Very good telescope for beginner star gazers!
345350
This is a quality product and it is well designed and built.  The image seen are very clear.  You can spend hours gazing at the stars.  However, the magnification is not as great as I expected.  In fact, this telescope actually duplicated the magnification that I get from my local Walmart telescope.  Of course, my intent was to take my viewing to the next level by buying this telescope which was suppose to be more powerful.  However, I would recommend this item for beginners.
1991020
Item was as described. Very good for a beginner telescope. The viewfinder is very helpful for my 7 year old. Easy enough to use to get him quickly interested. Very good value for the price.
422096
I spent hours researching my first telescope, I am so happy I went with the 90EQ.  Through it I've seen the rings of Saturn, two cloud bands on Jupiter, four Jovian moons, and been able to name individual craters on our own moon.

If you're looking to get into astronomy without spending an arm or a leg, or need a durable 'scope you're not afraid to knock around during travels, this is the one.
1467627
This was pretty cool for my daughter.  I couldn't see quite as much detail on the moon as i was hoping but for the price it is probably a great value because you definately can see a lot.  This is a great first telescope especially for a child, although I have had just as much fun discovering the universe as she is so I guess great for adults as well!  The only problem I have is that it didn't come with instructions on assembly or for use but they do have a web site for assembly and I googled how to use one so it wasn't a major problem just an inconvenience.
1008650
This is an inexpensive telescope and this fact is reflected in the quality of the focuser and overall construction.  HOWEVER - If you are like me and only use a telescope occasionally, this scope is IDEAL.  The optics are surprisingly good and the image quality is crystal clear.  The Autostar controller works quite well at finding and tracking objects.  The scope is very easy to use and I recommend it for the beginning or, as in my case, "occasional" astronomer who does not want to have an expensive investment taking up space in the closet.
2124781
This is the first telescope I've bought and I'm completely satisfied with it. Set up is simple and quick. It's great for viewing large objects, such as the Moon. Looking at star clusters is relatively easy once you get the hang of using the telescope, but finding and focusing specific stars or planets is a bit tricky. **Update** I've now had this telescope for about 6 months now and my experience has only gotten better. After some reading and videos I learned how to properly utilize the mount which has made using the telescope easier. I've also bought 8mm and 6mm eyepieces. With these I've drastically improved my views of the planets. I can now see the bands of Jupiter and it's moons, Saturn and its ring, and a decent view of Mars (view of Mars may have been affected by weather/atmosphere). My only issue is with the finder scope, which seems to move around easily easily and can throw off alignment. Also, the crosshairs are rather hard to see at night and makes centering objects difficult. However it works well enough to get you in the general vicinity and it's not a deal breaker.
2592568
I am having a great time with this scope.  It's not exactly my first scope: I've had a couple pairs of binoculars that I used for astronomical viewing and one 60mm department store refractor that I used primarily for lunar and planetary viewing.  I was wanting a better scope and had been researching them for over a year when I finally decided that the xt6 was the best value for a "real" beginners scope.  It just happened that on the day I decided to order it that the "xt6 and beginner barlow kit" went on sale for the same price as the usual price for the scope alone.  I took it as a sign and placed my order.  If I were reviewing the scope alone it would by all means get 5 stars (6 perhaps if that was an option!!!).  The scope itself is fantastic; seriously made with real optics that to me are crystal clear with the included 25mm eyepiece (of course I'm comparing this to a 60mm refractor).  I've looked at the ring nebula, several globular and open clusters, and several double stars (I'm working my way through "Turn Left at Orion" now...a book I also highly reccomend).  I find myself "ooing and ahhing" at every new sight that comes into my eyepiece...it's really that fantastic!
The four stars are because of the included accessories.  The finder scope I'm pretty sure will be my first upgrade.  Although the red dot pointer has so far stayed on target and taken my eyes to several great sights it has a couple issues.  One is that it does not magnify at all, so that compounded with looking through the glass I actually have a little bit better vision with my unaided eye, and find myself picking out brighter stars to guide the way with my naked eye, and estimating the dimmer ones in the finder scopes.  The other complaint is that sometimes it doesn't work.  The red dot will just not come on.  So far it's only happened a couple times and end up turining it off and back on or bumping it with my hand and it eventually comes back on.  I'm also not so sure about the 2x barlow.  I think including a second medium power eyepiece would be better.  The switch on the red LED flashlight quit working after only a few uses and I turn it on and off by removing the batteries.  The starry night software is a stripped down version that basically just tempts you to buy the real thing.  The included book for learning the stars however is a great beginners sky atlas and I highly reccomend it.
Overall if you can get it on sale like I did then of course go ahead and get the beginner barlow kit, but at full price I would go for just the scope and perhaps a medium power eyepiece (maybe not...I use the lower power almost exclusively).  Better yet use Orions build-a-scope and get a good finderscope right off.  At any rate at this price it's a great deal.  Buy one!!!
490366
I ordered this for my 3 year old. She loves looking at stars and looking for planets. Since she is so young, I did not want to put a lot of money into something she may not use or even like.  For the price I paid, this is perfect.

It introduces her to using a telescope and if she happens to drop it or break it, it's no big deal.

My only complaint would be getting it to focus. The eye piece slides to focus it, which would be ok but it doesn't lock into place and the slightest push or pull will mess it up.
3495207
I was somewhat dismayed at the current rating of only "2" for this fine telescope.  The TwinStar 6" short-
tube reflector has has many wonderful attributes.  First, consider the focal length of 1400 mm, which exceeds
many scopes that cost twice the amount.  It allows even for a 25mm eyepiece to have a minimum power of 56%.  Secondly, the tripod is built to withstand the toughest conditions.  It provides a solid and blur-free resistance for steady observations of your astronomical targets.  Lastly, no scope is any good without the user being able
to locate their target(s).  I found that the finderscope was useless, as with most scopes, but it is easily replaced with a Telrad finder that provides hours of fun for star-hopping from one object to the next. Personally, I like this telescope, its easy to move around, and when set-up properly, gives hours of enjoyable entertainment for viewing the heavens.
3687618
It's a very good telescope for beginner & expert.
Wide field of view & good optic.
Easy to set up ( 5 mins with tripod). Easy to carry with the case.
You also received the Expanded Wide Field eyepiece with 66 degree FOV.
767351
I live in Las Vegas, very close to the Strip, so my light pollution can be pretty awful. Previous to this I had a tiny cheap beginners Dobsonian to see if I really was interested enough in astronomy to be worth investing in something bigger. I am self-teaching how to do astronomy and so at first I was pretty lost. The directions weren't very clear but I got it setup by following the YouTube tutorial and for having zero experience I think I did pretty good. I even had it balanced well enough but did learn the hard way that while balancing the tube itself can swing around unexpectedly and with the counterweight behind it I took a solid hit to the shoulder but I learned from it!

However I had no idea how to use the thing, especially the different axis' (Right Ascension and Declination) to view specific objects/coordinates and did not figure out how to polar align the scope for a couple weeks. I was just out there manhandling the scope and eyeballing it trying to search out objects by luck. After a few weeks with the scope and researching online I feel more comfortable and am really starting to appreciate how cool this thing is.

The tripod is really sturdy so far and the optics seem good. The eyepieces that it came with are cheap but serviceable but the finderscope is even cheaper. I wish the RA knob was a little shorter since I have to put it on the side away from the eyepiece or my boobs bump into it while I'm trying to look at stuff. It is sensitive to vibration especially at higher magnifications but I just bought the vibration suppression pads to see if that helps. I am very happy with this scope and almost took off a star because the instructions were so confusing and I expected an instructions manual to show me basics of how to use it. Overall it is great.
1847949
Was super hesitant but am very pleased by the telescope itself.  The stand immediately broke - and was very cheap, but I already had a good camera stand.  The finder isn't the greatest but not bad.  Overall the telescope is super solid and you can see tons of stars and planets.  Super easy to use.
43001
It's a great telescope, the skychart software that came with it also allows me to plan my viewing sessions ahead of time. It works good for lunar viewing or viewing a star grouping. With the 10mm lens on, you can faintly see the rings of Saturn. It's a great starter telescope that I'll be able to pass down. The only problem I had with it, is that I immediately wanted to get a 6-inch+ scope.
4872089
This is a great package, whether for the advanced user or the beginner.  Definitely worth the full price.  The wooden tripod is beautiful, but it also dampens vibration quite a bit versus an aluminum one.  The Porta II mount is simple to use, and the telescope itself is very well made and attractive as well.  For beginners the only hassle with this will be collimating the telescope once you get it, but Vixen has instructions on the Web for doing this.  5" of aperture is wonderful for gathering light, and the tube and mount are lightweight enough that you can move them around easily.  This is what astronomers call a "grab and go" setup.  Remember, though, that you'll need to let the temperature of the telescope adjust for some time after taking it outside, so plan ahead.  The supplied eyepieces are decent enough, and the offset finder is great, too.  Vixen makes a quality product that is pleasing in form and function, and this is just another example.  Just so it's clear, though:  this telescope is made in China (and the wood tripod is made in Germany).  That pedigree doesn't detract in this case, but maybe that's the reason that the price is low enough for us mortals to enjoy it.  This scope will give decent views of the moon and planets, but it is really made for deep sky scanning.  The f-ratio in this case (f5) gives a pretty wide field of view.  Not my first experience with Vixen products, and I have not been disappointed.

One thing to note:  This ships in several boxes, so be sure to check for "1 of __" stickers on the boxes and look for all packages.  Mine came with two packages on the first day (scope and tripod tray), and Amazon marked it as "Delivered" because there were only two tracking numbers.  The remaining two packages came the next day.
1206663
I've been interested in astronomy for most of my life and finally decided to purchase a telescope.  I spent a while doing my research and settled on the Orion SkyQuest XT8 due to its size, high marks for quality materials, and its price.

As others have noted, it took longer to unpack and verify nothing was missing than it took to assemble the base and mount the scope.  Unfortunately, I did have to spend some time aligning the primary mirror (called collimating) and then sighting in the spotting scope.  Nothing terribly complicated, but it did take a little bit of patience.  The instructions on collimating the mirrors are included and were quite clear.

The telescope comes with one 1.25" 25mm Plossl eyepiece that, when paired with this scope, gives a magnification of 48x.  The eyepieces can easily be swapped out and the telescope can accept either 1.25" or 2" eyepieces.

Once I finally had everything assembled and aligned I got it outside and set up for a first viewing.  I live in a suburban area with moderate light pollution in the skies (mostly low on the horizon) near Pittsburgh, PA.  I was concerned that this might prevent me from getting good views, but that was not the case.  My very first target was Saturn, which was fairly close to the sky glow of light pollution.  I was blown away by the clarity!  With just the basic, included eyepiece (25mm Plossl) I was easily able to see Saturn and its rings, despite them being nearly edge on at the time.  I put a 2x Barlow lens into the eyepiece and the magnified view allowed me to see faint banding in the atmosphere, and a tiny point of light that might have been Titan (one of Saturn's moons).  I was just speechless by how easily I was able to use the telescope.

The next target for viewing was the moon, which was nice and high above the horizon, visible as a waxing crescent.  I was able to pick out individual craters and mountains, and the sharpness of the image made it feel almost as though I was much closer to the moon instead of looking through a telescope.

In short, if you're looking for an excellent telescope for a beginner or a more experienced sky watcher, you'd be hard pressed to go wrong here.
1185980
This is s wonderful starter telescope. Once we set it up we could see the craters on the moon. It is necessary to follow the instructions and download the associated apps to fully set up the system. The wireless capability is also an asset and helps with handheld device interaction.
528946
This was a Christmas gift from my wife last year.  I must say I was a bit skeptical after reading so many poor reviews.  After a year of use I must say that this telescope has reached beyond my expectations.  It was a bit intimidating pulling this out of the box, having never using a telescope before.  It was a relatively easy assembly and the calibration of the finder scope during the day help make objects easy to find at night.  The controls and finder scope need some general maintenance and readjustment from time to time.  Thats about the only fault I have found in the scope is that the control aren't sturdy and that is a minor detail to me for the price tag.  If this was a $400 scope I would have an issue.

The lens has great clarity out of the box and I found no problems locating celestial objects... craters on the moon, Mars, rings of Saturn, bands on Jupiter and orbiting moons, and the Orion Nebula were all highlights. Really enjoy letting kids and family look through the scope and seeing there surprise. It does take a little bit of patience but once I got used to it finding objects in the sky became easy.  Perhaps I was luckier than some with the lens culmination.

I've upgraded one lens with a 32mm Celestron Omni for a wider field range (which works great with a barlow lens for a closer view) and a Orion Moon filter.  I still use the 20mm that came with the scope along with the Barlow lens.  I will probably upgrade the barlow lens to see if there is a big improvement.  I may upgrade to a more powerful telescope one day but for where I live this is the most practical choice.  I expect to get many more years of sky gazing with this scope.