Top Tips To Improve a Entry-Level Telescope 

This channel has served as my astronomer's bible, everything is explained clearly and useful tips are always provided that aren't really apparent to me as a beginner

Very good straight advice. Aperture shroud of posterboard, check Adding weight to tripod (pail of sand) off center hub and bags of shot taped to the legs, check Painting or taping the locking knobs and adjustment wheels white or glow in the dark, check Buying plossl eyepieces, check Shimming loose fittings, check Adjusting all tensions, check Did all that my first year of adult astronomy...and I'm still with it for many years now.

I am a newbie ...I learned more practical info in 3 videos from small optics than all the other videos i have ever watched. GREAT JOB !!!!!!

14:48 In camera terms we call that cardboard tube extension as "HOOD", same hood we place in front of our lenses to reduce if not, totally remove glare from creeping in our photos. Glare is the number one cause of low contrasts in images because stray light overpowers the details of an image. Nice tip!

You deserve more subs and support from yt (monetization) and I watch the whole vid, so you can have 4k watch hours for monetization and cause their interesting and useful and keep up the great work 👍

Thanks for all the help!

Great advice. Thank you!

Great advice here. Another mentionable upgrade would be the finder scope. Having a good finder will help immensely in locating your target, especially when star hopping. Living in Las Vegas I deal with heavy light pollution, I’m gonna try the light shroud. Cheers

Thanks I'm a astronomy buff for 20 years and I still learned a couple tricks from you !

the magic wand made me chuckle! thanks for the tips I am an absolute beginner and these were very helpful to me, cheers buddy/boyo

Thanks a lot, that helped me guiding me in a good direction!

All so helpful, thanks so much Jason

You can also buy Flocking material which is a black velvet that keeps light from bouncing around in the tube or you could say it absorbs light. When placed in the right areas it improves contrast a lot....Cheers!

Very helpful video. Thank you for all the thought put into this video.

I love how easy these tips are. It also helps that they're in the free to very affordable price range.

Great tips, thanks! I’m enjoying your channel.

These tips are gold! Thank you sir!

Thank you!

Thank-you for the tips. Getting started ..I have learned a Lot from you

Great tips as always Jason!!

So glad I found your channel. Excellent tips and instructions. Well done, Jason.

Watched a few of your videos now and they're the most informative ones I've watched yet! Thanks!

Another great video with really useful tips 👍Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the tips

Great info, great channel. Thanks for your hard work.

Thanks!

Great advice. Do not have a Telescope yet. But keeping this bookmarked. Cause all of it made a lot of sense.

I loved the idea of glow in the dark paint and customisation. If any astronomer is brave there is a cute "astronomy nail polish" in claires. (Yes the shop for teenage girls haha). It's really easy to apply since it comes with a very small brush and if you pick up a clear coat to varnish. Anyone looking at your telescope will see the cute little glow in the dark stars you painted on it

I've been rewatching some of your videos. Made the light shield, works great. The tension screw adjustment was also a big help as mine was pretty hard to turn. Still wasn't happy with the how tough it was to fine tune the view, (adjust wait for shake to stop, repeat...) Found an Orion battery powered "Accufocus" for $92 online, for my Nexstar 130SLT. What a difference that makes.

Painting the locking nuts is the best advice I’ve heard. No matter how much I use my telescope, the min it gets dark I can never find those locking nuts, and end up feeling around where I think they should be, but aren’t. Thanks for the tip!

You are awesome. I've come back to your videos so many times and I've only had my 130az DX for 3 days! Thank you and keep up the good work.

This was very useful, thank you!

again brilliant video 👌

Really looking forward to trying that light shield/shroud tip! Will be very interested to see what it does in my Bortle 6 local skies. Thanks for the video! I found it helpful.

Only trouble with using four cans of beer is over the course of the night the weight would reduce

Thank very much for the information I found it very informative and clear again thank you.

As far as I'm concerned, yours is the best astronomy channel on you tube. Thanks for what you do.

Good tips, glad I found your channel. Totally agree on the 15mm plossl w/2x Barlow. You need nothing else. A few years ago I found I using 8-24mm zoom eyepiece beneficial. While not the best quality, it got me to what I wanted to see quicker, and used to what size eyepieces I should be upgrading to when $ allows. I also found making hardware adjustments to "lock in" my spotting scope (eliminating the need to constantly calibrate it) a must. Cheers

I’m 3D printing a Hadley 114mm dobsonian scope. These tips are very valuable to me. I haven’t had a telescope this size before and I’m trying to stay in budget. These are all practical improvements that don’t cost very much.

Great tips. Thank you for the information. You did great.

amazing advice and info

Thanks for your videos mate, just turned 50 and got my first telescope a Celestron Astromaster. When I was little I used to look up at the starts for hours with my grandad (wish he was here to look through it now) I saw Jupiter last night and 3 of its moon and couldnt believe it was amazing seeing something so far away, I love looking through it and seeing things I cant see or didnt expect to see with my eye. Thanks again :-)

My own experience as a beginner. When we got a PowerSeeker 114EQ telescope for my son as a present. I ordered a laser collimator and managed to check and align the laser itself. Then I collimated the telescope using a laser collimator. The telescope's main mirror and reflector were off from a factory, I found out while collimating the telescope.

I've been fascinated by stars and planets since I was little. Always wanted a telescope but never bought one. Just got a used one yesterday and trying to put it together. Can't wait for clear skies. Maybe if I can master this one I can save for a better one. Thank you for explaining the basics.

Thanks for these good tips! I think your videos are nice and humble :)

You are the man Jason, just did couple of those tricks and man! The difference is super noticeable. Thanks for sharing brother 👍

Thank you so much for your videos - I learned so much from you already. I got the first views with my 150/1400 reflector telescope and I was blown away when I saw the rings of Saturn. The oculars of my telescope-set are not very good (25mm and 10mm) and I just ordered a 15mm Plossel before I saw your video, and I was so happy when I heard your advice to get a 15mm plossel. I am looking forward to look at Jupiter and Saturn with my new 15mm ocular. Thanks for your content!

SO.... I just today got an 8" Orion Dobsonian to see more things in deep sky. (Orion XT8plus, used on Craig's List for half retail). Sure enough, the focusing tube has as much wobble as the 4.5. I scrolled back through you tube history to specifically find this video of yours. Thanks you, and thank you again.

Very Helpful.! Thank you for sharing.! My Telescope is Similar to this and I have really gotten Some Use and Enjoyment out of it. I recently purchased a motor Drive to Start Tracking, and a Neximage 10MP Camera that is arriving Tuesday. Can’t wait to Start using it.! - Clear Sky’s - BWN

You're a 10/10 dude. Every time I see one of your videos I feel welcomed to the hobby. 100% chill dude, 100% informative, Youre fuckin awesome dude thank you.

Brilliant video, some fantastic tips for us newbies.👍

I was recently given a free 600mm focal length and 50mm aperture telescope on a lark, your videos have been a gold mine. Got me great views of the moon, way better then I expected.

You are very good teacher Mr Small Optics.

For your Tip number 1 I have a lump hammer attached to a bit of rope which i depend from the spreader tray.

I got a telescope for my 30th birthday a month ago. I've been out on 3 clear nights so far (last night was my first outside of town with no moon...wow!). Been great fun and watching some of your videos have helped temper expectations. Excited to try out some of these tips and do some simple upgrades in the future! Thanks a lot!

Hi Jason. Another incredibly useful video. I have an entry level skywatcher 70mm refractor which belonged to my late father in law and had been sitting for the last few years. It needed some tlc and some tightening up etc. I thought I'd pretty much gotten to grips with it but there are so many great tips in this video that I hadn't thought of or knew about. In reality I'm still studying and learning the constellations through binoculars but it gets out now and then 👍

Love your down to earth simple and clear explanations, what a charming accent, your videos are very enjoyable to watch and educational, thank you!

Yes your tips helped me greatly. They supplied a 26mm, a 9mm and a 6.3mm with my beginner Meade 127mm. All Kellners. First two are good to go, but the third one has a small FOV as have all the Kellners but even worse for a 6.3mm. Even looking at moon is painful to the eyes and much straining. Guess high powered ones just have to be plossles.

Well done and I will be trying every tip provided. I completed most of the tips while watching the video and noticed a significant difference with my mount already! I have been thinking about purchasing a single upgraded eye piece but couldn't decide what I wanted to try and thanks to your video I will be looking for a 15mm quality eyepiece.

I'm definitely stealing some of these tips for personal use. Thank you for the incredibly helpful video for new users!!

So glad I found this channel. All other YT astronomy channels focus on astro photography, which I have no desire for, and are no use to me personally. Thanks for content for those of us that enjoy visual astronomy.

Thank you very much

Thanks so much. So useful. Didn't know about the screw adjustment on the rack and pinion focuser. Need a new diagonal as mine is all cheap plastic and can't even take a filter. I replaced the cheap Barlow with a Celestron Onmi and wow what a difference and I like that you can use the bottom part for a 1.5 Barlow. I love a Barlow. I did buy a cheap zoom and it is darker than the Kellner lens that came with the scope but still I like the convenience. But I will try a Plossel 15mm. Great stuff you have provided. I have a Bresser 90500 - not bad tube, focuser and lens but the rest of the stuff is cheap plastic garbage.

Thanks for this. I will take your advise on upgrading the eyepieces. Cheers from Tasmania

My main motivation at my obsevation location is quick implementation of a sturdy work station. For viewing the operation of our celestial conurbation. So lets give a standing ovation for this information.. great vid

Just got my first telescope. This video is fantastic. Thank you 👍

Hi Jason, thank you very much for these videos. I really like your practical, simple and understandable tips and hints. I bought my first telescope last week and I'm going to see the moon with my 5yo son today for the first time.

Great video Jason..... As always & really great tips especially upgrading your eye piece, gradually upgrading mine with celestron omni eye pieces, like you say good upgrades without taking out a loan. 👍 Thank you Jason for the time you take for us beginners. 🔭 🌗

Hi Jasonh, Thanks for the info you have given and why it can aid one in the attempt a few bother some issue making ones viewing a bit better while correcting a few viewing issues! . Fish from NYUSA

The best mod to do for those slomo cables is to throw them away. First thing I do is replace them with some kind of knob or wheel, directly on the shaft. No searching for them in the dark, no flopping around, no coming loose and very accurate. The Celestron 'Super' eyepieces are actually pretty good, if you do some internal blackening. Of course disassembling eyepieces isnt recommended for noobs.

just found your video, I will be heading out into the backyard tonight to try out my $20 scope. Thanks for the tips I live in Dartmouth Nova Scotia so might need the tube extender. BTW loved the Tommy Cooper moment with the cardboard wotsit. Have subscribed to explore your back catalog.

HI! As a beginner in skywatching I knew 🌰🌰 about telescopes and how to use them... recently I bought my first tele and due to your magnificent vids, I'm enjoying learing about the usage of it! Thanks for the effort Jason👍👍

Love your simple and down to earth explanations and ideas for improvement. As far as the weight for the tripod, I love the idea of using a 4 pack of beer! We don't have 4 packs here in the States but I can figure out what to do with the 2 extra beers.

Your videos really are a great help for me as a beginner. Just watching your videos helped me understand and see the big picture. That's why I subscribe to this channel. Please make more informational videos.

I got one of those Super 10 eyepieces with my new Mak....and I've already "donated" it to the dustbin (a replacement 12.5mm better-specs one is on the way from FLO). The 25mm eyepiece that came with the telescope is quite good so I'll be keeping that one.

lol, observation location... i love that... u laughed at ur own words.. very funny :). and the 4 pack of beer lol, self humour best in the world x

How about laser aiming devices, my viewfinder was absolutely awful. I can't see anything but the moon thru the viewfinder, so I mounted a small cheapo laser aiming device for firearms (from amazon) and now the laser points exactly at whatever star/object/etc im aiming at... just crank the knobs till the laser points at what you're looking at, then turn off the laser and enjoy the view... no cranking your neck onto a viewfinder while trying to point the scope... I think these should be on all scopes!

Another great video full of useful tips for beginners like me. My wife very recently bought an Orion Starblast 4.5 inexpensively ($100) from a friend who is moving, and I'm trying to sort out some issues with it (including that the 10mm eyepiece and collimating cap are missing). I'll either get a cap or make one as you described in another video so I can check mirror alignment. Since the longer eyepiece was missing, I've ordered a set of Plossl eyepieces with filters including moon filter, and a Barlow, all in a nice looking aluminum case. One thing I hadn't checked is the eyepiece tube and play. Sure enough, it has a slight "wobble" to it. I'll see if the towel tube will fit. Something will. While further checking it while your video was playing, I found that the Right ascension slow-motion control screw was barely engaging the geared ring, allowing it to be moved while everything is locked down. It was simply adjusted with a 8mm open ended wrench (spanner). The tripod is a bit flimsy as you mentioned, and I'll be noodling around with ways to stiffen it up. Thank you again for sharing valuable knowledge with newbies. I subscribed yesterday, and will continue viewing your videos.

Cool Tips Jason..🌠🔭👍

Hey Jason, I wanted to watch this yesterday but I was on a double shift, Booo! lol...Really useful tips to get the most out of a scope, great stuff :)

Good job.

Upgrading a diagonal and eyepiece really help to match the true value of the telescope

Good job mate :D

Thank you very much for all that info. I'm brand new to this and have loads of questions but I find that I am ticking off the answers as I watch your videos. Cheers Diolch yn fawr Mal in North Wales

For these EQ1 and EQ2 mounts, the Right Ascension slow motion control often interferes with the scope tube in certain orientations. This requires to swap the control rod to the other side of the mount. Instead of suffering that annoying inconvenience, attach 'stereo knobs' on each side of the R.A. gear shaft. Those made for a standard 1/4" shaft, and having a set screw to securely lock into place, make for a very significant upgrade. Refractor scopes in the beginner class which are provided with an Amici prism a.k.a. RACI (Right Angle Correct Image) diagonal often suffer a poor image due to the low tolerance on the 90 angle formed by the two reflecting surfaces. This can be so bad that a double image will result. Even if not that bad, an error on that 90 degree angle will cause a point source to be slightly elongated horizontally, and it will wreck fine detail resolution for planet observation particularly.

Just subscribed! ❤

Once again great video however most of your good advice related to an EQ rather than an AZ mount AND a reflector…..hmmm. Look great advice however you don’t need addition weight to make the tripod more balanced if you are using an AZ. Love your videos. Kind regards as always.

would like to see a vid on how to improve your under weighter mount.

good tips mate!

Just got an entry level telescope for my kid and me to play with, and the 10mm stock eyepiece is almost useless. More detail on the 25, even if it's less magnified. A good 15mm sounds like the best upgrade for his next birthday :) Great vid, thanks.

Some good tips im definitely going to try the tripod ideas iv got a very cheap meade 76az (not what I wanted but for £49 new wasn't going to let go) iv upgraded a couple of things the best thing i got is a zoom eyepiece its so much better then the standard eyepiece and its made really hard scope to keep in position so much easier to use i got the celestron 8/24mm on the back of ur review of it and I must say I'm not disappointed. I recommend anyone with a AZ mount to get one so ur not swapping eyepiece over..iv spent 3x more on exercises than the scope cost me 🤣 😬

Hi Jason, I think it would be a great idea on a short video on how you actually made that 'magic wand ' cover. Its a brilliant idea because so many viewers are living in light polluted areas. Just a thought. James. 🤓👍

Do you recommend the celestron eyepiece and filter kit? I have a cheap starter telescope, the celestron travelscope 70 off Amazon. Recently upgraded the tripod and got a red dot finder, but still using everything else it came with. Would the 2x Barlow lens in the celestron kit and plossl eyepieces/filters it come with be a good upgrade?

15mm eyepiece is waiting for me to grab out of the cosmos and into my possession sounds nice 👍

The years of decent observing I lost out on as a kid (long before the net was a thing) because there was no mention in the instructions on the focuser tension screws 😥.

Hey that was great video to watch as I bought a cheap Bnise 70mm telescope and focuser tube slightly moves to left or right so I know how to improve it! Tripod I've changed and this telescope can be used for smartphone astrophotography. Other tips are very nice to know. The little Bnise refractor gives nice views of milky way and the moon. It's extremely lightweight and it's eyepiece are ok but good enough to see the most beautiful object in the night sky and that's Saturn with that magnifficent ring system! Got it from Amazon uk for just under £100. Just wondering what's the best smartphone to use use with one camera as I've tried Samsung S7 and it's ok? Any suggestions? Keep these videos coming!!! Stay safe buddy!

9:22 I purposely have my focuser tension extremely tight by preference. I have a "fast" (not fast in photography, btw) f/5.7 70mm telescope and objects get out of focus extremely easily. So to help provide more accurate focusing and to keep from somehow accidentally bumping the image out of focus, I have it set tight. Yes, it bumps the OTA around, but unless I'm just setting it up, I make tiny adjustments. Better to take the time getting it right I think. 15:20 - Actually pretty good idea. It's the equivalent of a lens hood for a camera. Id shorten that up a bit, though. It may be cutting down on spilled light, but it looks like it might be impeding light gathering with one that long. Kind of like sticking a toilet paper tube over a compact camera. On wide views it'll create a vignette effect. My advice, make several of them, each 1 inch shorter than the other and use the shortest one that does the job. Use the lowest power eyepiece you have in the day and look at the sky. Point it near but not at the sun, and make sure it's not blocking any view from the side. 20:10- Plössl eyepieces are not the only eyepiece designs that feature 4 lens elements. The design comes down to the arrangement and curvature of the lenses to deal with a specific design flaw of another. However, some telescopes actually come with Plössl eyepieces to begin with. I'd still recommend upgrading to another Plössl. Sometimes to cut costs, they supply the slightly defective ones, or factory seconds, literally just to get rid of them. By the way, if you are on a tight budget for any telescope, email the manufacturer and ask where their factory second list is. Much of the time, these have big savings on them due to something as simple as a misprinted logo! I did this with Celestron in the past.

I love you sir

Mate if it solves the problem , who cares what it looks like and others think! 😂 That’s always been my philosophy in life. Great video and advice.

How about replacing the eyepieces that the package brings with an 8-24mm or 7-21mm type zoom eyepiece? I think there are some at a good price with reasonable quality from brands like Celestron, Auriga, Omegon or Svbony, and it seems to me that it is a good option to start with, because it also avoids having to change eyepieces and refocus (unless they are parfocal, something that does not usually happen with entry level packages). Very useful especially with mounts without motorized tracking... I think also replacing the horrible 5x24 type optical finders with a better and not expensive red dot finder is a great option.