Jason Explorer 400

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Brand and Model:	Jason Explorer 400
Price ($USD):	$150
Type:	Achromatic Refractor
Attributes:	Go-To PEC
Aperture:	60mm
f Ratio:	f/12
Focal Length:	700
Finder:	5x24
Electric Power:
Mount:	EQ-1
Tripod:	adjustable oak
Weight (lbs):	10 lbs.
Dimensions (w/h/d):
Description:	Cheap equatorial 60mm achromatic refractor with coated .965 eyepieces (K20, H12.5, SR4), metal focuser, metal setting circles, cast aluminum EQ mount, .965 prism diagonal.

Vote Highlights

Jason Explorer 400

The Jason 60mm was given to me from a neighbor who said "it was broken".The 400-power badge on the side had me worried,but the telescope was free.I took it apart and found it frustratingly hard to put back together,but it got done once I got the hang of it.The finder works well,despite not gathering too much light and having chromic abberation on very bright objects like Jupiter.I found Arcturus,radically bright in my Meade Telestar NGC-60 and Bushnell 3" Voyager,to be "faint" and small in the Explorer 60mm.I was worried.Indeed,I couldn't find anything fainter than around 7th magnitude,much less any deep-sky objects.I might not have been using this telescope correctly.Also ANY interfering light from streetlamps within 20 feet will really harm this telescope's viewing.The Meade is affected by this a bit,too,but not as much,and the Voyager is invicible towards it(apparently)unless you point right at the light.I thought "IS THIS TELESCOPE GOOD FOR ANYTHING!?!?".Then I looked at Jupiter with the 4mm eyepiece.2 cloud belts,4 moons,bulging equator,dark polar zones,and if it were there I would have seen the Great Red Spot.Next I tried Saturn.I saw the Cassini Divison.Both planets looked phenomenal at 175x.I came to the conclusion that this telescope is for beginners,who won't be able to see ANY deep-sky.It is good on Venus,Mars,Jupiter,Saturn,and the Moon.But it didn't fare well on anything else,I noted.It is also great for land viewing.So,if you want to see nothing but the planets or land objects,the 60mm Explorer is a good deal and holds up at 175x,giving nice views.But if you want Deep-Sky?Then by all means avoid this telescope.I like the planets,which is why I gave it a 7/10,but if Deep-Sky is your thing,you will HATE it and give it a 1/10.Just save around $200 more and buy a XT8 from Orion or something,if that's the case.But hey,this telescope was free,and I got a good deal on it!

Overall Rating: 7
Optics:7 Mount:10 Ease of Use:6 Value:7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date: 05/09/2006 05:29:58 am PST
By: Anonymous (xxx.xxx.4.123)
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=504819

Reply Replies: 0

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