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New Telescope for Xmas?
Accessories & Add-ons
BINTEL's guide to expanding the capabilities of your new telescope
Hope everyone is settling into 2022!
Post-Christmas is a time when we receive at BINTEL lots of questions about upgrades and accessories, especially from beginners. What's the best eyepiece? Are filters handy? Can I take photos with my telescope?
To help you make the best choices, we’re put together a series of beginner's guides and product suggestions for getting the best from your new telescope.
But before we do...
To celebrate the successful launch and deployment of the JWST (James Webb Space Telescope) BINTEL are doing a special giveaway with 3D printed JWST mirrors as tickets. Think Willy Wonker without the chocolate....
Full details on the BINTEL Facebook page Wed (19/1) at 11am Sydney time
Finderscope
A quick and easy upgrade to the standard red dot finderscope that comes with many telescopes is the Celestron StarPointer Pro. This very modern looking gizmo offers a clear, bright LED reticle that points to what you’re trying to find, not cover it. It’s more convenient to use and includes several bases to attach to a wide range of telescopes. Highly recommended by BINTEL staff at $79.95
Eyepieces
The easiest way to upgrade your telescope is with additional eyepieces.
Many telescopes come with at least a couple (25mm and 10mm) which provide a wide field and a higher power view.
There's a range of add-on eyepieces and selecting the right one can be confusing! For beginner's we'd suggest two - a higher power for the Moon, planets, and a lower power eyepiece for wider field views.
For a selection of eyepiece that are ideal as an upgrade click here, but for crisp, high-power views of the Moon and planets including Saturn and Jupiter, the Bintel Premium Long Eye Relief 6mm eyepiece would be a smart choice at $149
2 x Barlow
A Barlow is an optical accessory that goes between your telescope’s focuser and your eyepiece. It's a cost-effective way to double the magnification of all the eyepieces that come with your telescope. For example, your 10mm becomes a 5mm and your 25mm becomes a 12.5mm. The views through a Barlow are not going to be quite as sharp as having the eyepiece in its original size but considering the flexibility a Barlow adds to your viewing, they're a very handy accessory. From $49
Moon filters - your sunglasses at night
The Moon through a telescope is a sight that will always be a delight no matter how long you’ve been observing. But the amount of Sunlight reflected off the Moon’s surface means its brightness can be a bit overwhelming. Just like sunglasses reduces the Sun’s glare during the day, BINTEL Moon filters reduce the glare from the Moon through a telescope. They make viewing more comfortable and let you see finer details. And like sunglasses - BINTEL Moon filters, come in different shades of darkness. See our webpage for more - $19.95 each
Celestron Eyepiece and Accessory Kit
Not sure what accessories to get?
This 14-piece bundle includes a wide selection of addition eyepieces that complement the ones included with most telescopes to give you a full range. Coloured filters, a Moon filter, 2 x Barlow and a lockable aluminium carry case with room for a couple for more eyepieces completes the kit. $399
Celestron NexYZ Smart Phone Adaptor
You might be surprised to know just how powerful the camera in your phone can be when combined with a telescope.
The simplest way to match them together is the Celestron NexYZ 3-Axis Smartphone Adapter. Works with almost every telescope on the planet - NASA won't let us test it on telescopes they have in orbit - and the perfect way to start taking photos of bright objects like the Moon. $99
BINTEL Twist lock Mirror Star Diagonal
An often-overlooked part of your telescope's optics that can be improved is the star diagonal that comes with refractors and Celestron SCT models like the StarSense Explorer DX 5 and DX 6.
Apart from an improved diagonal mirror itself, the twist lock mechanism securely attaches eyepieces with a quick twist of a ring rather than screws that can mark them. Threaded for filters which means you can swap eyepieces without having to remove and re-attach filters. 1.25" $149 2" (with 1.25" adaptor) $199
Next time...
Handy info for DSRL owners.
Get ready for Milky Way season! We face the spectacular centre of our home galaxy during the long nights of the cooler months and it's the perfect time for widefield astro images. We'll be covering how to photograph the night sky using star tracker mounts ranging from the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer to more advanced models from iOptron.
We'll also be looking at how to attach a DSLR to your telescope for basic astrophotography.
Photo by Cory Keating
