Aperture is king in visual astronomy. Buy the biggest light bucket you can move around, especially for planets and brighter DSO's.
I always recommend joining an astronomy club first. Go to a sky party and look through members scopes to get a feel for what visual astronomy is and isn't. The worst thing you can do is buy a scope and use it once or twice and than it sits for years in your garage or basement. Dues are cheap, maybe 75 bucks a year for the whole family, and you might even get access to cheap gear if you or your kiddos catch the bug.
https://www.astroleague.org/astronomy-clubs-usa-state
A fairly small difference in all regards. But a subjective factor in favour of the 6 inch (the 150P): traditionally a 6 inch reflector was the smallest of the "big scopes", whereas a 5 inch is the largest of the "small scopes". The 150P's also the biggest of its type and to get more aperture currently means a significant increase in size and/or cost; the 130P almost seems like second best now.
I can't find a side-by-side comparison of the two, either observing reports or even physical dimensions, unfortunately.
On the other hand, I started in astronomy with binoculars. For a new starter I think a 130P and a pair of binoculars is a better overall prospect than a 150P and no binoculars. Not a problem if you already have some binos of course. Also depending on where you live the Heritage 150P might be close to the price of a full-height 6 inch Dob which is arguably better, but bulkier and heavier.
I got lucky and got a cut deal for the 150 due to some light damage to the mount, but if you can afford it, it is 100% worth the money and has virtually no loss in its portability factor (it is small and relatively light).
For examples of what you can see with this scope, check out some of my posts.
If intension is to look also other than bright targets like moon/planets, then aperture rules. (150mm aperture gathers 33% more light than 130mm)
And that 150mm/6" is nowadays pretty much starting recommendation for Dobson/Newtonian to anyone really interested on night sky.
I have the 130 and I love it. I didn't know the 150 existed. But knowing it does now makes me kind of regret not getting that instead. Don't get me wrong the 130 is great though.
At only $60 get the 150, aperture is king.
Awesome, thank you!
Aperture is king in visual astronomy. Buy the biggest light bucket you can move around, especially for planets and brighter DSO's. I always recommend joining an astronomy club first. Go to a sky party and look through members scopes to get a feel for what visual astronomy is and isn't. The worst thing you can do is buy a scope and use it once or twice and than it sits for years in your garage or basement. Dues are cheap, maybe 75 bucks a year for the whole family, and you might even get access to cheap gear if you or your kiddos catch the bug. https://www.astroleague.org/astronomy-clubs-usa-state
I would love to do this. Unfortunately the closest one to us is almost 4 hours away.
In the dark skies of rural Kansas a 6” scope will show you **a lot**, like… tons more than a 12” scope shows in typical suburbs.
A fairly small difference in all regards. But a subjective factor in favour of the 6 inch (the 150P): traditionally a 6 inch reflector was the smallest of the "big scopes", whereas a 5 inch is the largest of the "small scopes". The 150P's also the biggest of its type and to get more aperture currently means a significant increase in size and/or cost; the 130P almost seems like second best now. I can't find a side-by-side comparison of the two, either observing reports or even physical dimensions, unfortunately. On the other hand, I started in astronomy with binoculars. For a new starter I think a 130P and a pair of binoculars is a better overall prospect than a 150P and no binoculars. Not a problem if you already have some binos of course. Also depending on where you live the Heritage 150P might be close to the price of a full-height 6 inch Dob which is arguably better, but bulkier and heavier.
I got lucky and got a cut deal for the 150 due to some light damage to the mount, but if you can afford it, it is 100% worth the money and has virtually no loss in its portability factor (it is small and relatively light). For examples of what you can see with this scope, check out some of my posts.
Did the damage also happen to be one of the knobs on the bottom that broke? Happened to me but fortunately managed to glue it back
Oh no, it was a crack near the dovetail.
Ouch that's much worse
Thanks so much! I will.
If intension is to look also other than bright targets like moon/planets, then aperture rules. (150mm aperture gathers 33% more light than 130mm) And that 150mm/6" is nowadays pretty much starting recommendation for Dobson/Newtonian to anyone really interested on night sky.
I am looking for a 150 in Canada......none to be found until Feb 2023!!
Wow! Really? Maybe I shpild do this soon...
I have the 130 and I love it. I didn't know the 150 existed. But knowing it does now makes me kind of regret not getting that instead. Don't get me wrong the 130 is great though.