Stargazing can be a rewarding hobby for adults and a fun, educational activity for children, but it does mean having to purchase a telescope for practical stargazing. Parents often hesitate to purchase a deluxe telescope due to concerns about breakage or their children losing interest quickly, and adults who are new to astronomy are also often concerned about investing a small fortune in a telescope right off the bat. Fortunately, it’s not necessary to spend a lot of money to have a good viewing experience with the Orion Observer 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope.
Very Sharp Images
The Orion Observer 70mm Altazimuth Refractor has a 70-millimeter aperture that allows for a large amount of light to pass through the telescope. This makes the telescope capable of providing very sharp images of objects that are not able to be seen with smaller telescopes, such as the Orion nebula, Jupiter and Saturn. Nearly all of the brightest objects in the night sky can be easily observed with the telescope.
Easy to Use
Because the Orion Observer 70mm Altazimuth Refractor is geared toward beginners, it is extremely easy to use, with the telescope’s altazimuth mount making it simple for users to target objects and track them in the night sky. To further simplify targeting, the telescope comes with an EZ Finder II. Weighing only 6.5 pounds the telescope is light enough for a child to hold securely, and even a kid can get the telescope positioned on its base with just a single snap. Once in place, the telescope can be adjusted for height, so that adults and children can use it comfortably.
Remarkably Good Optics
Despite its classification as an entry-level model, the Orion Observer 70mm Altazimuth Refractor has remarkably good optics, all of which are multi-coated to cut down on light dispersion and make images sharper, and color contrasts more pronounced. Furthermore, the focal length of 700 millimeters reduces distortion, which is a common problem with lightweight beginner’s telescopes. The features combine to allow users to get a good viewing experience without having to worry about focusing. The telescope is sold with two eyepieces: a 10-millimeter and a 25-millimeter, and most beginners will find that the accessories included fully meet their needs, eliminating the worry of having to purchase add-ons in order to use the telescope to the fullest. The model is backed by a 1-year warranty, which is about the norm for a telescope in this price range.
Final Thoughts
It’s important to keep in mind that the Orion Observer 70mm Altazimuth Refractor is considered to be a beginner’s telescope. Those who continue to observe the night sky will likely one day need to upgrade to a more expensive model in order to see other objects in the night sky and enjoy additional features, like being able to mount a camera onto their telescopes for astrophotography.
Still, for what it is, the Orion Observer 70mm Altazimuth Refractor Telescope is a solid choice, especially when you consider the fact that you can purchase one for well under $200. This telescope is highly recommended for children, families and adults who are completely new to astronomy.