Meade DS-2060 Telescope
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- Optical Diameter: 60 mm
- Max Useful Magnification: x 175
- Finderscope: Optical
- Mount Type: Altazimuth
- Motorized: Yes
- Focal Length: 700 mm
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View the beauty of the night skies, but do it with the right instrument.
Pros
It is made by a very fine company.
Cons
Wait! Search out the best investment for the sum paid on this instrument.
Recommended it?
No
The Bottom Line:
Although this company makes some superb products, I personally would invest the suggested retail price in a much more capable telescope. This one is made for the mass market.
First, let me list all the technical details of this instrument:
The main objective lens aperture (diameter) is 60 millimeters (approximately 2.5 inches). Most serious star gazers know to never buy a refracting telescope with a main objective lens aperture of less than 90mm (about 3 inches).
Brand, or the company contracting to have this instrument mass produced in Taiwan Republic Of China: Meade Instruments Corporation.
Estimated Price: $170.00 U. S. (I paid $50 for the instrument at a local pawn shop).
Eyepiece Type: Mine came with three optical eyepieces measuring 4mm, 12.5mm, and 24mm respectively. They all fit a 0.965 inch holder (one of the standards in the world of astronomy). I also received one Barlow lens - a device which triples the magnification power of each of the other provided eyepieces. Note: It is not customary to provide the highest quality eyepieces with an instrument in this price range. Such was the case with my purchase of this instrument.
Finder scope: Mine was a traditional 4 power finder scope. This smaller scope is used to assist in finding sky objects more easily with the larger telescope to which it is attached. In my opinion this finder scope was actually the better instrument of the two in this package.
Focal Length: 700mm (or f 11.7) This is the distance at which the main objective lens comes to a sharp focus. The f11.7 indicates that the focal length (700 mm) is 11.7 times the diameter of the main objective lens. For a refracting telescope I personally consider an f10 to f12 to be about ideal. This instrument is true to the indicated measurement.
Magnification: 28x (28 power), 56x (56 power), and 175x (175 power) with each of the respective eyepieces. The magnification power indicates how much closer an object will appear. The smaller the eyepiece aperture - the greater the magnification; however, a higher magnification power does not mean a more enjoyable view. With a higher magnification power there is a subsequent higher loss of light from the object being viewed. With this instrument I found the highest rated power suggestion to be too great for the small aperture of the main objective lens.
Model: DS-2060ATE
Telescope Type: Refracting. This means the light coming from the object being viewed is refracted through the main objective lens and on through the eyepiece lens to the viewer's eye for observation. Refracting telescopes with a small main objective lens aperture (like this telescope) are considered best for observing planetary objects. However, the small aperture of the main objective lens also means desired details of any observed planet will be limited. This instrument will show most of the planets (excluding Pluto), and, yes, details are not what the general viewing public might desire or expect. But, in fairness, the manufacturer does not make any great claims as to observational quality.
Telescope Mount Type: Altazimuth, which does give free horizontal and vertical movement of this light weight instrument. In my opinion, however, it does not give the viewer the viewing precision found in an equatorial mount. This short coming can be overcome with the Autostar Computer Controller (included with the purchase of a new instrument), which is an excellent device of automatically pointing your telescope (even via the web) to hundreds of interesting sky objects. I have used this device, but I still do not feel it makes up for the small high quality aperture of this instrument. The average citizen may find it fascinating, and, with an instrument containing a larger aperture objective lens, I have no doubt the average viewer would be absolutely amazed. I might add, that Meade does make just such an instrument, but the cost reflects the increase in quality performance. I tend to feel the cost of this package is more due to the Autostart Computer Controller than to the performance of the telescope itself. Yet the purpose of my purchase was to obtain a high quality telescope.
I found the rest of the tripod quite stable for a telescope of this light weight. The legs are awkward to adjust, but they do lock into place quite easily via large lever locks, which only take mild finger pressure. They release equally well. And, the observing height was fine for this telescope. I wish it would have extended about another foot higher, which would have also made it superb for the mounting of my binocular. But it does meet the need for which it was designed.
The package also included a tray for holding all of the included eyepieces; however, I could not figure out how to attach the tray without completely dismantling the tripod legs. And, once I did get the tray mounted, the tripod would no longer fold up conveniently.
It also would have been nice to have had a level indicator built into the tripod, which makes finding and tracking sky objects much easier.
Contact: You can get details on this device, and a great deal more, by going to the Meade Instruments Corporation website: http://www.meade.com
For the inexperienced telescope user this instrument will seem amazing in its capability. You can view most of the planets, the satellites of some planets, details on Mars, the rings of Jupiter, asteroid belts, and a vast number of deep space observations like other galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, double and multiple stars, and even the Moon like phases of Mercury and Venus. But the images of distant planets like Uranus and Neptune are star like - not detailed. This may be more than enough for the occasional observer.
Meade Instruments Corporation is well known for its quality products; however, the real quality and precision instruments can cost as much as $10,000.00 or more. That's right! The good stuff costs a great deal more than instruments made for simple mass marketing to the general public; although, I am sure it is very profitable. In general this is true with all of the top quality telescope manufactures.
This package (telescope, tripod, mount, and eyepieces) is quite light in its overall weight. However, I found transporting the package was easier when placed in a home designed case. Having to move the package just a few feet can begin to feel like a hassle (You have to kind of realign everything,). But this is also true with many finer instruments.
With long night observations I did not find dew or fog on the lens to be a problem, but that comes more from past experiences of learning how to acclimate a telescope prior to observing sessions. (See http://skyandtelescope.com for full details on how to perform this procedure.)
Personally? I removed this telescope from its tripod, put the telescope in my closet, and mounted a great binocular on the tripod. No, I do not get to view some of the objects deeper into space, but the views I do get are as much an inspiration today as they were 40 years ago to a 13 year old boy in search of the universe.
Believe it or not, for the price of this telescope, and a copy of the Standard Handbook for Telescope Making (revised edition) by Neale E. Howard, ISBN 0-06-181394-X, which I have not three feet from me at this moment, you can actually enjoy the wonder and amazement of making a far superior instrument in your very own garage. Success with such a project is an overwhelming reward, and sharing the project with a youngster will enlighten your spirit beyond your grandest dreams and imagination.
If you are serious about wanting to purchase a telescope, contact your local astronomy club (most major cities have one), and attend a Star Party. You will find it a most informative social event, and most amateur astronomers jump at the chance to show off their latest telescopes and gadgets. Or check out http://www.skyandtelescope.com, which is full of members, who will be glad to share their excitement with telescope observing.
Go view life in a whole new way.
The main objective lens aperture (diameter) is 60 millimeters (approximately 2.5 inches). Most serious star gazers know to never buy a refracting telescope with a main objective lens aperture of less than 90mm (about 3 inches).
Brand, or the company contracting to have this instrument mass produced in Taiwan Republic Of China: Meade Instruments Corporation.
Estimated Price: $170.00 U. S. (I paid $50 for the instrument at a local pawn shop).
Eyepiece Type: Mine came with three optical eyepieces measuring 4mm, 12.5mm, and 24mm respectively. They all fit a 0.965 inch holder (one of the standards in the world of astronomy). I also received one Barlow lens - a device which triples the magnification power of each of the other provided eyepieces. Note: It is not customary to provide the highest quality eyepieces with an instrument in this price range. Such was the case with my purchase of this instrument.
Finder scope: Mine was a traditional 4 power finder scope. This smaller scope is used to assist in finding sky objects more easily with the larger telescope to which it is attached. In my opinion this finder scope was actually the better instrument of the two in this package.
Focal Length: 700mm (or f 11.7) This is the distance at which the main objective lens comes to a sharp focus. The f11.7 indicates that the focal length (700 mm) is 11.7 times the diameter of the main objective lens. For a refracting telescope I personally consider an f10 to f12 to be about ideal. This instrument is true to the indicated measurement.
Magnification: 28x (28 power), 56x (56 power), and 175x (175 power) with each of the respective eyepieces. The magnification power indicates how much closer an object will appear. The smaller the eyepiece aperture - the greater the magnification; however, a higher magnification power does not mean a more enjoyable view. With a higher magnification power there is a subsequent higher loss of light from the object being viewed. With this instrument I found the highest rated power suggestion to be too great for the small aperture of the main objective lens.
Model: DS-2060ATE
Telescope Type: Refracting. This means the light coming from the object being viewed is refracted through the main objective lens and on through the eyepiece lens to the viewer's eye for observation. Refracting telescopes with a small main objective lens aperture (like this telescope) are considered best for observing planetary objects. However, the small aperture of the main objective lens also means desired details of any observed planet will be limited. This instrument will show most of the planets (excluding Pluto), and, yes, details are not what the general viewing public might desire or expect. But, in fairness, the manufacturer does not make any great claims as to observational quality.
Telescope Mount Type: Altazimuth, which does give free horizontal and vertical movement of this light weight instrument. In my opinion, however, it does not give the viewer the viewing precision found in an equatorial mount. This short coming can be overcome with the Autostar Computer Controller (included with the purchase of a new instrument), which is an excellent device of automatically pointing your telescope (even via the web) to hundreds of interesting sky objects. I have used this device, but I still do not feel it makes up for the small high quality aperture of this instrument. The average citizen may find it fascinating, and, with an instrument containing a larger aperture objective lens, I have no doubt the average viewer would be absolutely amazed. I might add, that Meade does make just such an instrument, but the cost reflects the increase in quality performance. I tend to feel the cost of this package is more due to the Autostart Computer Controller than to the performance of the telescope itself. Yet the purpose of my purchase was to obtain a high quality telescope.
I found the rest of the tripod quite stable for a telescope of this light weight. The legs are awkward to adjust, but they do lock into place quite easily via large lever locks, which only take mild finger pressure. They release equally well. And, the observing height was fine for this telescope. I wish it would have extended about another foot higher, which would have also made it superb for the mounting of my binocular. But it does meet the need for which it was designed.
The package also included a tray for holding all of the included eyepieces; however, I could not figure out how to attach the tray without completely dismantling the tripod legs. And, once I did get the tray mounted, the tripod would no longer fold up conveniently.
It also would have been nice to have had a level indicator built into the tripod, which makes finding and tracking sky objects much easier.
Contact: You can get details on this device, and a great deal more, by going to the Meade Instruments Corporation website: http://www.meade.com
For the inexperienced telescope user this instrument will seem amazing in its capability. You can view most of the planets, the satellites of some planets, details on Mars, the rings of Jupiter, asteroid belts, and a vast number of deep space observations like other galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, double and multiple stars, and even the Moon like phases of Mercury and Venus. But the images of distant planets like Uranus and Neptune are star like - not detailed. This may be more than enough for the occasional observer.
Meade Instruments Corporation is well known for its quality products; however, the real quality and precision instruments can cost as much as $10,000.00 or more. That's right! The good stuff costs a great deal more than instruments made for simple mass marketing to the general public; although, I am sure it is very profitable. In general this is true with all of the top quality telescope manufactures.
This package (telescope, tripod, mount, and eyepieces) is quite light in its overall weight. However, I found transporting the package was easier when placed in a home designed case. Having to move the package just a few feet can begin to feel like a hassle (You have to kind of realign everything,). But this is also true with many finer instruments.
With long night observations I did not find dew or fog on the lens to be a problem, but that comes more from past experiences of learning how to acclimate a telescope prior to observing sessions. (See http://skyandtelescope.com for full details on how to perform this procedure.)
Personally? I removed this telescope from its tripod, put the telescope in my closet, and mounted a great binocular on the tripod. No, I do not get to view some of the objects deeper into space, but the views I do get are as much an inspiration today as they were 40 years ago to a 13 year old boy in search of the universe.
Believe it or not, for the price of this telescope, and a copy of the Standard Handbook for Telescope Making (revised edition) by Neale E. Howard, ISBN 0-06-181394-X, which I have not three feet from me at this moment, you can actually enjoy the wonder and amazement of making a far superior instrument in your very own garage. Success with such a project is an overwhelming reward, and sharing the project with a youngster will enlighten your spirit beyond your grandest dreams and imagination.
If you are serious about wanting to purchase a telescope, contact your local astronomy club (most major cities have one), and attend a Star Party. You will find it a most informative social event, and most amateur astronomers jump at the chance to show off their latest telescopes and gadgets. Or check out http://www.skyandtelescope.com, which is full of members, who will be glad to share their excitement with telescope observing.
Go view life in a whole new way.
