Bought these on a flash sale and we love using them for gazing at the moon when we are camping. Much better than carrying a big (not great quality) telescope that we were previously using.

The Orion 130ST is a great mid level telescope system. it has some nice bells and whistles on it, I had no issues putting it together as I have had similar weighted bases, to someone who is not a hands on/put together yourself person might be a little intimidating. My family and I were able to see the moon and the creators clearly as well as some additional stars - sorry dont know their names not that professional - but has the kids interested in science and engineering and speeding several hours a week using it (when weather/clouds allow)

After receiving this telescope as a gift I was really excited to see what it can do. With the included eyepieces I was amazed by the detail of the moon. Being able to see dozens of craters and different shades of grey was awesome. Then the inevitable happened...I ordered the Orion Premium Accessory Kit, which I highly recommend, then a tripod, which I also recommend. All in all, the telescope itself was a gateway drug! I have not spent a ton of time with it yet because it has been really cold at night but any clear sky I get, I am out on my patio or walking around looking for the perfect location because I am 100% addicted! Teaming this telescope with the Starter Kit now always me to see the bands on Jupiter and it's four biggest moons with no problem at all. I highly recommend this thing but beware, you will probably be addicted pretty quickly!!

After a lot of research purchased this telescope because it was recommended for beginners and great for travel. Like many people, we live in an area with a lot of light pollution so to really see the stars we need to travel. I recommend reading the directions carefully and practice a few times at home before taking it out at night. Our first time using at a dark skies location, it was approximately 26 degrees out and the wind was really blowing. Knowing how to assemble in the dark was paramount to success out there. Can't wait to for the next adventure.And even though we have to deal with light pollution, even from home could see Polaris, Saturn (not the rings), and Jupiter. The moon was really beautiful. It's fun to use in combo with the Sky Guide app on cell phone.

It's a great piece and I feel during my expedition it's really gives more enjoyment than before. My lilttle daughter also enjoys by looking moon so closely.

I was not sure what to expect for the price but I was pleasantly surprised. I bought it for Grand Daughter but before I sent it off to her I had to open it up and check it out for myself.The instruction were very clear and east to follow. The view finder scope with the crosshairs is a nice little add that helps to locate your target before you look through the main lense, otherwise it can be quite difficult for a kid to locate an object far away just with the scope. I liked the 2 eye pieces that allow for viewing objects closer and further away. With the closer eyepiece I could view trees clearly in the far distance and the longer range worked great at looking at the moon, I would image you would have to spend a lot more money to get better images.It is very light and perfect for a beginner to see if they have an interest in the evening sky, get your kids hooked on this telescope and if they handle this one with respect and care then spend the big bucks on a professional telescope.When my granddaughter received the scope she was very exited and when she looked at the moon for the first time she was amazed at what the moon actually looks like with all the craters.I would really recommend this telescope for a beginner.

To be fair I have only had this telescope since yesterday. But it was easy to put together. Getting it set up will require you to go watch some YouTube videos to actually USE. The instruction manual came in 5/6 different languages but the photos were very small and didn’t always show exactly how or what direction things are supposed to go. There are however videos you can go watch that will help you along if you’re new to this. It came in several boxes like a Russian nesting doll. But it was definitely safe when it was delivered. It was slightly overcast last night so after getting it set up we were able to see a lot of really wonderful detail on the moon, I cannot wait for a clear sky and a full moon! I’ve wanted a telescope since I was 5, this one has exceeded my expectations so far and I’m looking forward to seeing more things! Btw the software that comes with this is phenomenal!!! Taking it out tonight too :)

This is a fantastic book about the universe. It's a great book to introduce children to space exploration, to see if it "sticks" as something they are very interested in. With all that is going on with the Perseverance Mars rover, SpaceX and NASA going to the Moon and Mars, and the Hubble and hopefully soon to be launched Webb telescope, there is going to be a lot of space-related news and this is a great way to get kids excited about it I think. It has a ton of information in it, so they should be able to keep coming back to this book over and over again if it interests them, which with how pretty the book is it most likely will!