The Bresser 114/500 Solarix

So, I have had my telescope for 8 weeks now and though I have been happy with it I am looking buy a bigger scope.

 

The telescope has been great and offered some stunning views of the planets.

 

Jupiter.

 

This was the first thing I looked at on a very cold and crisp January evening. I was amazed at the view. To be able to see the planet and the red/orange bands of cloud as well as it moons was simply wonderous, a memory I will never forget.

 

Saturn.

 

This was the second planet I looked at. I spent over 90 minutes completely I awe of what I was seeing. Sure, it was tiny, and I could only just make out its rings, but I was looking at Saturn, SATURN!!!

I cannot wait until it once again become visible in the night sky.

 

Mars.

 

Mars has been an utter disappointment for me. I have managed to find it easily, but I have been unable to resolve any detail at all on its surface. Perhaps my telescope lacks the power to bring out the details or maybe I need to invest in better eyepieces.

 

Venus.

 

I have read the Venus is boring and featureless. And on my first night of viewing her I would have agreed. However, last night 22/02/25, I spent a good 30 minutes watching her as she flew across the night sky. She was in crescent phase and thought blinding bright, she looked beautiful. I will certainly be viewing her again, perhaps with a moon filter to cut the glare.

 

Orion Nebular.

 

Turn expectation into appreciation is a phrase that will always stay with me after hearing Jason on his YouTube channel Small Optics. The internet is flooded with stunning images of planets and deep sky objects, so when I first saw the nebular in Orion, I had mixed feelings at first.

However, this has become one of my favourite targets. The view seems to change from night to night I seem to be able to find more nebulosity every time. It is amazing to think I can see clouds of dust, forming new stars from 1500 light years away. Viewing this target brings real prospective and wonder and real sense that I am indeed looking back in time. I don’t think I will ever get bored of this target.

 

The Pleiades.

 

The seven sisters’ reputation for being a beautiful sight isn’t unfounded. Like the Orion nebula, this cluster of stars is a favourite of mine. To see so many stars packed into such a small area is simply gorgeous to look at. I find myself hopping to the Pleiades every time I am out with the telescope.

 

The Moon.

 

My first experience viewing the moon with my Bresser 114/500 brought back memories of looking through my dad’s telescope. However, I used a Moon filter and because my telescope is better than the one my dad had, my mind was blown. The detail I can see then the moon is in one of its phases is amazing. I have even bought myself a move-shoot-move phone holder so I can take photos of it next tie it is in the sky.

 

So why am I wanting a bigger scope?

The 114/500 seems a little limiting on what I can see, and it does have some frustrations.

The focuser isn’t great, it can be a little stiff. The mount can also make tracking objects in the sky tricky as it isn’t overly smooth.

 

More importantly, however, I want to be able to see more deep sky objects too faint for my current telescope to gather enough light from. More aperture and focal length will also allow me to see greater detail on targets I am already viewing.

 

I will probably keep the 114/500 as it is small enough to travel will. It will even go in hand luggage, useful for when we go on holiday overseas!