JayJay007

I've been given a Celestion NexStar 102 SLT and to the best of my ability I've followed the manual to set in up and align it! I can get a good image of the moon but theres no wow factor even when i use the Barlow lense and the 9mm eye piece! What am I doing wrong, what actually should you be able to see? O It's been sat in a garage since 2004 am i wasting my time, bite the bullet and buy a 8 or 10 inch dobsonion!?

My friend has given me his Celestron Nexstar 102 SLT, very nice of him! He hasn't used it since 2005 and I'm finding it very difficult to align it! I'm trying to follow the brief quick set up guide but it's asking me strange questions, solar sys alignment, auto two star, sky align etc I'm a bit lost can anyone give me a few tips! Would it be easier if I was to connect a pc via ethernet cable!?

Again thank you for all your replies! So in a nut shell I have £500 - 1000, I'm a beginner, I would like to be wow'd looking at the moon, jupiter, saturn etc for now, I live SW of England in the middle of nowhere, have a large garden so space is no issue indoors or out! Which telescope do you people advise?

I thank you for all your comments, very helpful as you know its very daunting! I've been looking at the 2 skywatchers and I agree a goto would be great but lots of people have told me the bigger the appiture the better, I'm correct in saying thoes 2 are only 5" is this the reason why there computerised? Basically is it easier to find things with an 8 or 10" and the smaller you go a computer is needed! O and I live in the middle of no where, south west of England and have a big garden, I could even set a telescope up and leave it there, it wouldn't have to be moved!

I've got a few quid saved and had a look around and done a bit of homework, I am a beginner! What's the best dobsonian about, Zhumell z8 looks good or is there another one with similar specs or better! Basically which telescope would anyone advise me to buy!