I bought this knowing nothing about telescopes and not knowing what I could expect to see through this thing.
Now I know more, I think this is a decent value, but it comes with A LOT of cons.
In telescopes, the aperture size matters much more than magnification. The bigger the aperture, the better the image will be. This is a 70mm aperture (2.75 inches), which is about as small as you can get. It's typical for an "entry-level" telescope, and a decent value for the money if you want to get into stargazing without dropping 500 bucks or more on a bigger scope.
However, if I could do it over again, I would've spent more and gone with a better one.
First, as with all beginner telescopes, it is actually much harder to use than a more intermediate level one. This is something well-known in the amateur astronomy group I've joined, and they never, EVER recommend buying a beginner telescope, ESPECIALLY for kids.
Because most kids like looking AT stuff more than looking FOR it. And with this telescope, far more time is spent hunting for objects than actually looking at them.
My kid doesn't have the patience or attention span for that, but I rather enjoy the challenge, so I do it. Which brings me to the next problem.
This is made for kids. As such, the stand is very short. Which means that all the time you spend hunting for things, you'll having to be hunched over, crouched down, or kneeling on the ground.
And if you live in a place with a lot of light pollution, you won't be able to see much more than stars, the Moon, or the brightest planets. Even Mars is difficult to see through this telescope, and you can't make out any detail whatsoever on the surface.
You can make out SOME faint detail on Jupiter, especially if you go away from light pollution on a clear, moonless night. And you can just make out Saturn's rings.
Venus, on the other hand, is very easy to see. Especially now, near the end of April 2020, it is the brightest it'll be all year, so we've been looking at it every night. It's too bright, even at its dimmest, to make out any detail, but you can see what phase it's in.
Galaxies, most nebulas, and many star clusters are beyond the ability of this telescope, but that being said, I was able to see a planetary nebula called The Ghost of Jupiter last night.
For perspective, I've had a few weeks of use and practice, and feel comfortable with the telescope, and have a number of apps, charts, and star maps to help me find things, and it STILL took over an hour for me to finally find it, put it close enough to the center of my field of view to use with max magnification, and put it in focus.
And even then, it looked like a hazy, bluish star. We couldn't make out any detail or the distinctive eye-shape that can be seen with even slightly larger scopes.
Still, it was cool and the kid loved it. I consider it worth the effort, but my back is killing me today.
Don't get me wrong, for an entry-level telescope, this is good. It'll serve our needs while we save up for an upgrade. But, like all entry-level telescopes, this is harder to use and not powerful enough to see much.
All the time required to hunt for things, for what many may consider a disappointing result, could potentially end up killing a kid's enthusiasm.
If you absolutely MUST get an entry-level telescope, this is a good choice. But if at all possible, save up and get a larger aperture.
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From the manufacturer
Gskyer Telescope AZ70400
Stepping into the art of stargazing for the very first time can be an overwhelming experience. Overly complicated telescopes, hidden features, and confusing accessories only make the process of getting started more difficult. A balance between affordable and performance are two of the most important aspects to consider before purchasing any telescope. The Gskyer Instruments Infinity 70mm telescope manages to do exactly that – An affordable affordable for a high quality telescope.
What makes this particular model ideal for any beginner astronomer? Here’s a brief overview:
- The visual resolution and optical capabilities are top tier for the low-end affordable.
- Assembly is not overly complicated and beginner friendly.
- The aperture diameter divided by the focal length calculates the magnifying power of a telescope. The Gskyer possess a 70 mm aperture and 400 mm focal length, which results in precise and high-resolution images.
- The telescope is compact and portable.
What's in the box?
- 1x Carry Bag
- 1x Aluminum Alloy Tripod
- 1x Telescope Tube
- 1x Finder Scope
- 1x Zenith Mirror
- 2x Eyepieces(10mm,25mm)
- 1x Barlow Lens(3X)
- 1x Phone Attachment And Blutooth Remote
- 1x Accessory Tray
- 1x User Manual
ABOUT MAGNIFICATION
Gskyer telescope is a cost-effective one with bright image quality and high magnification power. 25 mm, and 10 mm eyepiece all offer varying levels of magnification.
Which is very suitable for kids, beginners and amateur astronomer to explore the sky, the moon, the planet. Meanwhile, you can enjoy landscapes during the day.
- 3X Barlow lens increase the magnification three times,which can make the magnification up to 120X
- Additional accessories are compatible with the Infinity 70 mm and can further enhance the telescopes optical ability
- Fully coated optical all-glass lens create high transmission coatings for enhanced image brightness and clarity.
Travel Scope AZ70400
Traveled - The body, accessories, and tripod are lightweight and fit conveniently in the provided travel bag for easy portability. for backyard exploring, outdoor adventures, camping trips, and vacations, both kids and adults will enjoy of discovery and observation fun.
Installation - Assembly typically takes anywhere from 15-30 minutes. Regardless of previous astronomical equipment experience, the step-by-step guide makes putting the telescope together quick and easy.
Simplicity and Convenience - Lenses are easily swapped, and the focused uses a standard rack-and-pinion system, allowing fine-tuning to produce a vibrant image. Wide angle and latest generation of HD Gskyer eyepiece are more comfortable to see objects without eye fatigue and dizziness.
Choosing - The affordability of the Gskyer AZ70400 telescope makes it an ideal choice for beginners seeking a telescope that meets a balance between quality and affordable.
Compare with similar items
This Item  Gskyer Telescope, 70mm Aperture 400mm AZ Mount Astronomical Refracting Telescope for Kids Beginners - Travel Telescope with Carry Bag, Phone Adapter and Wireless Remote |  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | -25% $96.99 List: $129.99 | -5% $99.99 List: $104.99 | -15% $59.49 List: $69.99 | -6% $89.99 List: $95.99 | $99.99 | $48.99 |
| Delivery | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 19 | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 19 | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 19 | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 19 | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 19 | Get it as soon as Friday, Jul 19 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Easy to assemble | ||||||
| For beginners | ||||||
| Easy to use | ||||||
| Portability | ||||||
| Light weight | ||||||
| Sold By | Gskyer Inc | HUTACT Optics | Woot | Qniuco | Dianfan-US | EMARTUS |
| focal length | 400 millimeters | — | 300 millimeters | 600 millimeters | 600 millimeters | 400 millimeters |
| focus type | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus | Manual Focus |
| zoom ratio | 120 multiplier x | — | 10 | — | 3 multiplier x | — |
| eye piece lens | Barlow | Barlow | Barlow | Barlow | Plossl | Barlow |
| objective lens diameter | 70 millimeters | 70 millimeters | 70 millimeters | 70 millimeters | 80 millimeters | 70 millimeters |
| aperture diameter | 70 millimeters millimeters | — | 70 millimeters millimeters | 70 millimeters millimeters | — | — |
Videos
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Easy To Use? Gskyer Telescope Review
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Gskyer Telescope: Great for Beginners
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WATCH ME Gskyer Telescope Review
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Watch this video before you buy this telescope!
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Customer Review: don't spend your money
Leticia De Matos
Reviews with images
Awesome for the $100 i spent on this!
Absolutely amazing for the price I paid! Pictures taken with my S23 Ultra and the Telescope together. The only reason im not giving a full five stars is stability with the phone mount. I don't fully blame this on the manufacturer since my phone is a beast, but I wish the mounting system was more stabile as most photos I took came out overexposed because of shaking. Other than that it's a treat!
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Top reviews from other countries
icu nxtime
Comes with a lot of attachments
Reviewed in Canada on May 9, 2024Color: WhiteVerified Purchase
Eduardo
Muy buena compra
Reviewed in Mexico on November 22, 2020Color: AZ70400Verified Purchase
Eduardo
Reviewed in Mexico on November 22, 2020
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