The Orion SkyQuest xx14i is an amazing telescope. The 14″ Dobsonian aperture is really wide and gives you mind-blowing views of the night sky. You’ll see spectacular gas clouds, towering elliptical galaxies, and even reflections in the eye of Jupiter. For special features like a solar eclipse where your telescope will be on display , the Orion SkyQuest XX14i is sure to impress.
What makes the SkyQuest 14″ unique is that it comes with a built-in computer to help view the sky. This encoder has over 14,000 preselected objects to dimension to. After you type in the coordinates of the views you want to see, turn the dials on the XX14i until the two digits are reduced to 0.0.
As an excellent second or third Dobsonian, the Orion SkyQuest XX14 Intelliscope is an excellent choice. Its incredible diameter is matched only by its vast panoramas, and having its coordinates already keyed in by the onboard computer will ensure you see fantastic views on your first night.
Most professional astronomers considering purchasing the 14″ SkyQuest are also looking at some of the other high-end products in the SkyQuest series. The 14″ GoTo telescope is a vast improvement over the Intelliscope and is an amazing telescope of the SkyQuest brand. The 14″ GoTo has 42,000 details in its circuitry compared to the 14,000 found in the XX14i, and the GoTo is fully motorized from your computer. But the motorized 14″ also costs a few hundred dollars more than the 14 Intelliscope “, which makes the mechanized telescope unavailable to astronomers who agree with a scope that can track details without a motorized system.
Many who like the price of the XX14i, but are serious about astrophotography, usually end up choosing a smaller telescope, the XX12g. Not only is this scope fully motorized, but it’s also priced similarly to the 14″ Intelliscope. While the 12″ is over $1,900 with the GoTo system, the XX14i is priced around $1,800 without it.
The bottom line is this: If you can’t afford to spend more than $2000 and are leaning toward astrophotography, you should consider getting the 12″ GoTo. Otherwise, the Orion SkyQuest 14 with Intelliscope is a superior telescope that will continue to be a favorite for the next years.
