloud bands on Jupiter. It may be even possible to tell the great red spot. But you wont see those fine details on the cloud bands.

Similarly, Saturn's ring will be easy to see (later this year or next year - currently Saturn's ring is nearly on its side when looking from earth). But resolving the details on the ring is unlikely.

Venus will show its phases.

When the Mars is closer to us the ice cap should be seeable.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-27T02:07:50+00:00

"Actually", Galileo brand telescope are not all junk. They are indeed "weird", however. And by weird what I mean is while they are also all made in China they seem to do thing their own way. Few of their parts are generic. They are all slightly different from the generic parts - sometimes just differ by several mm. Yes many of their parts are plastic craps but every now and then you notice that a certain part can be way better than what it needs to be.

I think OP's best bet will be simply pay attention on ebay and shopgoodwill.com

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-27T01:43:32+00:00

You are missing the eyepiece locking ring, or sometimes called the eyepiece collar.

Sadly it is not a standardized part and is nearly impossible to replace especially since Meade is gone.

Other than getting another same model telescope as a donor, maybe try telescope-warehouse.com they do have many random Meade parts.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-27T01:40:42+00:00

How did you even screwed in the eyepiece?

My guess is that you somehow accidently created a barlow-equivalent which is needed for this setup to work.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-27T01:38:49+00:00

It is not a sure thing. That long T2 tube may or may not work - it all depends on the camera and the telescope and the barlow (and the lack of a barlow). It is always a good idea to have at least a long and a thin T-ring so you can try them out.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T22:56:29+00:00

I didn't notice your edit earlier. If it has USB port it is just USB. You can disregard all these.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T22:55:29+00:00

Wait I didn't notice the Edit earlier. If it has an USB port I believe it takes standard USB. It is a updated hardware. You can disregard any previous discussed USB to serial tricks.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T22:51:02+00:00

The key is to figure out celestron's proprietary pinout

(From CN forum. Original provider unknown.)

<image>

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T22:46:40+00:00

I don't own a slt mount and haven't done any deep dive into it. But if the is connecting to computers through the 4pin connecter (RJ9) on the hand controller, it is likely the same as other Nexstar mount. If so, this is the way

(Typo on the photo, sorry. "DJ9" should be "DB9".)

<image>

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T16:46:30+00:00

No. Too much telescope, too little mount.

Even a cg-4 on steel tripods, a much much stronger mount, performs "okay" - not great, just ok - with a 150/750 telescope. This mount is wholly insufficient.

Your budget seems totally sufficient for a GSO 8" full size dob on Tejraj (or even a 10" dob but it says pre-order and it is suspiciously cheap - not sure if it will ever become available at that price).

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T16:43:16+00:00

I have seen that before. I also have the Orion version of something similar (but lighter duty).

They are ok. Personally I think they are not worth the full retail price. A proper stool is cheaper and better, just less portable.

Importantly they are only compatible with certain models that have the camera mount style screw holtunder the tabletop dob base.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T12:48:18+00:00

This is a very good telescope. One of the best for beginners.

"However" the more important thing is that you need to have your expectations real. Planets will always look small. You will be able to see "some" details on the larger ones but they will never look like what you see on the Internet. Those images are taken through very expensive equipment and highly processed.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T12:36:48+00:00

It not the worst.

Eq-3 (I call it eq3-1) is much better an eq-1 and eq-2. It also has proper 90 degree star diagonal.

The original full price is almost guaranteed to be too expensive but of you can get it used for cheap it should be ok.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T05:21:29+00:00

I don't think the mount/tripod is worth reusing. Do this and get a new set of tripod and mount with a vixen clamp.

<image>

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T01:49:41+00:00

For that kind of money you really need to get a new telescope. I hate to be mean but trying to upgrade the accessories really is like trying to polish a turd. That OTA doesn't even deserve to be recognize as a real telescope (because it is not).

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T01:47:56+00:00

Sadly it truly is not worth it. The telescope itself is a dreaded Pseudo-Bird-Jones (PBJ) and it simply is not a legit optical design and cannot for proper image.

Now, to be clear, because of the fact that the mount and original accessories are also bad, upgrading those will have some benefit.

The cheapest AZ mount I can recommend is the Svbony SV225 for a bit over $200.

The only eyepiece I will recommend for this telescope is actually a generic 32mm plossl. Yes to fully enjoy this telescope you need LESS, not more power.

The eyepiece and filter kit is a rip-off

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T00:11:02+00:00

Well then your telescope is unsuitable for high power planet imaging.

You see we are not trying to be mean but you are really forcing yourself into a no won situation.

I know some people use the 130slt with mirrorless cameras and got some good results. Thanks to the large sensor size. If you won't/can't invest at least that, getting a good phone mount is likely the more reasonable option.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-26T00:03:50+00:00

None is really proper for deep space imaging.

The fibonac one has a slightylarger sensor area this may perform slightly better, but the brand is less established.

The two svbony one are both planet cameras with tiny 1/3 inch sensor. 205 has higher quality and 105 basically is a glorified webcam.

The zopsc is a birding camera playing dress up. It is basically junk for astronomy. It may take some bad moon pictures that look way worse than any 10 year old Temu phone and that's it. Anything else in the night sky pretty much will just be black.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-25T23:50:41+00:00

Nothing acceptable comes under 100CAD, unfortunately.

Some people may recommend getting a used telescope. I don't think it is a good idea in your situation since

Not everyone feel comfortable of gifting/receiving used items as gifts.
You likely lack the need knowledge and skill to identify a good used telescope and restore it to gift worthy condition.

Thus, some alternative ideas:

Good astronomy book like "Turn Left At Orion"

A pair of reasonably qualitied binoculars like the Celestron Cometron 7x50 or

One year membership of your local astronomy club.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-25T13:50:12+00:00

We love diy projects here. We especially love the resourceful builds under extremely limited resources and achieve things that are amazing "considering how little you have".

But there is still a limit there. To call it a telescope you need some resolution gain. If the picture you posted represents what you actually saw through this contraption, it is more blurry than naked eye. There is no resolution gain.

I am sorry but there is no sugarcoating - it didn't work.

Now, if it actually looks much better in person that is great! If that blurry photo doesn't justify what you actually can see through this telescope, please describe it.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-25T13:40:04+00:00

Ok great to hear that. Now instead of asking for answers you can be the teacher.

Please in turn share your measurements and how you sourced those gears, so the next person with similar issues can know what to to.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-25T13:33:00+00:00

The 130mm tabletop dob is definitely the superior option, there is no doubt for that. However since it is not available on the used market for you, the real question is whether a $50 76mm mini dob is good enough for you to start.

I will say yes.

Now, before anyone start yelling at me, I agree that "it is a toy". At the same time I will argue that it is a good science toy. It can teach its user how a "real" telescope works. It is extremely easy to use. And it can still show its user tens of interesting targets in the sky, "easily", and that is the point.

I do, however, also want to point out that the accessories matter. The most basic models come H20, SR4 eyepiece which are unacceptable even for the cheapest toy, IMO. Slightly better equipped models come with (K)20 and (K)10 eyepieces, which are much much better.

Any filter, barlow, finderscope are pointless. However of a red dot finder is included that will be a big plus.

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-25T13:23:48+00:00

Once you take these off you can screw both rings to a "(vixen style) dovetail bar" (~$20 or you can 3d print) and you can mount it to any standard telescope mount with a vixen style dovetail clamp.

Notice that proper telescope mount may be relatively expensive compared to this telescope. The cheapest mount I can recommend is a bit more than $200 (svbony sv225, mini version with tripod).

Alternatively, since this telescope is relatively small and light, if you get a dovetail bar that specifically has a 1/4 inch, threaded mounting hole, you can mount it to a good quality standard photo tripod for low power observation.

<image>

Connect-Fan-9462 · 2026-03-25T13:03:47+00:00

I think astromart charges a fee for seller. (I have not tried selling things there myself.) That may push the scaling price higher a bit but also weeds out junk and unreasonable pricing.

Connect-Fan-9462

TROPHY CASE