The Meade DS-114AT Telescope

Telescopes have changed a lot in the last century, but one thing remains the same: the sky is still our leading source of knowledge about the universe.To see distant objects like nebulae, distant galaxies, or the rings of Saturn requires a telescope. But the quality of a telescope depends as much on the observer as it does on what is being observed.Meade is a particularly big name in telescopes. Their scopes have earned the respect of amateur astronomers for decades, and the Meade DS-114AT is one of their latest offerings. Read on for a comprehensive review of this telescope and its capabilities.

Table of Contents

What you need to know before buying a telescope

Telescopes are a great investment if you’re looking to see the night sky in all its glory. But before you buy your first telescope, there are a few things you should know.

The first is that telescopes come with different varieties of lenses:
1) Aperture
2) Refractor
3) Reflector
4) Cassegrain
5) Schmidt-Cassegrain
6) Maksutov-Cassegrain
7) Dallin-Kemble Astrograph Telescope

The aperture is how much light the lens can gather, which is important for viewing stars and planets. The reflector collects light from a concave mirror, while the refractor focuses light through an arrangement of lenses (this makes them more expensive). Cassegrain combines both methods into one telescope, while Schmidt-Cassegrain uses mirrors and lenses to produce images that are more compact than other types of telescopes. Finally, Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes use curved mirrors to produce better images than other types of telescopes. It’s important to go into a purchase with these basic distinctions in mind so you know what features and advantages any given type offers over another.

A closer look at DS-114AT

The DS-114AT is one of Meade’s top-of-the-line telescopes for beginners. At 114mm, this is among the largest telescopes in the beginner category. It also comes with several extras that make it stand out in a crowd.

First and foremost, the DS-114AT comes with two eyepieces: 20mm and 10mm. This is great because it lets you start observing objects at different magnifications right out of the box without having to purchase any other accessories.

Second, it offers two brightness settings: low and high. The higher setting is best when you want to see objects like galaxies or nebulae, but the low setting is better for viewing planets or stars.

Third, it offers a fully coated glass lens system and “red dot finder” which makes it easy to locate any object in the sky for your telescope to view.

Finally, it comes with an equatorial mount so that you can follow objects as they move across the sky over time. It also offers an aluminum tripod that allows you to balance the weight of your telescope while viewing objects at various heights off the ground.

What you’ll find in the Meade DS-114AT telescope

The Meade DS-114AT telescope is a very affordable option for amateur astronomers. It’s a great choice if you’re looking to buy your first telescope and want something that gives you the perfect balance of quality, features, and price.

The DS-114AT is a 4-inch Newtonian telescope with an aperture of 114mm (4.5 inches) and a focal length of 1000mm. The 114mm aperture makes this scope a good choice for viewing bright objects like the moon and planets in our solar system. This particular model has a mounting stand with slow-motion control cables that allow for smooth object tracking as long as there isn’t too much vibration from touching or bumping the tripod.

The optical system

The Meade DS-114AT also has an optical system that is designed to increase the contrast of what you are observing, which will make the details stand out more.

The scope also has a built-in finder scope, which makes it easy to locate your target object in the sky. The finder scope is right on top of the main telescope tube at about 45 degrees from straight up.

There is also a built-in 9×50 optical finder for quick access to your target object. This eyepiece is located at the side of the telescope tube and it can be flipped down for use when needed.

This telescope also comes with two 1.25” Kellner eyepieces: one 20x magnification and one 10x magnification eyepiece. These come equipped with their own lens covers for protection from dust or debris when not in use.

Features of the Meade DS-114AT telescope

The DS-114AT is a relatively small telescope with a 114mm aperture and 475mm focal length. It offers a 3x Barlow lens, which doubles the magnification of images viewed. The scope is available in either an altazimuth or equatorial mount, although we recommend the latter for astrophotography.

While this telescope is one of the more affordable on the market, it’s still designed for intermediate to advanced users. The Meade DS-114AT doesn’t come with any other accessories, such as eyepieces or filters; you’ll need to buy these separately if you want to make use of this scope to its fullest potential.

What do users say about the Meade DS-114AT?

The Meade DS-114AT is an excellent telescope for an affordable price. It features a 114mm aperture, with a 1000mm focal length. The up-to-date technology means you can use this telescope to appreciate celestial objects in a way that owners of older models may not have been able to.
This scope has a long focal length, which means it is less likely to be affected by atmospheric turbulence. It also comes with a 20mm Plossl eyepiece and 4×24 finder scope that help you locate celestial objects and track them as they move across the sky.

It also has easy setup and transport, thanks to its collapsible design. This makes it easier to take these scopes with you on your adventures, or set it up quickly when you’re visiting family or friends and want to show them what’s out there (or just do some casual stargazing).

Some users did complain about the quality of the build materials, but those were largely outweighed by the praise this scope received from other owners. Many people commented on how well the optics work; one user mentioned that they loved being able to see lunar craters up close.

In general, most users are happy with their purchase of this telescope – it’s got good optics for a very affordable price tag. If you’re looking for an entry-level telescope, this may be just what you’re looking for!

What you can see with the DS-114AT telescope

The Meade DS-114AT is an excellent telescope for amateurs and beginners. With this scope, you can see objects like the Orion nebula, the Rosette nebula, or the Andromeda galaxy. You can also get a closer look at planets like Venus or Mars. The quality of what you see will depend largely on your location, time of year when viewing, and light pollution in your area.

Meade recommends using the DS-114AT telescope in low to moderate light pollution areas where there are no artificial lights shining near the horizon. This means looking out over a valley, or away from city centers with their high light pollution levels.

The mount and motorized platform

One of the most important aspects of a telescope is what it’s mounted on. A stable and accurate mount will help you enjoy your observations without frustration or motion sickness. The DS-114AT has a German equatorial mount with dual-axis drives, ensuring that any movement will be smooth, accurate, and fluid.

Another important aspect is the motorized platform. This particular telescope has a 10214 motorized platform which will allow you to track celestial objects as they move in the sky. This is important for amateurs or professionals alike who want to see objects like galaxies or nebulae without having to wait hours for them to come into view.

Final verdict on the Meade DS-114AT telescope

The Meade DS-114AT telescope is a great entry-level scope with a lot of features that make it easy to use. It has a 114mm aperture and 1000mm focal length, which makes it perfect for viewing objects in the sky. The scope comes with an adjustable tripod that has a height range of 39” to 66”, making it perfect for those who are short or tall.

The scope also comes with two eyepieces: the A25 26mm eyepiece and the 9×50 finder scope. These eyepieces are made from high-quality glass, which means you will never have trouble seeing what you want to see.

Meade also has lifetime technical support on their products, so you can always contact them if something goes wrong with your scope.
While this telescope may not be as high quality as some higher-end scopes, for an entry-level scope it is excellent quality and provides fun for all ages!