The orion spaceprobe 130st review opens a window to the cosmos for amateur astronomers, combining powerful optics with user-friendly features, making it an intriguing telescope for both beginners and seasoned stargazers alike.
Contents
1. Contents of the box
The package includes a comprehensive set of components designed to enhance the overall observational experience:
- Orion 130mm, f/5 reflector telescope optical tube assembly
- 25mm Plossl telescope eyepiece (1.25″)
- 10mm Plossl telescope eyepiece (1.25″)
- Tripod legs
- EQ (equatorial) mount head
- EZ Finder II finder scope
- DeepMap 600
- MoonMap 260
- Smartphone camera adapter
- Collimation cap
- Tube rings
- Counterweight
- Counterweight shaft
- Tripod accessory tray
- Slow-motion control cables
- Dust cap
- Accessory tray bracket
2. Assembly
The 130ST comes with setup instructions, although some users may find them less clear than desired.
While Orion asserts that the telescope can be assembled in approximately 30 minutes, it’s worth noting that for those new to telescopes, the process might take an hour or more.
The learning curve associated with assembly is common, especially for beginners, and patience is advised to ensure a proper and secure setup.
It’s crucial to acknowledge that, at its price point, the SpaceProbe 130ST is designed with beginners in mind. While it may not possess the capabilities of higher-end and larger models available in the market, this should not be viewed as a drawback for those embarking on their astronomical journey.
The beginner-friendly nature of the telescope makes it an ideal choice for individuals starting in the world of astronomy, offering a balance between affordability and functionality for those eager to explore the cosmos.
3. Build quality
The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST boasts a thoughtfully designed construction, incorporating materials that enhance both portability and stability.
The short tube features a compact steel design, prioritizing ease of portability without compromising on durability. This steel construction contributes to the overall sturdiness of the telescope while maintaining a manageable weight for transportation.
Complementing the optical tube is a robust equatorial telescope mount, crafted to provide stability during observations. The adjustable steel legs add to the telescope’s reliability, allowing manual slow-motion tracking of celestial objects.
This feature proves invaluable as it enables observers to follow the apparent migration of objects across the night sky with precision and ease.
The complete assembled weight is 28 lbs, striking a balance between a substantial build and a weight that remains manageable for users seeking portability in their stargazing endeavors.
4. Quality of the optics
The 130ST is equipped with a 1.25” rack-and-pinion focuser. Although the focuser is primarily constructed from plastic, it functions effectively, allowing users to achieve precise focus during observations. Despite the plastic components, the focuser’s performance meets expectations, ensuring a smooth and controlled adjustment.
The parabolic primary mirror, made of plate glass, ensures durability and consistent optical performance.
Both the primary and secondary mirrors are collimatable, allowing users to maintain optimal alignment for sharp and clear images.
However, it is worth noting that the back of the primary mirror cell is covered by a metal plate, which can obstruct the collimation screws and hinder cooldown. This plate needs to be removed with a Phillips head screwdriver, adding a step to the collimation process.
Collimating the primary mirror requires a screwdriver, which can be somewhat inconvenient, especially in outdoor field settings. It is a factor to consider for users who prioritize ease of maintenance and adjustment during their stargazing sessions.
5. Telescope’s aperture size
The 130ST features a notable aperture size of 5.1 inches, a crucial aspect contributing to its exceptional observational capabilities. The telescope’s primary optical component is a precisely crafted parabolic mirror, designed to gather an ample amount of light for a remarkable viewing experience.
The significance of this 5.1-inch aperture, especially with a red dot finder, becomes evident as the telescope excels in capturing detailed views of planets and the Moon. The larger aperture allows for increased light collection, enabling observers to discern finer details on the lunar surface and vividly observe planetary features.
The increased light-gathering capability enhances the visibility of these deep-sky objects, revealing intricate structures and bringing celestial wonders to life.
6. Focal length and focal ratio
The 130ST features a focal length of 650mm, providing users with a versatile and balanced optical configuration for various astronomical observations.
This specification influences the telescope’s ability to magnify and resolve celestial objects, striking a harmonious balance between wide-field views and detailed observations.
The focal ratio of the telescope is f/5.0, indicating a relatively fast system. Operating at f/5, the telescope delivers expansive wide-field views, offering astronomers a rich observational experience.
While minimal coma may be present, it is negligible and does not significantly impact the overall viewing quality.
This combination enhances the versatility, making this rich field telescope a capable instrument for both wide-field observations and detailed examinations of specific astronomical targets.
7. Type of mount used
The 130ST is equipped with a German equatorial mount, specifically the EQ2 model.
This standard and cost-effective equatorial mount, while suitable for supporting the 130ST, may exhibit some limitations in terms of precise tracking and stability (in comparison with the Dobsonian mount, for example), particularly when the tripod legs are extended to a comfortable height.
Unlike more advanced setups, the 130ST’s tube rings are attached to the EQ2 mount through direct bolting, without using a Vixen dovetail and saddle system.
The primary advantage of an equatorial mount lies in its simplified tracking capabilities, making it easier to follow the movement of celestial objects across the night sky compared to alt-azimuth mounted scopes or Dobsonians.
The EQ2 mount allows users to achieve this by manually turning the RA axis slow-motion cable or by adding a motor drive for hands-free tracking.
While a motor drive is available for purchase from Celestron or Orion, it is more suitable for visual use and may lack the precision required for astrophotography.
Although the EQ2 mount enhances high-power viewing, its setting circles are relatively small and inaccurate, serving more as decorative features than practical tools for precise navigation — common in many modern equatorial mounts.
One notable drawback is the absence of a polar scope or sighting hole, making precise polar alignment challenging.
While this may be less critical for visual observations, it poses a significant hurdle for astrophotography, where accurate polar alignment is essential for capturing clear and stable long-exposure images.
8. Magnification
The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST provides a versatile range of magnification options, allowing astronomers to tailor their observations to different celestial targets.
Magnification with included eyepieces:
- 26x with the 25mm Plossl eyepiece (1.25″)
- 65x with the 10mm Plossl eyepiece (1.25″)
These included eyepieces offer more magnification options suitable for a variety of astronomical observations, from wide-field views to more detailed examinations of specific objects.
The resolving power of 0.89 arc*sec indicates the telescope’s ability to distinguish fine details in celestial objects, contributing to the clarity of observed images.
The lowest useful magnification of 19x ensures a broad field of view, ideal for capturing expansive celestial scenes and locating objects in the night sky.
Users can achieve a high level of detail with a maximum magnification of 260x, suitable for studying lunar craters, planetary features, and other intricate celestial structures.
The highest theoretical magnification of 260x represents the upper limit for optimal magnification, providing a balance between image clarity and brightness.
The limiting stellar magnitude of 13.2 indicates the telescope’s capability to capture light from celestial objects with a magnitude up to 13.2, enabling the observation of a wide range of stars and deep-sky phenomena.
9. Applications
The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST proves to be a versatile telescope suitable for a range of astronomical observations, particularly catering to lunar and planetary exploration.
For lunar observations, the telescope provides clear and detailed views, revealing the Moon’s intricate features. For solar viewing, you must use a solar filter, which may be incompatible with this telescope.
Planetary viewing is also commendable, with the ability to observe Jupiter’s cloud belts, the Great Red Spot, shadow transits of its moons, Saturn’s rings, the Cassini division, and details on Mars, including dark spots and its polar ice cap. Venus and Mercury showcase their phases under the telescope’s lens.
The 650mm focal length of the SpaceProbe 130ST offers a relatively wide field of view at low magnifications, making it well-suited for observing large and bright deep-sky objects.
Astronomers can enjoy breathtaking views of star clusters like the Pleiades, galaxies such as the Andromeda Galaxy, and details in nebulae like the Orion Nebula and the Swan. Bright globular clusters like M13 and M22 can be resolved into individual stars on clear nights.
However, when it comes to astrophotography, other telescopes should be considered. Deep-sky astrophotography with a DSLR camera is not recommended due to the telescope’s focuser and mount constraints.
The SpaceProbe 130ST is better suited for lunar and planetary imaging using a webcam-style CCD like the Celestron NexImage or ZWO ASI camera. Achieving optimal focal length for planetary imaging requires a 3x or 5x Barlow lens.
Despite the potential for planetary astrophotography, users should be aware of additional investments in accessories, such as a Barlow lens, and challenges associated with the inexpensive mount and 5-inch aperture.
The absence of features like autoguiders, polar scopes, or sighting holes can limit the precision required for accurate tracking and imaging.
10. Pros and cons
Summary table of specs
| Feature name | Specifications |
| Recommended for users | Geared towards beginners |
| Optical design | Reflective telescope |
| Aperture size | 130mm |
| Outer tube diameter | 6.50 inches |
| Finder scope lens diameter | 30mm |
| Telescope focal length | 650mm |
| Focal ratio | f/5.0 |
| Optical configuration | Parabolic mirror |
| Glass composition | Soda-lime plate Diffraction-limited |
| Included eyepieces | Plossl 25.0mm, 10.0mm (1.25″) |
| Magnification using provided eyepieces | 26x, 65x |
| Resolving power | 0.89 arc*sec |
| Minimum practical magnification | 19x |
| Maximum practical magnification | 260x |
| Maximum theoretical magnification | 260x |
| Limiting stellar magnitude | 13.2 |
| Optical quality | Diffraction-limited |
| Finder scope | EZ Finder II |
| Focuser type | 1.25″ Rack-and-pinion |
| Secondary mirror obstruction diameter | 38mm |
| Secondary mirror obstruction percentage by diameter | 28% |
| Secondary mirror obstruction percentage by area | 8% |
| Mirror coatings/over-coatings | Aluminum and Silicon Dioxide |
| Mount type | Equatorial mount |
| Astrophotography capability | Suitable for lunar and planetary imaging |
| Dovetail bar system | Yes |
| Compatibility with motor drive | Clock drive available separately |
| Compatibility with computerized systems | Not applicable |
| Bearing material | Friction bearings |
| Latitude range | 16-72 degrees |
| Setting circles | Yes |
| Polar-axis scope | Not included |
| Counterweights | One 5.5 lb. |
| Telescope tube material | Steel |
| Tripod material | Steel |
| Counterweight bar length | 8 inches |
| Counterweight shaft diameter | 12mm |
| Mount height range | 35.00 inches – 55.50 inches |
| Optical tube length | 24.0 inches |
| Optical tube weight | 7.4 lbs. |
| Mount/tripod weight | 16.8 lbs. |
| Fully assembled weight | 24.2 lbs. |
| Additional accessories included | Smartphone camera adapter, Collimation cap, DeepMap 600, MoonMap 260 |
| Other features | Tubular steel legs for added rigidity |
| Ideal for observation | Suitable for brighter deep-sky objects |
| Optimal for photography | Best for lunar and planetary imaging |
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST stands as a beginner-friendly telescope, offering impressive versatility in observational capabilities, while being mindful of its limitations for advanced astrophotography, making it an excellent choice for those entering the realm of astronomy.
FAQ
Is the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST a good telescope?
The Orion SpaceProbe 130ST is regarded as a decent scope, especially as the first telescope for beginners, and suitable for intermediate stargazers. It offers a balanced combination of aperture, focal length, and affordability, making it suitable for a range of astronomical observations.
What can I see with a 130mm telescope?
With a 130mm telescope, like the Orion SpaceProbe 130ST, you can observe a variety of celestial objects.
This includes detailed views of the Moon and planets, such as Jupiter’s cloud belts, Saturn’s rings, and Mars’ surface features.
Additionally, the telescope is capable of providing clear views of brighter deep-sky objects like star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.
