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Ships from: Orion Telescopes & Binoculars Sold by: Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
Orion Observer 114mm Equatorial Reflector Telescope for Adults & Families - Quality Telescope for Astronomy Beginners to View Moon, Planets & Stars
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | Orion |
Optical Tube Length | 18.4 Inches |
Eye Piece Lens Description | Plossl |
Objective Lens Diameter | 114 Millimeters |
Telescope Mount Description | Equatorial Mount |
Focus Type | Manual Focus |
Finderscope | Reflex |
Item Weight | 16 Pounds |
Lens Coating Description | Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide |
About this item
- This wonderfully capable equatorial reflector telescope gives beginning stargazers an exciting look at the many jewels of the night sky
- Its 114mm (4.5") parabolic mirror and 500mm focal length provide sharp, wide-field views of the lunar surface, Saturn's rings, and deep-sky gems like the Lagoon and Orion nebulas and the Andromeda galaxy
- The sturdy EQ3-class equatorial mount and aluminum tripod is a big upgrade from the mounts that comparable telescopes on the market come with
- Two quality 1.25" Plossl eyepieces are included: a 25mm for low-power views at 20x, and a 10mm for getting in tight at 50x. You also get a "red dot" finder scope.
- Highly portable: the optical tube can be removed from the mount quickly via the dovetail mounting system and carried separately.
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From the brand
Product Description
Best for viewing | Brighter deep sky |
Optical design | Reflector |
Optical diameter | 114mm |
Focal length | 500mm |
Focal ratio | f/4.4 |
Eyepieces | Plossl 25.0mm,10.0mm (1.25" |
Magnification with eyepieces | 20x, 50 |
Resolving power | 1.02arc*sec |
Lowest useful magnification | 16x |
Highest useful magnification | 228x |
Finder scope | Reflex sight |
Focuser | 1.25" Rack-and-pinion |
Mount type | Equatorial |
Tripod material | Aluminum |
Height range of mount | 37.50 in. - 69.50 in. |
Weight, fully assembled | 16.1 lbs |
Things that can end up discouraging first-time telescope users: small aperture severely limits what you can see, a wimpy mount makes the image shaky, and cheap eyepieces make the image blurry. Well lucky for you, none of those problems apply to the Orion Observer 114mm EQ Reflector telescope.
This family friendly telescope boasts a big 114mm (4.5") parabolic primary mirror, which collects some two and a half times more light than a 60mm refractor, the most ubiquitous "starter" telescope. That means you'll see more celestial objects and in greater detail. The mirror's 500mm focal length serves up a wide field of view, delivering bright, sharp images of the lunar surface, Saturn's rings, and deep-sky denizens like the Lagoon and Orion nebulas and the Andromeda galaxy.
Unlike most similarly sized telescopes on the market, the Observer 114mm EQ Reflector includes a beefy EQ3-class equatorial mount rather than the less robust EQ1 mount. This means you'll enjoy steadier images. With its dovetail mounting saddle, you can pop the optical tube on or off quickly, for easy setup and transport. The optical tube is held in a pair of tube rings, which can be quickly loosened to allow you to rotate the tube for comfortable focuser orientation. Dual slow-motion cables let you track objects manually to keep them centered in the eyepiece.Speaking of eyepieces, two quality 1.25" Plossl eyepieces are included-another upgrade from the typical eyepieces supplied with most starter telescopes. A 25mm Plossl provides low-power views at 20x, and a 10mm gets in tight at 50x. Both eyepieces feature multi-coatings for great light transmission and are threaded for optional Orion filters. The 1.25" rack and pinion focuser lets you dial in the perfect focus. A non-magnifying "red dot" finder scope is also included to help you locate your target object.The whole setup weighs just over 16 lbs., so it's a breeze to carry out to the back yard when the stars come out.
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This Item Orion Observer 114mm Equatorial Reflector Telescope for Adults & Families - Quality Telescope for Astronomy Beginners to View Moon, Planets & Stars | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
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Price | $179.99$179.99 | $129.99$129.99 | $129.99$129.99 | $159.99$159.99 | $239.99$239.99 | -8% $146.99$146.99 List: $159.99 |
Delivery | Get it Apr 4 - 5 | Get it Apr 4 - 5 | — | — | — | — |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
For beginners | 4.5 | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.6 | — |
Value for money | 5.0 | — | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.4 | — |
Portability | 4.1 | 3.6 | — | 4.6 | 4.7 | — |
Easy to assemble | 4.0 | 3.8 | 4.0 | — | 5.0 | — |
Easy to use | — | 3.5 | — | 4.6 | 4.5 | — |
Sold By | Orion Telescopes & Binoculars | Orion Telescopes & Binoculars | Orion Telescopes & Binoculars | Celestron Direct | Celestron Direct | Orion Telescopes & Binoculars |
focus type | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus |
eye piece lens | Plossl | Kellner | Kellner | — | — | Barlow |
objective lens diameter | 114 millimeters | 76 millimeters | 80 millimeters | 100 millimeters | 114 millimeters | — |
telescope mount | Equatorial Mount | Equatorial Mount | Equatorial Mount | Altazimuth Mount | Altazimuth Mount | Tabletop Alt-Az |
lens coating | Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide | Coated | — | — | — | Aluminum & Silicon Dioxide |
weight | 16 pounds | 18.88 pounds | 10 pounds | 5.25 pounds | 9.85 pounds | — |
Looking for specific info?
Product information
Product Dimensions | 30 x 18 x 10 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 16 pounds |
ASIN | B09ND6ZD31 |
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #359 in Camera & Photo Products (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo Products) #11 in Telescope Reflectors |
Date First Available | November 1, 2003 |
Manufacturer | Orion |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the eyepieces and lenses that come with the telescope. They say the viewing experience is rewarding and fun. They are also happy with the value, quality, and image quality. However, some customers have reported issues with the wobbly mount and finder scope. Opinions are mixed on the build quality and ease of use.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the value of the telescope. They mention that it is worth the budget price, has good quality, and is an inexpensive start into the hobby. Some say that it's an awesome first telescope.
"...I am going to do that to see if it makes any difference as they are cheap and worth a try, but again, not really required to enjoy this scope...." Read more
"...But I think it's still worth the budget price. The image quality is pretty good...." Read more
"Surprisingly good quality for the price. Scope is well built with good quality optics. Included eyepieces are great...." Read more
"This is by far the best "budget" telescope on the market. Buy it before they realize they can charge more for it...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the quality of the telescope. They mention that it gives bright and detailed views of Jupiter and Saturn. They also say that it excels in bright deep sky objects and is worth buying.
"...Overall this is a good telescope and worth buying. I would recommend to a friend" Read more
"...I was able to find Jupiter and Mars with it, and the moon is absolutely stunning when viewed through it...." Read more
"...like they are leaning towards large deep sky objects, the moon is obviously pretty good but that goes for nearly any scope, I think a Barlow is..." Read more
"...The scope excels in bright deep sky objects and the included 25mm is very comfortable to use for wide field views...." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the eyepieces and lenses that come with the telescope. They mention that they are great and crisp.
"...Scope is well built with good quality optics. Included eyepieces are great...." Read more
"...The included eyepieces are very good and the 10mm has become my main planetary lens due to the ammount of detail..." Read more
"...It’s crisp.The lenses that came with it are great, I also ordered a 6mm and a 2x Barlow...." Read more
"First scope and I did my homework. Good with eyepieces in the box, Better with upgraded 15mm and a 2X Barlow...." Read more
Customers find the telescope to be fun and rewarding. They also say it's a nice telescope for new learners and has good extension.
"...with the 2X and 10mm = 5mm but big enough to make the viewing experience quite rewarding and not too high of magnification to make it impossible to..." Read more
"...It does have good extention though. A person over 6ft tall wouldn't have to break their back trying to use it. It can go over that height by far...." Read more
"...I've had it for about three weeks and this telescope has been lots of fun...." Read more
"Nice telescope for new learner..." Read more
Customers are satisfied with the image quality of the telescope. They mention that it produces great images, very crisp, and clear views.
"...But I think it's still worth the budget price. The image quality is pretty good...." Read more
"...Super clear views. I bought a 2x barlow lens, laser collimator, moon filter and a 6mm lens. I seem to use the supplied 10mm the most...." Read more
"...It’s crisp.The lenses that came with it are great, I also ordered a 6mm and a 2x Barlow...." Read more
"Great images!..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the build quality of the telescope. Some mention that it's well built with good quality optics, the mount and tripod are solid, and the eyepieces are good quality. However, others say that it is cheaply made and the focuser is made of plastic.
"...The fit and finish was good for the price. The base was pretty sturdy so far. Assembly went by the instructions...." Read more
"...The eyepieces are good quality, but I still recommend investing in more high quality eyepieces to expand the capabilities of the scope...." Read more
"...This one is super cheap and easily knocked out of alignment but it is workable if you just keep checking the alignment every so often...." Read more
"...Included eyepieces are great. I really have found the mount and tripod to be rather solid even at high magnification,contrary to what some other..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use of the telescope. Some mention it's way easier than they think, great for beginners, and has a nice explanation about how to find north without Polaris visible. However, others say that there are no clear instructions on the manual, it'd be confusing to navigate with at first, and that the difficulty level when putting it together and using it is high.
"...It's way easier than you think...." Read more
"Instruction print out was a bit generic, and print was on the light side…However, the reviews were correct in most aspects...." Read more
"Nice price for Christmas. It is easy for new learner like me. Small Than i think. But It still easy to run." Read more
"This telescope is great for only 150 dollars, took 10 minutes to setup and it was ready to go also easy to disassemble and transport...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the mount of the telescope. They mention that it wobbles, the finder scope is difficult to secure tightly, and there is a lot of shake when focusing. That said, some say the mount could be of higher quality.
"...But again, be warned, there is a lot of shake when focusing when go to to higher magnification that the stock 10mm eyepiece which is 65X - great for..." Read more
"...I do think the mount could be of higher quality, specifically tighter tolerances so there's no movement between components and it was a little more..." Read more
"...Lastly the included tripod isn't the best and the scope gets wobbly when focusing at high mag but its to be expected at this price...." Read more
"...Wobbly mount, but I here there are things to try, and you could buy a good mount and keep using this scope...." Read more
Reviews with images
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First off, this uses an Equatorial EQ3 mount which is typically not the type of mount recommended for beginners as it is more complex to use than an Alt/Amz tripod mount like you use for a camera or a Dobsonian table top or ground mount which is the easiest. But I wanted to learn to use one and more easily track moving objects in the sky. I will say that this is a cheap EQ3 mount so some might consider it more on-par with an EQ2. However it is pretty beefy and heavy and this scope is relatively small and light so it's very stable except when you are focusing at really high magnification. Plus you can mount a motor for computerized targeting later if you want.
This mount is much more substantial than what the EQ1 mount the Starblast 4.5 comes with however the Starblast scope itself is a small upgrade from this scope. The spider may have 4 arms instead of 3 but they are thinner (doesn't make a big difference but worth noting), the finder scope is of marginal better quality, and the focuser may be slightly better. So the trade-off is you get a much better mount with this scope than the Starblast, with some minor downgrades on the scope that in my opinion don't make a big difference in a beginner's experience using it. In fact it's the opposite. A more stable mount is going to be better for the beginner. Some say this is essentially the newer slightly improved version of the Orion Spaceprobe 130ST (which has an EQ2)mount) but with both 114mm and 130mm options.
I use the tripod without being extended and it's the perfect height for sitting and viewing. When using large magnification like 75X-125X, there is quite a bit of shake so for the beginner that may not be patient, since the focuser doesn't have a super fine adjustment, this may be frustrating. I had no problem though all the way down to a 5mm eyepiece focusing. Just have to loosen the tensioner screws on the focuser so it moves a little more easily and adjust, wait for shake to stop and then adjust again. I can usually get the focus in 1-3 tries.
The worst thing about this and the 130mm version of this scope is the finder scope is almost worthless. This one is super cheap and easily knocked out of alignment but it is workable if you just keep checking the alignment every so often. The 130mm you need to put a little padding under the front of the finder scope mount. Best advice from more experienced people is to get a Telrad finder (they are about $50). I don't think it's necessary on a 500mm focal length scope like this but might be worth it on the 130mm. You can transfer the Telrad to a better scope though in the future by buying another mount with the stick tape on it. So if you have a lot of frustration using the stock finder scope, the Telrad finder will get rid of your frustration. Also, you could invest in vibration pads to go under the Tripod. I am going to do that to see if it makes any difference as they are cheap and worth a try, but again, not really required to enjoy this scope.
I would highly recommend putting a little blue Loctite on the tiny screws that attach the fine movement knobs. They eventually come loose but are easy to retighten. A little blue Loctite puts that issue out of mind.
What I like about this scope is that the mount is just beefy enough in my opinion to support up to a 150mm wide scope. So if I get a 130-150mm later I don't need a new mount. Still it's a mediocre mount obviously because of the low price but it works! But a high quality EQ3 mount tripod is going to run you like at least 3 times the price of this whole package.
The other thing I really like about this scope is the size. I can open my sliding glass door and pick it up with tripod and walk outside without banging the scope. Anything larger than this, you probably want to move the scope and tripod outside separately (the 130mm is probably borderline.) Being only 18.5 inches long you could easily put this in a small duffel bag or medium size backpack.
I would at minimum recommend getting a 2X Svbony barlow with this to double magnification of the eyepieces. You will need to use the 2X with the 10mm to get a decent view of the planets like Saturn, otherwise they are really tiny. They are still small with the 2X and 10mm = 5mm but big enough to make the viewing experience quite rewarding and not too high of magnification to make it impossible to focus at 100X magnification. The Svbony 7-21mm zoom piece is also a good value and makes focusing easier without having to change eyepieces. But again, be warned, there is a lot of shake when focusing when go to to higher magnification that the stock 10mm eyepiece which is 65X - great for the moon and other larger field stuff but under-magnified for decent planetary observations.
By far the best thing about this scope is the value. You can get enjoyment from it for very little money and use the money saved to invest in a more expensive setup later and keep any extra eyepieces you bought for it.
I would say overall this scope is good for an Adult Beginner not wanting to invest a lot of money that will take the time and have the patience to learn how to use the scope properly. If you are impatient and/or don't want to do a little studying about using an EQ mount or are buying for a kid, I'd go with a table-top Dobsonian instead.
However, the reviews were correct in most aspects. The fit and finish was good for the price. The base was pretty sturdy so far. Assembly went by the instructions. Was pleasantly surprised that the spotting scope’s fit and adjustment went well. I checked the fitting surfaces for burrs and flash and found none to interfere with adjustment. I installed it with the adjustment ring screws biased to compensate for reported errors, and had to center it back more or less. I used a power pole a block or two away as a focus point to get in the ballpark- upside down and bassackwards as expected. I didn’t need any foam, shims, or washers to make it work! Didn’t have to get a new spotter as I was led to expect. The instructions also had a nice explanation about how to find north without Polaris visible. With a wall, light pollution, and Murphy or Murray in charge of cloud cover all conspiring to make alignment an adventure- that was a welcome addition. Now, I need a night that clear, no clouds, not freezing, or 🌧…
Weather was great until I got the scope! See pics re spotter scope mounting & alignment.
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2024
However, the reviews were correct in most aspects. The fit and finish was good for the price. The base was pretty sturdy so far. Assembly went by the instructions. Was pleasantly surprised that the spotting scope’s fit and adjustment went well. I checked the fitting surfaces for burrs and flash and found none to interfere with adjustment. I installed it with the adjustment ring screws biased to compensate for reported errors, and had to center it back more or less. I used a power pole a block or two away as a focus point to get in the ballpark- upside down and bassackwards as expected. I didn’t need any foam, shims, or washers to make it work! Didn’t have to get a new spotter as I was led to expect. The instructions also had a nice explanation about how to find north without Polaris visible. With a wall, light pollution, and Murphy or Murray in charge of cloud cover all conspiring to make alignment an adventure- that was a welcome addition. Now, I need a night that clear, no clouds, not freezing, or 🌧…
Weather was great until I got the scope! See pics re spotter scope mounting & alignment.
Top reviews from other countries
Reviewed in Mexico on October 17, 2023