Since the Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope has been launched, the sales and popularity of the scope have been on a continued rise. Beginner and amateur astronomers have now a very wide range of telescopes and tools to satisfy their inquisitive minds and passionate dedication, and still thisscope model manages to remain competitive. The Orion SkyScanner range of telescopes is among the best when it comes to tradition, high quality, professionalism and crystal clear images, so today we will look into the Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope, advertised as a perfect beginner’s tool for deep sky gazing and a reliable companion during field and camping trips.
If you ever read some Orion company reviews or, better yet, Orion telescopes reviews, you know that Orion has been offering some of the best price/quality balanced products on the market for over 40 years. But the question still remains: is the Orion 10012 Skyscanner reflector telescope as good as many customer ratings and professional telescope reviewers say? Let’s find out!
What is the Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope?
This Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope review will begin with a few notes on what you can actually see with it. Beyond tech specs, numbers, ratios and complicated details, a beginner astronomer should first and foremost learn what the scope can actually perform. So today we will start by telling you that you can use this Orion Skyscanner 100mm reflector telescope to see the Moon in full detail, with craters and surface textures and shades; Jupiter, with its clouds and moons, in bright and clear images, especially if you live in a low light-polluted area; Saturn with all its rings and its moon Titan; Mars, in good colours, depending on the time of year you look at it; the Pleiades star clusters and the Orion Nebula and Andromeda Nebula. Now these are convincing reasons for any beginner astronomer to take a deeper look into the tech specs of this telescope.
Tabletop telescopes are usually considered advanced toys for children or decorative pieces at most for those with original ideas when it comes to interior design. However, the Orion SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector telescope is definitely not a toy, but one of the best reflector telescopes on the market in the $100 price range.
(Click image to see more pictures on Amazon)
This one provides a 100 mm aperture with wide – view field, a focal length of 400 mm and a focal ratio of f/4. Add two 1.25 inch eyepieces with 20X and 40X magnification options, respectively, with aluminum optical coatings and parabolic primary mirror optics with glass lenses and you will get a powerful beginners’ telescope which can bring you the Milky Way closer to home, in bright, crisp images without no effort whatsoever.
You will be happy to also find out that the Orion SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector telescope can be used right out of the box, as it is a compact, rather small and sturdy piece of equipments which doesn’t need much effort to be assembled and used. One great feature you should know about is that the Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope manual is written clearly, simply, in plain correct English, with detailed instructions and guidelines to be easily understood even by children. The manual contains a comprehensive how to use the Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope section, making it a reliable assistant when you have your first time experience with this jewel.
Many Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope reviews also mention the bonus it comes with: the Starry Night Special Edition astronomy software is a dream came true for all passionate amateur astronomers. It is a comprehensive and extended database, easy to install and use – a powerful instrument to get educated and instructed in the mysteries of the sky.
All good telescopes for beginners should also come with some added perks to make the user’s journey easier and more comfortable, and this Orion 10012 Skyscanner reflector telescope comes together with an EZ Finder II reflex sight for better aiming and also a 3/8″-to-1/4″-20 threaded adapter for tripod attachment, in case you want to take the scope outside.
Pros and Cons to Using the Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope
PROS:
- The Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope images are crystal clear, bright and crisp, allowing you to see full details lunar viewings with craters and textures, bright planets and stars and even deep sky celestial objects such as nebulas and star clusters;
- Many specialized telescope reviewers praise this telescope for its high quality optics features and optics design (including aperture, focal length, lenses and magnification power), the best money can buy in this price range;
- It is solidly built, sturdy and stable, being safe on a table and also easy to mount on a tripod in case you want to take it in less light-polluted areas, such as open fields or mountain tops;
- It is ready to use right out of the box and easy to assemble even for children and beginners;
- It comes with an EZ Finder II finder scope which allows better aiming and focusing on the celestial objects
- It provides wide-angle and low-power viewings of celestial bodies
- The Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope manual is easy to understand, with clear instructions and guidelines
- The Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope price is one of its best features, as you won’t find any time soon 100 mm parabolic primary mirror optics with these tech specs in the $100 price range.
CONS:
- Some purchased telescopes have to be returned as they come defective (still, according to our telescope consumer reports, this has only happened on rare occasions).
Where to Find the Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope?
This more than affordable telescope can be found on Amazon. The best price and offer for the Amazon Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope is $109.94. As many reviewers already mentioned, this telescope is the best money can buy if you don’t want to exceed a low budget, but want top quality. In comparison with other products, this scope wins any race, not only because it is cheap, but because it provides an incredible quality/price balance. It makes an awesome piece of equipment for deep sky gazing and also a tasteful decorative object for the living room.
Extra Info:
Maintenance Advice
This small, compact and lightweight telescope should be places on a stable table or piece of furniture to avoid mechanical damages due to falling off the table. However, as maintenance goes, the Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope should be stored or kept away from dust and humidity and also direct sunlight. The lenses should be cleaned with microfiber cloths.
Telescope Accessories
Besides the EZ Finder II, the Starry Night software, the two eyepieces and one 1 Lithium ion battery, the telescope can be furthermore accessorized with color filters and a tripod (as the tripod attachment is already included in the box). Plenty of lenses and different eyepiece models are also available.
Warranty and Guarantee Information
The Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope comes with 1 year of warranty for repairs and replacements due to normal wear and tear.
Our Recommendation
If you are curious to see with your own eyes how well this telescope works in seeing the Moon for instance, we recommend you to search for Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope YouTube presentations. Just as many other specialized reviewers before us mentioned, this is one fine piece of telescope within this price range. If you are just testing another hobby to see how it goes, the Orion 10012 SkyScanner 100mm TableTop Reflector Telescope comes with an impossible-to-refuse offer, especially when the product boasts such great qualities and tech specs. Even if you advance to mid-level astronomy and even pro-level – requiring bigger, more powerful scopes, you can safely keep this one for kids and for daily family entertainment. Place it on a table or on a piece of furniture in the backyard and enjoy an astronomy experience like none other!
Subhendu says
It’s a very good one of it’s price range but only upto saturn. Very difficult for further morr planets to sesrch through it.