LukeTheNuke

Well caught!

Gosh, I think Sarah and I have come to some sort of a decision at last! I think the fact that I kept on going around in circles shows that there are a number of different options that all have something to offer. If we ended up with a VX12, that sounds nice. Or a VX12L. Or VX14. Or StellaLyra 12, or 16. Or an Explore Scientific Ultra Light, Taurus, or Geoptik. These all sound good. The plan is to set aside £3K, which is about how much a SkyWatcher 400P Goto costs now. We sold our 400P Goto and didn't reinvest the money (it went on our new passion of board games!). I like the idea of restoring the value of that loss to the astro collection! And we plan to look for value, either from the used market, or from special offers new. E.g. today I could have got a Celestron StarSense Explorer 10 new for £680 delivered. That seems a decent deal, and I'd be tempted to replace the GSO 10 with it. Maybe a good price on a used Lunt solar scope would tempt us. That could work well for Sarah - she might get more use from that than from, say, a 16 inch dob. I am prone to aperture fever, but a 10 inch scope is actually pretty powerful anyway, and we can keep the GSO 10 if something completely different makes sense. I've been using it for a decade, so it's not that terrible! If we see something that could benefit from wheels, then we'll look at that. I think we can be flexible, and see if something tempts us. I'm quite excited now, not knowing what the hell we'll get, but, touch wood, it will be something that boosts our collection. If we go used and somehow end up with enough money left for an Ethos 13, we might fancy adding one of those. Thanks again for the thoughts. We feel better informed on the various options now, and I think it's helped to make me realise that there are multiple ways to go, which all have some appeal and could work, so why not look for value, when we can be flexible?

I think a big question for me is whether I will find the VX14 easy enough to move, even without wheels, for it to still be a scope I plonk out as readily as I do the GSO 10 inch. One of the VX12s would be a safe bet, I think. I'm trying to find reviews on the VX14 to see if folks are commenting on how easy they find it to move. I don't recall finding my SkyWatcher 12 solid tube that much of a hassle to plonk outside. I miss that scope! So I am wondering if the VX14 would be just dandy for me. Sarah said I should focus on what is the most important thing. And to me, that's a low hassle dob that I plonk outside on the off-chance it might be clear. That's where the GSO 10 sings. I don't think it's the best optically, hence my slight nervousness about going for another GSO mirror. But that's just me, and not a very large sample size! I do think the OOUK is likely to pretty much guarantee a good mirror. There is the wheels option to consider, though our shed's door opening is only 169.5 cm tall, so for a big scope, if it's going in the shed, I think a 16 inch truss design has to be put away rather than left out. That then makes it a bit of a hassle for me to use, rather than just wheeling it out already set up. And I do like that solid tubes are less prone to dew. So I think wheels are an option for a 16 inch dob, if going the two scopes route. But I don't think it works for me as the only scope. I want to replace the GSO 10. We have great eyepieces, but not the best GSO mirror. It's not terrible, but I'd say it's the weakest optics of the dobs I've had. If the dob is stored indoors, Sarah wants a non-solid tube that goes under the stairs, so again, it becomes more hassle. The low hassle of the GSO 10 inch was a very strong plus for me. I observed more because of it, no question. I didn't get too angry with the clouds, because I invested next to no effort to plonk the scope out. If the VX14 can do this for me, it could be the winner. Wheels are cool, but I might not need them for the VX14 anyway. I feel I need to find more reviews and comments on it. I think a VX12 is a good option too, and although a 14 has more light grasp, I'm sure I'd appreciate the even lower weight of the 12. Sarah thinks, if going for a 12, to go the faster one, as it's easier to take to star parties. So the other question is what we do about star parties. This matters to me less than to Sarah, as I observe more than Sarah at home, so the vast bulk of my viewing is at home. Though she's okay about the idea of taking the Edge 8 to star parties. She also likes the social aspect and looking through other scopes too. One idea here might be to get a lightweight fast 12 inch reflector that we can use on a dob base that I could do some lunar imaging with on an NEQ6. Maybe even an Orion Optics 12 F4. Perhaps if we could pick one up second hand. I do think I would enjoy using a fast 12 for some lunar imaging on the NEQ6. I have been thinking about getting back to imaging in some form, especially if I can find an acceptable camera for up to about £300. I'm not sure where cameras are at these days. I might be getting a decent lappy unrelated to stargazing, so I don't have to pay out separately for that. If we got the VX14 second-hand, our budget would let us get, say, the Explore Scientific Ultra Light 16 inch as well, which I believe is a GSO mirror. The heaviest single part is the mirror box, at 23.8 kg. I think I might be okay to handle that one on my own. The StellaLyra, perhaps not. Though maybe on wheels. There is the question, that if I had a VX14 and Explore Scientific 16 (or StellaLyra 16 on wheels somehow), would the 16 come out to play enough at home? Thanks all for the thoughts. And I hope I'm not driving you too nuts with my waffle, going around in circles, and indecision! I'm gonna go look for some more VX14 comments.

Thanks, Jeremy. Yeah, maybe I should think about wheels again. Wheels don't work so well currently for us. Though that said, thinking about it, we need to redo the area outside the back door anyway, and we could get that done in time for the new season. We could consider redoing it bearing ramps in mind. We are hoping to move in the not too distant future, but that is probably 3+ years off. And Sarah says she'd be okay to get rid of the slate chippings path that leads up to the shed, which is the quicker fix, if we can fit the dob in the shed. I'll go chat to Sarah about wheeled options. Blimey, I hope we don't end up buying the SW 400P FlexTube Goto we sold! What an own goal! 😁

Gosh, I keep going around in circles. I've been looking at Geoptik and Taurus dobs over the weekend, and the Explore Scientific. Partly against Geoptik and Taurus is that I don't think the 16 inches and upwards are on sale anywhere in the UK. I now feel pulled back to the Orion Optics UK VX14. It's a touch over £3K with the 1/10 upgrade and variable brake. Then I see what some 1/10 VX14's have sold for used, and it's quite sobering. I'm minded to wait for a used VX14. I think the VX14 can replace our GSO 10 inch. I think the weight and convenience is fine and about as big as it gets for a low hassle dob for me. But it might not work very well for taking to star parties. That's the snag right now. If we waited for a used one, we could also get, say, the Explore Scientific Ultra Light 16. But then it's only two more inches of aperture. Will I be bothered to set it up at home if there's the VX14 ready to go? And close to £2K is a lot it the 16 will basically only be used at star parties. Sarah thinks maybe go 12 inch and 16, but I think, it would be fab if 14 inches was the scope we use a lot. I think I might gain more from having a 14 than I would having a 12 and 16, as the 12 would likely get used far more than the 16. So I'm thinking viewing at 14 inches by default is better than 12 inches by default with the odd bit of 16. Another option is to delay getting the bigger scope, and to think about an 18 or 20 inch down the line. A 14 to me may pair well with an 18 or 20. We are hoping to move house in the not too distant future, so accommodating a big scope might work better then, be that having an obsy or catering better for ramps/getting a bigger shed then. It's the star party aspect that's the headache at the moment. We could take our Edge 8. I am due to switch car soon (thanks to the upcoming tidy windfall, touch wood) and if I got an estate car, that could make the VX14 doable for star parties. But I'm not sure I want my stargazing hobby to influence which car I get. Though at the mo, an estate is one of my two main car options anyway (I've been drooling over the Audi A6 Avant/Allroad, versus getting the same again - a VW Touareg, which I don't think would quite fit the VX14 in). Hmmmm. I wish I could hurry up and decide!

I'm a bit late to the party. I have a SW Equinox 120 and an Edge 8, and I think it's worth keeping both. For me, the Edge 8 has a bit of a refractor feel to it, and having it helps me to think it's not a great idea to add a bulky ED150 to my collection. I still get tempted by the ED150 from time to time, but having the Edge 8 keeps it at bay. For me, the Edge 8 is a bit like having a bigger frac than the ED120, without the bulk (not as sharp as a frac, but it goes some of the way there). The 120 already feels quite a large frac, and for me, the Edge 8 partners very nicely with it. I did a bit of lunar imaging with the Edge 8 and ED120, and solar imaging with the ED120 and a Herschel Wedge or Quark, but no deep sky or planets. I'm sure the Edge 8 is interesting for planets, but our skies don't seem very stable my way for high res planets, so I don't bother trying.

I'll include some comments. I realise the likes of Stu would not be able to do that as it would exceed the amount of characters a web page can handle, LOL! Celestron 8" Newtonian Our first "serious" scope after getting hooked on a cheap telescope from Jessops. Sold because I think we caught aperture fever. It was probably pretty good, optically. Celestron C6 Sold to the guy in the burger van at SGL star parties! This to us was a cracking little scope, and we would have kept it if we didn't get an Edge 8, which is still quite a practical scope, and has a bit of a refractor feel to it (though I guess the frac fraternity will disagree!). But those C6's are little gems. Skywatcher 12 inch solid tube dob The one I miss the most. Very low hassle, decent optics. Better than my GSO 10 inch dob, alas. How I wish I could swap them over. Skywatcher 12 inch FlexTube dob I think this one gave my my best ever view of Jupiter, at the Kelling Heath star party. It was gobsmacking. As in, I think if Damien Peach had been observing, he'd have said "Bloody hell!" So perhaps this one had a decent mirror. Mind you, I've been happy with the optics in all our Skywatcher scopes. Sold, I think, because we got a 16 inch FlexTube, and a GSO 10 inch solid tube. Celestron C11 I had hopes of imaging galaxies with this, but I stubbornly tried to go the DSL mod route. With hindsight, I should have gone for a CCD. I did find it a bit of a heft to get it up onto the mount. And it was a bit of a pain setting it up to do off-axis guiding. If I ever return to attempting DSO imaging, I will make sure I have an obsy first! If I still had the C11, it would tempt me to get back into lunar imaging. Though that said, I just don't think our patch of sky is stable enough for close-up lunar imaging. We're surrounded by rooftops, which I am blaming things on, but perhaps it's user error. I think getting the Edge 8 was partly why we sold the C11, as well as the weight and giving up on DSO imaging (I switched to solar instead). But yeah, those C11's can sing on planets and the moon, so I kinda miss it a little bit, though never got close to what a C11 can do with my efforts. Skywatcher 16 inch FlexTube Goto dob Reluctantly sold, as I was finding it a bit too heavy to handle, and feared I'd injure myself lugging it around. We put the money into a newer passion: board gaming. I think the optics were probably a bit better in the other SW dobs we had, but we were happy with it. We're hopefully getting a tidy windfall soon (touch wood), so we are mulling over how to finally replace the 400P. Our current largest scope is a 10 inch GSO, which I was reminded the other week is still a pretty powerful telescope, though for me, the optics on all my SW scopes were a bit better than on the GSO. And that's the blooming one I've kept! Though I do much prefer the mechanics on the GSO. SolarMax 60 x2 We had a his and hers, LOL! Sold because we got a few Quark filters and could use them in various fracs, which was ace. Unfortunately, I ran into several issues with the Quarks, and wish I'd kept at least one of the SolarMax 60s now. Sarah's Quark was okay, but that seems to have degraded terribly, it's gone all misty, and large areas of the view are now pants. I can't sell my or Sarah's Quark, neither are up to scratch for me, so it partly feels like some money has gone down the toilet. It's tempting to get a Lunt with our windfall that might be coming soon, but double stacking is so expensive! Part of me wants to never buy a Quark again (I've tried a few), but part of me is tempted to get back into solar imaging, and the other options are rather pricey. A Solar Spectrum, maybe? A Lunt 50? A Quark, surely not?!

Welcome back! That's a nice lot of spots on the sun. I'm on vacation at the mo from imaging, though it is tempting to get a new camera. Especially as I might be getting a decent new lappy, and one of my wife's objections to me getting back into imaging is that I'd need a decent lappy. What's your new setup like? What scope / filter are you using, and what camera are you using? I'm completely out of date when it comes to my camera knowledge and am curious to know what folks are now using! re: Newton's rings, have you tried a tilt adapter yet? I've never used one, but hopefully someone can advise, depending on what setup you're using.

Thanks, Piero, for the piccies of scopes on wheels. I'm going to have a think if I can do something with wheels. I had been thinking that they won't work for me at the mo, but perhaps I can figure something out. The shed, which is where we store our 10 inch dob, has an awkward lip and might be too shallow for a ramp to get over it, and anyway, it's then onto a slate chippings path, which I think the wheels are not going to like. And if we store the big dob indoors, it's got to go in the cupboard under the stairs, so it has to be not a solid tube. And currently I don't think a ramp works too well through the back door either. I'll have a ponder whether we can make either storage option more wheel-friendly. I did see someone post a piccy of their new 12 inch dob just with castor wheels screwed directly into the dob base, which looked pretty neat. John, I like your ambitious thinking outside the (mirror) box, I had a crazy idea too. I like my RC cars, and I must admit, I wondered if I could get something like this to tow the telescope if I can get it on wheels:

Congrats on the full house! This is the kind of talk, though, that makes me think I shouldn't add a second Ethos! I'm a terrible completionist... I have just the one at the mo, the 21 mm! The 13 is very tempting, and I've been mulling it over. Please tell me it's your least favourite.

Thanks for taking the time to do a review. This one tempts me. I've thought about the Tele Vue 3-6 mm zoom a few times, but what puts me off is the cost combined with knowing my wife Sarah wouldn't like it (I think the eye relief would be too tight for her). I could justify the cost of this one from Svbony. And a 3 to 8 mm range sounds very useful. I don't think I've tried anything from Svbony yet, but I get the impression that some of their stuff may be good bang for buck from what others are saying. I have pondered trying a few of their cheap cameras, maybe for some lunar imaging.

I'm hoping to have the funds by the end of May, touch wood. I'm still not sure what to do. I'm currently thinking, maybe a 12 inch solid tube dob that I can easily set up on my own, and a 16 inch that can easily be set up by two people, if needs be. Maybe go all-in on StellaLyra, with the 12" solid tube and 16" truss? Though I am also still tempted by the Celestron StarSense for the 12 inch scope, and am warming to the idea of actually making use of the StarSense feature. Some folks seem to find it a joy to use, and it potentially would be the scope I use the most. One thing for the StellaLyra scopes is they look good bang for buck. Those sizes come with right-angle finders and dual speed focusers, for example. Though we do have a good spare focuser. And FLO's customer service is great. I'm feeling more positive about GSO mirrors after reading multiple positive comments. I thought I'd ask ChatGPT as well, and have a bit of fun asking! My convo with the AI is below. The strength and IQ thing is just me being a bit silly and wanting the AI to not go lighter than I'm fine with, and the IQ was a silly reference to a joke I made in the lounge. I like the idea that I should consider buying the 13 mm Ethos! 😁 ----- LukeTheNuke: What is the best lightweight telescope option brand and model with the largest aperture that has no single part that weighs more than 25 kg and that can easily be moved and set up by one adult male of above average strength and intelligence, with an IQ of 404? PS make it a big one. ChatGPT: The best lightweight telescope option with the largest aperture that can be easily moved and set up by one person would be the Sky-Watcher S11530 Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope. With a 127mm aperture and weighing just under 9 kg, this telescope is portable and easy to set up solo. It also offers excellent image quality and is a popular choice among amateur astronomers. LukeTheNuke: What's the lightest 16 inch commercially available telescope? ChatGPT: The lightest commercially available 16-inch telescope is likely the Meade LX65 16" ACF telescope, which weighs around 135 pounds without the mount. LukeTheNuke: What's the lightest 16 inch dobsonian telescope on the market? ChatGPT: One of the lightest 16 inch Dobsonian telescopes currently available on the market is the Sky-Watcher Flextube 16" Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope. This telescope features a collapsible design that makes it easier to transport and set up compared to traditional solid-tube Dobsonians. It weighs approximately 93 lbs (42 kg), making it relatively lightweight for its size. LukeTheNuke: Does that weight include the base, or is it the OTA only? It makes a difference to my back. PS I already had one of those [sigh]. ChatGPT: The weight typically refers to the Optical Tube Assembly (OTA) only and does not include the base. It's important to consider the total weight when carrying or transporting the equipment to avoid strain on your back. LukeTheNuke: Tell me about it! That's why I sold the Sky-Watcher Flextube 16" Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope. Are you sure there isn't a lighter one than that? Do you work for Synta? ChatGPT: I'm sorry, I don't work for Synta or any telescope company. The Sky-Watcher Flextube 16" Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope is definitely a heavy and bulky telescope, which is why you may have decided to sell it. There are definitely lighter options available, such as smaller Dobsonian telescopes or other types of telescopes like refractors or compound telescopes. It really depends on your specific needs and preferences. LukeTheNuke: What's the best refractor for me to get that weighs less than a Sky-Watcher Flextube 16" Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope but will give equivalent views of deep sky objects? PS are you a frac or dob type of person? ChatGPT: If you are looking for a refractor telescope that weighs less than a Sky-Watcher Flextube 16" Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope but can still provide equivalent views of deep sky objects, you may want to consider the Takahashi TSA-120 or the William Optics FLT 132. Both of these refractors are known for their high-quality optics and ability to provide crisp, clear views of celestial objects. As for whether I am a refractor or Dobsonian type of person, I am an AI digital assistant and do not have personal preferences. It ultimately comes down to your own preferences and priorities in terms of portability, ease of use, and desired viewing experience. Both refractors and Dobsonian telescopes have their own strengths and limitations, so it's important to consider what factors are most important to you when making a decision. LukeTheNuke: Well I'll tell you what I want, what I really, really want: the largest dob that won't give me a hernia. My budget is about £5K. I currently have a 10 inch GSO dob, which I find very light. I'm looking for something bigger, but not as heavy as the Sky-Watcher Flextube 16" Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope. What do you suggest? I know you're an AI digital assistant and do not have personal preferences, but if you had to buy a telescope today, for up to £5K, that wouldn't give you a hernia if you were a human (please use your imagination), what would you get? ChatGPT: If I were to recommend a telescope within your budget that is larger than your current 10 inch dob without being too heavy, I would suggest looking into the Orion SkyQuest XT12i IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope. This telescope has a 12 inch aperture which will provide you with increased light gathering power and better viewing capabilities compared to your current 10 inch dob. The truss tube design also helps to reduce the overall weight of the telescope, making it easier to transport and set up compared to the Sky-Watcher Flextube 16" Collapsible Dobsonian Telescope. This telescope is also within your budget range and should be a great option for upgrading to a larger dobsonian telescope without the risk of giving yourself a hernia. LukeTheNuke: What would be the biggest option for upgrading the Orion SkyQuest XT12i IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope that would be without the risk of giving myself a hernia? That one sounds like a winner! ChatGPT: One possible option to upgrade the Orion SkyQuest XT12i IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope without the risk of straining yourself would be to invest in a motorized equatorial tracking mount. This would allow you to automatically track celestial objects as they move across the night sky, eliminating the need for manual adjustments and reducing the physical strain of constantly moving and adjusting the telescope. Additionally, you could consider upgrading the eyepieces and accessories to enhance your viewing experience without adding significant weight to the telescope. LukeTheNuke: Ah, cool. I mostly use the Tele Vue 21 mm Ethos eyepiece. What eyepiece should I upgrade it to that will make the Orion SkyQuest XT12i IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope really sing? ChatGPT: If you're looking to upgrade from the Tele Vue 21mm Ethos eyepiece for your Orion SkyQuest XT12i IntelliScope Truss Dobsonian Telescope, you may want to consider investing in a higher quality eyepiece that can provide better clarity and resolution. Some popular options that many astronomers recommend for this telescope are the Tele Vue 13mm Ethos eyepiece, the Explore Scientific 14mm 100-degree Series eyepiece, or the Pentax XW 14mm eyepiece. These eyepieces are known for their excellent performance and can help enhance your viewing experience with your telescope. Ultimately, the best choice will depend on your personal preferences and budget.

Enjoy! Those little wheels on the dob base look neat!

What a lovely report, very heart-warming, and a nice photo. I think Sarah and I have bought about 25 items made by Tele Vue, and they've all been flawless, as far as I can recall. My favourite Tele Vue item is tough. It's between the Tele Vue-60 telescope, which I've used for quite a few solar sessions in particular, and is so tiny and portable and made me no longer hate helical focusers, and the Ethos 21 mm eyepiece, which is admittedly not that tiny and portable! I'll go with the Ethos 21 mm. It's the eyepiece I use the most in my 10 inch dob, and sometimes it's the only eyepiece I use for the session, if I'm feeling lazy. And my biggest Tele Vue regret is selling the 13 mm T6 Nagler, which was a cracking, small and light eyepiece. Sarah didn't take to it, alas, I think because she prefers longer eye relief, and is these days very happy with the Delos eyepieces, with their 20 mm eye relief, I think? Orange County, Jaffa Cakes... Surely not a coincidence?

I've recently returned to SGL under a new user name. I stopped posting regularly years ago, having become a bit obsessed with a new hobby, and having felt a bit deflated after very frustrating problems with my solar filter. And I have a new appreciation for how generally sensible and nice this forum is, having used some less nice forums for other interests and hobbies! I like having a natter about a hobby I love, and from my travels, this to me is the best place for it by far that I've seen. Also, you can learn so much about this hobby from SGL. And it's just nice to share your enthusiasm for this hobby with others. I am sad to see that some long-term members have passed away since I used to post here regularly. I saw earlier this week that johninderby is no longer with us. I enjoyed John's posts. It's embarrassing to admit it, but for years, I thought John's surname was Inderby, which I thought was quite a cool, posh surname. And I see Gina has passed away too. I know this is a sad thought, but in a way, to me it shows that SGL isn't only about sharing knowledge. It's also about the people who do stargazing. It's been nice to see some of the old gang still active here, and I look forward to getting to know some of the newer SGLers. Part of why I love stargazing is thinking about what life might be out there. I have this wish that alien life will be confirmed during my lifetime. If so, I hope they come in peace. Or at least, will spare the stargazers.