Orion SkyQuest XT4.5

The SkyQuest XT4.5 is an excellent telescope, equipped with top-class technology, yet has an ergonomic design suitable for kids and grownups alike.

To start with, its optical efficiency is far better than the feeble telescopes you purchase from shops around. The inbuilt reflector mirror inside a steel core tube inside the model has an aperture of 114mm (around 4.5″), a focus length of 910mm and absorbs more than 260% sunlight, when compared to models with a focus of 55mm, thus enabling you to view celestial bodies with increased luminance. It includes 2 eyepieces for enhanced viewing and has a sturdy mount base with a knob for comfortable revolving.

With the 114mm aperture and the extraordinaire 910mm focal length design of the Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian Telescope, there can be absolutely nothing you can miss in the night sky using this device. Also, the telescope is fitted with navigation knobs for easy handling and maneuverability. The only cause of complaint (from professionals, not amateurs) is that the mirrors are spherical and not parabolic in which case, light absorption becomes a tad lower.

Contains a number of accessories that aid you in watching the sky

Apart from the robust design (minus a few plastic constructions), you can avail of a multitude of attachments to make stargazing more fun and comfortable. The primary mirror is accessorized with two eyepieces of focal length 10mm and 25mm; such that you obtain crisper, sharper and better contrasted views of heavenly bodies and planets. The pack also contains a 6 x 30 finder scope lens, 1.25″ rack and pinion focusing lens, collimation caps, a rack, Starry Night astronomy software and much more, which might come in handy of you don´t have a Sky map.

Has the remarkable Viewfinder Application

For novices who know absolutely nothing about the night-sky, this Application can be quite beneficial. You will need to overlook certain introductory hiccups when trying to calibrate the Viewfinder to the sky as seen from your place; but after that, the red pointer on screen (read- lens) will help you locate planetary features, the lunar surface craters and much more.

Portable, sturdy and ergonomic in nature

The Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian Telescope is portable, easily manageable and at less than 22 pounds (9.9 kg), can easily be lifted up and mounted on the terrace or on the backyard. But few customers have reported that the initial assembly of the shipped components takes a lot of time. The telescope base is durable and sturdy yet comfortable and aides in the smooth maneuvering of the telescope.

Certain Drawbacks of the model: The only glitch in the design is that the eyepiece is located at a really low height; making things difficult for an adult to see through it. However, it is ideal for kids and is thus, recommended as an ‘ideal children’s telescope’. There is no computer syncing capability in this telescope. With limited diffraction and imaging quality, the sharpest images seen are shots from the moon. Farther than that, you may get distortion proportional to the distance of the object.

The Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian Telescope: Quick Take -

The Pros:

• Optical-Mechanical design above par
• Comes with a lot of handy accessories
• Powerful lens
• Has the Viewfinder App
• Contains a software astronomic design

The Cons:

• Assembly takes time
• Short height of the eyepiece
• Plastic construction in places
• Superlative Optical and Mechanical Design

The Verdict:

With exquisite optical and design features, comfortable handling and made-to-order simple controls and navigation, the Orion SkyQuest XT4.5 Classic Dobsonian Telescope is definitely here to stay as one of the best telescopes for amateurs and children.