XT10 Orion Dobsonian Telescope: Overview: the real deal

[carnagejc]

Thanks very much, this review is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for. My 18th is coming up soon so as a massive upgrade I'm gonna be begging for the XT10i which I believe is the same scope but with the computerized mount with it from the start. Anyway thanks again and I'll be checking out that channel. (Subscribed to you already)

[zxlp69]

Gave a lot of information in a short time.

[Echo4nineteen]

Thanks for posting this video. I just ordered a xt8i from Orion and can't wait to get my hands on it. Also loved the brucepeters channel . Thanks

[Raksonevs]

I've read about that the main mirror in these types (Newtonian) wear with time.

Whats the life expectancy on the mirror?

Is it even an issue?

[atlasdaddy]

@Raksonevs Wow! That's not an issue I ever considered. I have a friend that has had an XT8 for 9 years now and has had no problem at all. I would not expect to have a problem with the mirror so long as the tube cap is keep in place during storage and the scope is not dropped. I'll have to look into that. I do know that mirrors do break down over time but we are talking about 55-60 years time!

[Raksonevs]

@atlasdaddy Alrigt, thanks!

 Another thing I wondered about: The veritical turningpoint is quite low to the ground.

Is it sensitive to dirt?

I imagine a grain of sand on the friction surfaces would interfere when viewing,

Are there any such problems?

[atlasdaddy]

@Raksonevs Once again, I will have to say that is something that I never considered. I don't live in a dusty or sandy environment. The land around where I live is clay and granite. But I would imagine that in some places, that could be a concern.

[Raksonevs]

@atlasdaddy I see. Maybe I will buy one of these after christmas, we'll see. It bothers me a little bit that it is made in China. Not because of the quality, but because I think factories should remain elsewhere in the world too.

[darklord0568]

Awesome down to earth informative video!!! Thank you Sir.

[Szarella]

i have the xt10 intelliscope, its the best bang for the buck,

[kjgreen7]

i am thinking on getting an xt10 Orion dobsonian telescope but i never had a reflector telescope and i was wonder about is it easy to collimate it and does the mirror get scratched and dusty and if it does then what do ya do. Thanks!

[atlasdaddy]

@kjgreen7 This scope is very easy to maintain. No, the mirror does not scratch easy unless you take the scope apart and it is very east to collimate if you have a few minutes as Orion provides all the necessary equipment to do so.

[chichimus]

thanks for the video. I an tossing about betwixt the XT10 or XT8. I fortunately have moved to a very dark part of the world (can be cold though!) so am reviving an interest I had in astronomy as a kid.

[lurion]

I'm decided on this scope to upgrade from my 4,5 inch Schmidt Newtonian. This video made my day! Thanks!

[atlasdaddy]

@lurion Your welcome. Good luck and clear skies!

[Sangor]

Many thanks for such a brilliant video. I've yet to get a telescope, but this video answered so many questions for me that I had to post just to say thank you.

[atlasdaddy]

@Sangor You are very welcome. Thank you.

[spammage84]

He showed the parallax effect on his fridge!

[CircuitzWoW]

very helpful thank you.

[uppal30]

@atlasdaddy Hello and thank you for the brilliant video. I'm turning 18 in a few month and I'm planning on getting my first scope, the XT10 being my choice at the moment. I was wandering with the standard stuff you're given with the scope how well can you see Jupiter? Is it clear? Is it big or small? Also are you able to see Saturns rings clearly? Thanks for your help kind regards Sunny.

[atlasdaddy]

@uppal30 The answer to your question is "Yes". All though, clarity and detail of what you see depends largely on your depth of magnification and atmospheric conditions. The standard for this scope, as far as lenses go, is a 25mm. That will give you about 48x magnification. I bought this scope with a Barlow. I would recommend doing that as it will take you to 96x mag. I hope this helps and good luck. I know that I have certainly enjoyed every moment I have spent looking at the stars.

[djC653]

Love the video. Great job.

I checked out Brucepeter2007's channel and you're

right, what an awesome speaker.

[atlasdaddy]

@djC653 Glad you liked it. I learned a lot from him. Clear skies.

[SaturnAndItsRings]

Nice scope and video!

[atlasdaddy]

@SaturnAndItsRings Thank you.

[TakeitEasystudios]

Thanks!

you really helped me make my decision!

[atlasdaddy]

@TakeitEasystudios Glad I could help.

[hoax1210au]

Has anyone told you that you sound like Elvis?.

Elvis is back and he likes Dobsonian telescopes

[atlasdaddy]

@hoax1210au Why, thank you, thank you very much.

[atlasdaddy]

Respond to this video... Your the first.

[Eldeeff]

Would you recommend this as a beginner? I'm interested in grabbing a telescope. Might be better to go with a <$100 scope, but I figured if I'm going to learn anyway, why not just learn on a decent one?

[atlasdaddy]

@Eldeeff You'll get what you pay for. I bought the Orion because I wanted the most scope for the least amount of money. So, yea, I would recommend this to a beginner. You'll be using it like a pro in no time and wanting bigger. Good luck.

[atlasdaddy]

@Eldeeff I would.

[mastersonkev1]

I'm on the fence between getting an xt8 vs the xt10. My main point of uncertainty is the difference in f/ratio (5.9 for the xt8 vs 4.7 for the xt10). I read that collimation is harder on shorter f/ratio scopes.

Do you find it hard to accurately collimate the xt10?

Also, how well do you see the planets, any coma or noticeable aberrations?

Finally, how long do you usually have to wait for the mirror to cool down?

Thanks in advance.

[atlasdaddy]

The XT10 would be and is the way I would go if I had it to do all over again. Collimation of this scope is not hard at all. In fact, the most difficult thing about this scope is moving it around. With that point, I guess the XT8 would be a little better as it is lighter and smaller in size. Plants, stars, nebula, ect. all show excellently with this scope. Of course, that has a lot to do with the lenses I use too. No problem with coma but you will see some diffraction spikes with stars.

[mastersonkev1]

@atlasdaddy What's so great about the eyepieces you use? I'm planning on getting the Orion Sirius Plossl eyepieces, do you know if they are of good quality?

[acasasc]

@mastersonkev1 Have you ever thought in getting a Zhumell Dob? For about the same price you get an optical system of equal quality but much better equipped, for instance, you get a much better focuser (dual speed), a much better finderscope, a cooling fan, an outstandingly smooth bearing system, better eyepieces and collimation laser! I got myself an 8" Zhumell and now Im going for the 10 incher. This is just a recommendation to a fellow astronomer, it really doesnt matter what you buy :)

[mastersonkev1]

@acasasc Problem is I stay in South Africa, and availability is limited. The only dobs I've seen on the market at the moment is Orion, Sky-Watcher and Meade. Orion works out the cheapest.

[atlasdaddy]

@mastersonkev1 Orion is the best company I have worked with so far. Try ebay and buy a used one to start with like I did.



[atlasdaddy]

@acasasc Your the first. Please, let me know more.

[atlasdaddy]

@mastersonkev1 I wait for the mirror to cool in the winter time about 25-40 minutes. Summer, about, 5-10.

[kennyb010]

Ok I feel a little dumb after posting my last comment. After doing the simple math you explained a 13mm gives you more magnification than a 25mm would. lol So, I guess that's where the difference comes in.

[atlasdaddy]

@kennyb010 LOL! I answered your last question before I read this one and please don't feel stupid. If there is anything else I can help you with, please let me know. If your question is something I can answer then I will. If not I will find someone who can. Peace and clear sky's!

[kennyb010]

So the eye piece makes the difference in the clarity and "distance" I guess you could say that you can see objects? I saw a video of a guy that had a televue 13mm ethos that had an amazing image of the moon ,but this scope comes with a 25mm. That's the part that gets confusing to me. Especially since I googled that ethos eye piece and it costs almost as much as the scope itself.

[atlasdaddy]

@kennyb010 Good question! I hope this helps. My XT10 Orion has a focal length of 1200mm. The eyepiece I am using is a 25mm. The formula to find the magnification is as follows: Focal length of the scope divided by focal length of the lens equals magnification. In other words: 1200/25=48 So a 25mm lens will give me 48x magnification with this particular scope. If another scope has a focal length of 2400mm then the same 25mm lens will give you a magnification of 96x. Did that help?

[Edsan91]

Wooo :D What a beauty :) Great scope!

[atlasdaddy]

@Edsan91 Thank you.

[atlasdaddy]

@Edsan91 Thank you.

[ParaglidingManiac]

I can't find a place to order a classic XT10 :( Can you help me, please? (international shipping)

[atlasdaddy]

@ParaglidingManiac Go to the Orion website. They have a vast selection of scopes including the XT10.

[brucepeter2007]

You have the same passion for astronomy as I have - you will pass that passion onto others and that will always make you smile...

Clear sky always.

Peter Bruce. (Brucepeter2007)

[atlasdaddy]

@brucepeter2007 Sorry for twisting you name. Your words have been most valuable to me. Take care of yourself Mr. Bruce. atlasdaddy/Christopher