About

I’m Mike Chandler, a Simi Valley, California-based amateur astronomer who observes with a Celestron NexStar 6SE. I started Scope Owner's Guide to answer the questions I had as a new telescope owner, with clear numbers instead of forum guesswork.

Articles are researched guides built from manufacturer specs, owner experiences, and the math behind each recommendation. When I’ve used something myself, I say so: first-hand notes are labeled “From my 6SE”.

How the guides are written

• Numbers first. Magnification, exit pupil, field of view, power draw, and image scale are calculated for each telescope, with the formula shown.
• Primary sources. Specs come from the maker’s product pages and manuals, checked against current retailer listings for availability.
• No fake testing. This site never claims hands-on testing that didn’t happen. Recommendations say why a product suits a telescope and what to watch for.
• Kept current. Buying guides are reviewed at least yearly, and when a recommended product is discontinued.

How the site is funded

Some links are affiliate links: if you buy through them, the site may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. That never decides what gets recommended. See the affiliate disclosure for details.

Get in touch

Found an error, or have a question about your scope? Email [email protected].