Orion Xt6 Telescope

Everything You Need to Know Before Purchasing This Amazing Beginner Telescope

The Orion XT6 telescope is one of the most popular beginner telescopes on the market today. With its 6-inch aperture, excellent optics, and sturdy yet portable Dobsonian base, it offers an unbeatable combination of performance and value.

But with so many telescopes to choose from, how do you know if the XT6 is right for you? This comprehensive buying guide will walk you through everything you need to consider before purchasing the Orion XT6 telescope.

Key Features of the Orion XT6

The Orion XT6 boasts many features that make it an excellent choice for aspiring stargazers. Here are some of the most notable:

• 6-inch parabolic primary mirror – This provides 150x more light gathering ability than the human eye. The large aperture allows you to see fainter and more distant objects.
• Excellent optics – The optics are hand-figured and coated with high-transmission coatings for crisp, clear views. The mirrors have a diffraction-limited optical resolution.
• Reflector telescope design – This catadioptric design offers great optics at an affordable price. It’s shorter and easier to use than a refractor telescope.
• Dobsonian base – The manually-controlled base allows simple point-and-view navigation of the night sky. It’s intuitive and easy to use.
• Collimatable optics – You can precisely align the mirrors as needed to optimize performance. Collimation gets easier with practice.
• Portable and compact – Weighing just 30 lbs, the XT6 is easy to transport and set up in your backyard or darker sky sites.

How Easy is it to Set Up?

One of the biggest advantages of the Orion XT6 is how user-friendly it is. The Dobsonian mount makes setup a breeze:

• Simply place the telescope base on any flat, level surface.
• Attach the optical tube by inserting the dovetail bar into the dob base.
• Add an eyepiece and point the scope towards an object.

That’s it! The intuitive design allows first-time users to have the XT6 assembled in minutes. While collimating the mirrors may take some practice, the basic setup is very straightforward. This makes it an excellent telescope for beginners.

Where to Buy Online

The Orion XT6 is sold through many major online retailers. Here are some of the best places to buy:

• Direct from Orion Telescopes – This allows you to customize your accessories and includes free shipping.
• Amazon – Wide availability with fast, free shipping for Prime members. Watch for deals.
• High Point Scientific – Large selection of bundles and packages to choose from.
• OPT Telescopes – Specializes in astronomy gear. Also sells via eBay store.
• AgenaAstro – Reliable astronomy retailer with excellent customer service.

Be sure to compare prices between retailers. Bundles with accessories like eyepieces can offer great value.

Price and Budgeting

The Orion XT6 offers an unbelievable value for a beginner telescope. The base price is around $300 for the optical tube and dob mount. With accessories, expect to spend:

• Base package – $280 – $320
• With accessories – $350 – $450
• Deluxe bundle – $500+

While more expensive than some beginner scopes, the XT6 performs at a level comparable to telescopes costing much more. The quality and capabilities make it well worth the investment for a starter instrument.

For maximum value, consider purchasing the base XT6 package and adding accessories gradually over time. You can also find great deals buying used.

XT6 Reviews from Owners

reviews for Orion XT6 have been overwhelmingly positive. Here’s what actual users have to say:

“The best entry level scope on the market. Amazing views of planets and nebulae for an affordable price.”

“I was able to see Saturn’s rings clearly along with tons of nebulae from my backyard. The optics are crystal clear.”

“Easy to put together right out of the box. Ideal for kids getting started stargazing.”

“Great balance of aperture, portability and price. I bring it camping and stargazing frequently.”

“The optics rival much more expensive telescopes. Excellent quality given the reasonable cost.”

The XT6 gets consistent high marks for its performance, ease of use and value. It’s a favorite as a first serious telescope.

Aperture Size

The key specification to consider on the Orion XT6 is its 6-inch aperture primary mirror. This provides:

• 78x more light gathering than the human eye.
• Resolving power up to 0.75 arc seconds.
• Bright, high-resolution views of solar system and deep sky objects.

The large aperture makes it well-suited for visual astronomy of nebulae, star clusters, galaxies and planets. It’s an ideal balance of portability and light gathering ability.

Portability and Transport

Weighing 30 lbs, the XT6 is designed for easy transport:

• Light enough to be carried long distances by hand.
• Breaks down into components for packing in a car.
• The dob base disassembles easily.
• Optical tube candetach from the mount.

The manageable size and weight mean you can take it to dark sky observing locations away from city lights. Set up is quick and simple upon arriving at your viewing site.

For compact storage, the tube can be removed from the base and stored seperately. Just be sure to realign the optics when reassembling.

Included Accessories

The basic Orion XT6 package includes the essential components you need:

• 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece – Gives 48x magnification.
• 10mm Sirius Plossl eyepiece – For 120x magnification views.
• 6×30 finderscope – Helps accurately aim the telescope.
• Collimation cap – Allows adjustment of the mirrors.
• Dobsonian base – Provides smooth motion control.
• Visual back – Holds 1.25″ eyepieces and accessories.

While basic, this provides everything you need to start observing. Additional eyepieces and filters can expand the telescope’s capabilities over time.

Is It Good for Beginners?

The Orion XT6 is widely regarded as one of the best telescopes for beginners and hobbyists. Key reasons include:

• Large aperture provides great views.
• Reflector design needs less maintenance.
• Dobsonian mount is very easy to use.
• Easy to transport to dark sites.
• Good balance of size and weight.
• Very reasonable cost.
• Huge online support resources.

The intuitive operation, quality optics and ample light gathering make it an ideal first serious telescope. While collimation takes practice, it’s a worthy skill to master.

How Does It Compare to Other Telescopes?

As a beginner’s reflector, the Orion XT6 stands out from competitors in several key ways:

• Offers more aperture than comparably-priced refractors.
• Views as sharp and crisp as more expensive reflectors.
• Larger and more stable than similarly-sized dobsonians.
• Less expensive and easier to use than most computerized telescopes.
• Unbeatable value compared to achromatic refractors.
• Very affordable given the quality of the optics.

If your budget is under $500, the XT6 provides a superb combination of usability, portability and performance compared to other options. It punches far above its price class.

Focal Length

The Orion XT6 has a focal length of 1200 mm with a focal ratio of f/8.

The relatively long focal length provides good magnification with standard eyepieces. With the included 25mm eyepiece, it gives 48x magnification.

The f/8 focal ratio offers a balance of light gathering power and wide field of view. This makes it well suited to Deep Sky observing.

With quality eyepieces in the 6mm to 15mm range, the 1200mm focal length can provide 100x to 200x magnification. Useful for lunar and planetary observing.

Astrophotography Use

While designed as a visual telescope, the XT6 can be adapted for basic astrophotography using:

• Prime focus photography – Attaching your DSLR camera directly to the telescope. Allows wide field images.
• Eyepiece projection – Using an eyepiece to project onto the camera sensor. Good for lunar/planetary shots.
• Piggyback photography – Mounting your camera lens parallell to the telescope tube for widefield images.
• Equatorial platform – An add-on motorized mount for astrophotography.
• Field flattener/coma corrector – An accessory to reduce optical aberrations when imaging.

With some DIY modifications, the XT6 can produce nice images of the moon along with bright deep sky objects like nebulae and star clusters.

Maintenance and Care

With proper maintenance, an XT6 can deliver years of enjoyable stargazing. Recommended care includes:

• Collimating – Aligning the mirrors for peak performance. Should be done periodically.
• Cleaning optics – Using optical wipes and lens cleaner to remove dust on mirrors.
• Securing parts – Check hardware to ensure parts like mirror cells are tightly secured.
• Storage – Keep assembled in a clean, dry, temperate area when not in use.
• Transport – Carefully pack components in a well-padded case for travel.

Take time to practice collimation and become familiar with adjusting the optics. Also inspect it before each use for any dust buildup or loose hardware.

What You Can See with an XT6

With its 6-inch aperture, the Orion XT6 provides stunning views of:

• Solar System – Jupiter’s cloud bands and Great Red Spot. Saturn’s rings and moons. Mars surface features and ice caps.
• Deep sky objects – Orion Nebula, Andromeda galaxy, Pleiades and more star clusters.
• Brighter nebulae – Lagoon, Trifid, Omega and Eagle Nebulae in intricate detail.
• Lunar craters – Hundreds of craters, mountains and rilles visible on the Moon.
• Star colors – Resolve subtle color differences in many binary star systems.

With light pollution filters and a dark sky site, the number of nebulae, galaxies and star clusters visible increases dramatically.

Planetary Performance

With its fine optics and smooth dobsonian mount, the XT6 delivers impressive views of planets like:

• Jupiter – Cloud bands, Great Red Spot and the 4 brightest moons.
• Saturn – Cassini division in the rings, subtle banding on surface.
• Mars – Polar ice caps, dust storms, Syrtis Major region.
• Venus – Phases and extremely pure white color.
• Mercury – Difficult planet but phases and surface features possible.

For critical planetary observing, try adding premium long eye relief eyepieces and planetary filters to maximize contrast and details.

Different Models Available

Orion offers several versions of the XT6 with varying accessories:

• XT6 Classic – Basic package. Comes with two eyepieces.
• XT6 Plus – Adds more accessories like Barlow lens.
• XT6i – IntelliScope computerized object location.
• XT6 Signature series – Premium optics and mechanical upgrades.

While accessories can be nice, the classic model provides the best bang for your buck. Add-ons can always be purchased later as needs evolve.

Durability and Lifespan

The Orion XT6 is designed for longevity and durability:

• Steel altitude bearing – Allows smooth vertical motion of tube assembly.
• Baltic birch base – Provides stability and strength to support heavy load.
• Aluminum optical tube – Resists flexion while remaining lightweight.
• Collimation tested – Each component pre-aligned at factory.
• Simplicity of design – Not overly complex, making repairs easier.

With proper maintenance and care, an XT6 should provide a lifetime of astronomy enjoyment. Replacement parts are also available directly from Orion if ever needed.

Warranty

The XT6 comes backed by Orion’s standard 1 year limited warranty. This warrants against defects in workmanship and materials for 1 year from date of purchase.

Notably, this covers the critical optics like the mirrors and lenses. Orion has a reputation for good customer service if any issues arise during the warranty period.

As with any product containing glass elements, inspect the optics carefully upon receipt and report any shipping damage immediately. Orion will work to promptly resolve any issues.

Included Mount

The dobsonian base included with the XT6 provides key benefits:

• Allows smooth and simple directional control.
• Provides stable, vibration-free support for the optics.
• Easily adjustable altitude and azimuth.
• Matches excellent mobility with usability.
• Gives intuitive pointing unlike equatorial mounts.
• Significantly cheaper than motorized mounts.

The dobsonian mount makes the XT6 incredibly beginner friendly while delivering great views. Pushing the telescope manually develops a feel for tracking celestial motion.

Collimating the Optics

Collimating refers to aligning the mirrors for optimal focus and performance. The XT6 gives access to:

• Primary mirror – 3 adjustment knobs to center in base.
• Secondary mirror – Centerable by adjusting tilt.
• Reflection of primary – Seen through collimation cap.

Use included tools like collimation cap and adjust until concentric reflections are centered on each mirror. This tuning maximizes sharpness and contrast.

Collimation takes patience and practice, but is crucial to bringing out the full optical potential of the XT6. Tools and tutorials make the process very accessible, even for beginners. Don’t be intimidated!

Conclusion

From its generous 6-inch aperture to its intuitively designed dobsonian base, the Orion XT6 offers an unbeatable package for aspiring backyard astronomers. It combines powerful light gathering ability with unmatched ease of use. Simply put, no other telescope near this price point can compete with the features and performance the XT6 brings to the table. Whether you’re a novice just getting into the hobby or a seasoned veteran, the XT6 is arguably the best bang for your buck on the market. With proper care and maintenance, it will provide a lifetime of spectacular celestial views.