Is Celestron NexStar 4 SE a good buy for a beginner

[kiwitan]

Hi

I went to the Science Centre Star looking session tonight where where they placed a telescope on the field, and was disappointed when seeing that the stars look like little white dots in the sky, not too much bigger when looking through the naked eyes.

The scope i tried in the stargrazing session was bigger than the NexStar 4 SE i was eyeing on in the astro scienttific shop in the afternoon.

Question is, is the 4SE a nice starting scope for a beginner.

Thanks.

[Siren]

eh i was there just now as well! hahaha.

trying to get into the astronomy scene now. the talk on the sun was crazy man. so packed and so many students.

[Clifford60]

Hi, Welcome to Singastro.

Seeing stars, you are right not too much bigger than naked eyes, but you will see a lot more. However, seeing planet like Saturn, you will be able to see the ring if the mag is high enough.

4SE is a beginner scope, however, don't jump in 1st. Join a viewing session with the members like the coming Earth's Day at East Coast Park on 28th Mar 09, see link for the post http://www.singastro.org/viewtopic.php?t=6991 See thru more scopes and ask more questions than decide which to buy.

[Airconvent]

well stars are very far away, so most of the time with any of the smaller scopes they will appear pin point. Its the clusters, planets and nebula that you are more interested in.

BTW, those guys at science centre has big scopes with good magnification range but for some strange reason, they like to show you wide view. I once looked at Jupiter through their scope which appeared like as a tiny disk in the middle of the wide FOV....strange people.

The nexstar 4 is a good starting goto scope. You should have some wonderful moments with it but as you linger longer into the hobby, that nagging urge to increase the aperture will start to bite and and very soon, you will have a large scope that is not very portable. Until then, enjoy the N4 if you can get your hands on one.

[acc]

The Nexstar4 as I recall when it was introduced many years ago, received below-average reviews for its maksutov optics. I am not sure how things may have changed since then, but also bear in mind that the stock you are getting, though new, may have rolled off the assembly line long ago. If the price difference with a Nexstar 5 is not that great, the latter would be a much better bet. If you don't mind second hand units, you can also check out airconvent's first-generation (?) N5 that he has put up for sale in the pasar malam.

[guangwei]

I am also looking for a beginner scope but there are so many different brands and differents types of telescope i can find. Science centre have the powerseeker, nexstar, celestron and astromaster and many more. I was wondering which of the brands most people are using and what is the suitable type of scope suitable in singapore skies.

[yybmage]

Well,hehe. I will be bringing out my 4SE on 28th. feel free to join me. I may my bringing out the LX 200 which is very big and bulky

[Airconvent]

If you don't mind second hand units, you can also check out airconvent's first-generation (?) N5 that he has put up for sale in the pasar malam.

Hi CC
Just to correct, mine is a Nexstar 8...the kind of aperture that gives good performance in Singapore! :-)

In anycase, I have played with an N4 previously. The optics and performance is not as good when compared with a Meade ETX105. I did a side by side comparison once many years back with Samuel. Under the same sky conditions in Hougang, the ETX was able to find Uranus and Neptune, resolve them to coloured disks at x500 whereas the N4 was struggling at lower mag.

However, by iself, it representes a truly portable grab-and-go goto scope which should be able to provide some nice views under the right conditions plus its cheaper, smaller and lighter than the ETX.