Telescope Nerd » Orion Funscope

Orion Funscope

(13 customer reviews)

From: $69.99 (incl. VAT plus shipping costs)

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The Orion FunScope is a beginner-friendly reflecting telescope designed for young adults and kids. It features a 76 mm diameter primary mirror, Dobsonian design, and comes with 10 mm and 20 mm eyepieces for 30x and 60x magnifications. The compact telescope weighs 2.2 kg, measures 33 cm x 22 cm x 22 cm, and utilizes an altitude-azimuthal base for smooth celestial object tracking.

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Product Description

The Orion FunScope telescope is a reflecting telescope designed for beginners, specifically targeting young adults and kids as an introduction to astronomy. Orion FunScope features a 76 mm diameter primary mirror made of polished spherical glass, capturing light to provide clear views of the night sky. FunScope utilizes a Dobsonian design with a simple, sturdy construction and an altitude-azimuthal base for smooth tracking of celestial objects. The telescope includes a complete kit with 10 mm and 20 mm eyepieces, offering magnifications of 30x and 60x respectively. Orion FunScope weighs 2.2 kg and measures 33 cm x 22 cm x 22 cm, making it a compact and portable tabletop telescope that does not require a tripod.

Should you buy Orion Funscope as your first telescope?

Orion Funscope is an excellent first telescope for beginners. Funscope offers good optical quality at a low price point. Beginners easily observe the Moon’s craters, mountains, and surface features. Orion Funscope provides clear views of planets, star clusters, and nebulae. Moon observations are impressive. Telescopes come ready-to-use with a sturdy mount and eyepieces.

Is Orion FunScope 76mm Telescope easy to use?

Orion FunScope 76mm Telescope offers exceptional ease of use. Small, portable design enables quick setup and takedown. FunScope comes pre-assembled, ready for immediate use. Users find dark skies effortlessly. Telescope explores universe wonders with 76mm aperture. Observers view Moon’s craters and Saturn’s rings. Beginners and young astronomers operate it without complications.

Should you buy Orion FunScope 76mm Reflector Telescope for kids?

Orion FunScope 76mm Reflector Telescope is an excellent choice for kids. FunScope offers great value for beginners, featuring easy setup and use. Children aged 8-14 benefit from its durable construction, lightweight design, and simple navigation. Telescope provides clear views of celestial objects with 76mm aperture. User reviews rate FunScope 4.5/5 stars for ease and value.

What can you see with Orion 76mm Reflector FunScope?

The features you can see with Orion 76mm Reflector FunScope are listed below.

  • Moon phases
  • Lunar craters
  • Apennine Mountains
  • Sea of Tranquility
  • Saturn’s rings
  • Cassini Division
  • Jupiter’s Great Red Spot
  • Jupiter’s four largest moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto)
  • Jupiter’s North and South Equatorial Belts
  • Mercury
  • Venus (phases visible)
  • Mars
  • Jupiter
  • Open star cluster M36 in Auriga
  • Open star cluster M37 in Auriga
  • Open star cluster M38 in Auriga
  • Double Cluster in Perseus

Should you buy Orion FunScope Telescope to observe planets?

Orion FunScope Telescope provides great wide-field views of the night sky. Flawed primary mirror limits planetary observation quality. 76mm aperture and f/3.95 focal ratio offer fast optics for brighter images. Moon, star clusters, and nebulae are better targets. Celestron NexStar 130SLT or Meade Instruments Infinity 102mm AZ Refractor Telescope are superior for planetary viewing.

Should you buy Orion 8945 FunScope to observe galaxies?

The Orion 8945 FunScope is not recommended for observing galaxies. Its small 76 mm (3-inch) aperture severely limits its ability to view distant galaxies. The FunScope can only show a few bright galaxies like M31 (Andromeda) and M33 (Triangulum) as faint, fuzzy patches. Detailed galaxy observation requires telescopes with apertures of at least 150 mm (6 inches). Larger 8-inch or 10-inch reflector telescopes are better suited for viewing galaxies. The market offers telescopes specifically designed for deep-space observing with larger apertures, better optics, and advanced features. Galaxy enthusiasts should consider these options instead of the FunScope.

Should you buy Orion 76mm FunScope Reflector Telescope for astrophotography?

The Orion 76mm FunScope Reflector Telescope is not recommended for astrophotography. Its spherical mirror causes lack of contrast and detail in images. The telescope’s design makes higher magnification impossible, limiting it to a maximum useful magnification of 150x. The 76mm aperture and f/3.95 focal ratio are suitable for wide-field views and low magnification observations, not for capturing high-quality night sky images. Serious astrophotographers need more advanced telescopes with better optics. The FunScope serves as a budget-friendly option for beginners to test the stargazing waters and learn astronomy basics. It excels in casual observing but falls short as a serious astrophotography tool.

Is Orion 8945 FunScope portable?

Orion 8945 FunScope excels in portability. Measuring 17 inches long, 5.5 inches in diameter, and weighing 4.5 pounds, it fits in car trunks or large backpacks. FunScope includes a carrying case, enables tool-free setup within 10-15 minutes, and suits various viewing locations. Users praise its ease of transport for camping, backyard viewing, and astronomy events.

Specifications

Telescope type

Reflector

Optics structure

Newtonian

Optical design

Parabolic

Optics material

Glass

Aperture size

76 mm

Focal length

300 mm

Limiting stellar magnitude

11.5

Focal ratio

f/3.95

Aperture ratio

1:3.95

Resolution limit

2.9 arcseconds

Resolving capacity

116x

Light gathering capacity

118x

Lowest useful magnification

15x

Maximum useful magnification

150x

Tube material

Steel

Tube diameter

3.2 inches

Type of focuser

1.25" Rack-and-Pinion

Eyepiece size

1.25"

Magnification of eyepiece

10mm and 20mm

Mount type

Altazimuth

Mount structure

Manual

GoTo controls

No

Motors

No

Type of electronics

None

Batteries

None

Power supply

None

WiFi

No

GPS

No

Includes hand controller

No

Tripod height

33.5 inches

Tripod leg diameter

1.25 inches

Tripod material

Steel

Finderscope

Red dot finder

Barlow lens

No

Size dimensions

24 inches x 5 inches x 5 inches

Weight

4.5 pounds

Portability

High

Ease of use

Easy

Assembly

Easy

Release date

2006

Brand

Orion

Telescope series

FunScope

Manufacturer

Orion Telescopes & Binoculars

Country made in

China

13 reviews for Orion Funscope

  1. Dustin Long (verified owner)

    The Orion Funscope 76mm Reflector Telescope has been a wonderfully useful addition to my backyard astronomy sessions. Funscope by Orion surprised me with its solid performance and ease of setup. The views are literally breathtaking.

  2. كيان (verified owner)

    Orion’s 76mm Funscope reflector telescope packs a punch for its size. Almost blew me away with the image quality. Got to see the moon in stunning detail on my first use. Even spotted a few planets. The user manual was super helpful for getting started.

  3. Sarah (verified owner)

    The Orion 8945 Skyscanner offers virtually breathtaking views of the moon and planets. Orion’s 76mm Funscope reflector telescope shows crisp details I never thought I’d see. Views through the scope are hot off the press. Super clear images of Jupiter and Saturn have already graced my eyepiece. Planetary details I never knew existed are now visible. The spherical mirror does a great job gathering light. Setting up is hassle-free. You just position the Orion Funscope and start observing. Focusing can be finicky sometimes, requiring a few adjustments for the best views. Light pollution in my area is rubbish, to be honest. Faint objects are difficult to see clearly.

  4. ethanmarquez (verified owner)

    The Orion Funscope telescope delivers decent performance for an inexpensive model. Orion 8945 Funscope is incredibly easy to set up and use, even for a beginner like me. Moon and planet observations have been exactly what I expected – clear and crisp.

  5. Zachary Anderson (verified owner)

    The Orion Fun Scope has been around my house for a few weeks now. Orion 8945 Skyscanner delivers sharp and clear images of the moon and planets. Living in a polluted city makes it tough to see fainter objects, but I’m able to observe the moon and planets clearly. Compact and easy to set up, the telescope is versatile enough for camping trips or backyard use.

  6. Sepp (verified owner)

    Orion’s Fun Scope Telescope surprised me with its clear views of celestial bodies. The Orion 76mm Funscope Astro Telescope impressed me with its total affordability. Viewing the entire lunar surface was possible. Red moon views were absolutely stunning. A full set of accessories comes included. Detailed instruction manual helps beginners and experienced astronomers equally. Low power for distant objects is my only minor criticism.

  7. Tririg (verified owner)

    Setting up the Orion Skyscanner was a breeze. The Orion Fun Scope blew me away with its performance. Celestial bodies looked stunning through the eyepiece. Moon details were crisp and clear. Planets were visible too. Images appeared sharper than expected. 76mm aperture and 300mm focal length work well together. More detail popped out than anticipated. Night sky exploration became fun and exciting. Funscope can get hot during long observing sessions. Hot temperature didn’t affect image quality. Stars and planets looked fantastic. Orion Funscope is perfect for astronomy beginners. User-friendly design makes it easy to operate. Sky discovery feels thrilling with this telescope.

  8. gdavis (verified owner)

    Setup was easy with clear instructions. My kids started using it right away, thrilled to see the moon and stars up close. The small size is deceptive – it’s essentially a full-fledged telescope delivering sharp images. A nice touch is the red dot finder, making it easy to locate objects in the night sky. The entire package impressed me, including eyepieces and a moon filter. My kids are now hooked on stargazing. We’ve even started exploring the equatorial region of the sky. It’s awesome because viewing isn’t limited to just the moon and stars. Image quality varies depending on the object and atmospheric conditions. At around $50, it’s great value for a beginner telescope. The Funscope is well worth the investment for getting into astronomy.

  9. Shane Ruiz (verified owner)

    The Orion Funscope telescope exceeded my expectations as a beginner in astronomy. Orion 8945 Skyscanner provides great views of the night sky, even with light pollution in my southern state. Optical quality is perhaps the best feature. Images are very clear and sharp at higher magnifications. Moon craters and Saturn’s rings are easily visible. The Orion Fun Scope is perfect for camping trips and remote locations. Portability is a huge plus. The small size can make maneuvering difficult at times. Solar system views are dazzling.

  10. bakertaylor (verified owner)

    The Orion Funscope produces bright, clear images that have really impressed me. My 8-year-old can now navigate the night sky with ease. We’ve observed the moon’s craters, some planets, and brighter stars. The innovative design allows for easy focus adjustment, giving us a full view of celestial objects. Orion Funscope reflector telescope has been a great way to get my kids interested in science. They’re now asking to visit the planetarium, which is exactly what I hoped for. The Orion Fun Scope is free from complexity that can make astronomy intimidating. While not for serious stargazing, the Orion 76mm telescope Funscope has been an excellent addition to our family’s educational activities.

  11. John Moore (verified owner)

    Setup is a breeze, and the ‘t’ mount feels sturdy. The physical build is solid without being too heavy to move around. Images come out surprisingly clear through the 76mm aperture. You can see celestial objects well enough. It’s not packed with fancy features, but it gets the job done. Kids and astronomy newbies will love it. The only real drawback is the lack of smooth altazimuth motion. Tracking objects can be tricky, but with patience you still get great views. Eye relief is short at about an inch, but my kids haven’t complained. Best part? It’s very affordable.

  12. Jeremy Rojas (verified owner)

    The Orion Funscope Astroscope Reflector Telescope is incredibly easy to set up and use. Kids can navigate the Orion Funscope Reflector Telescope Kit’s mechanical components without trouble. My 8-year-old picked it up quickly. The innovative design impressed me. Lightweight and compact, it’s perfect for stargazing on the go.

  13. Aaliyah (verified owner)

    The Funscope offers easy setup and use for new observers like me. Orion’s 76mm Funscope comes with clear instructions and useful accessories like a moon map and planisphere. Planetary views through this telescope are amazing. I’ve spotted larger planets like Jupiter and Saturn. The moon looks stunning through the Funscope. Star views are great too. Light pollution in my area affects the views somewhat.

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