Raph-in-the-sky

10 hours ago, Ricochet said:

I think AC is a typo in one shop, it's AR elsewhere. From comments I've read on them, you're better off going for one of the 102 options as the 90 options have significant amounts of plastic parts (including the focuser).

You are right... Astroshop regularly does this type of mistakes.

Thanks for the information. I definitely don't want a telescope that is half plastic

What do you think about the Bresser Messier AC range? They have 90/900, 90/1200, 102/1000 and 102/1350

@johninderby Yes that's all very nice stuff but as John was saying that's quite a bit more than I am wanting to spend right now

46 minutes ago, Stu said:

I think a living room really needs a classic 4" f10 or f11 achro on a nice wooden tripod mount. Something like a TAL or Lyra Optics 102 f11 would be nice I think, and great on your likely targets.

Do you know where I can buy those?

Hey guys,

I take out my main scope (250px Dob) to a dark site (not that dark actually 😞 ) every time I can which happened a grand total of 1 time this year due to the terrible weather and life in general. I once was told that the best scope is the one you use most often so I am considering a small scope that I would keep in my living room and would use on the terrasse probably for less than an hour each time to look between the clouds.

I live in Brussels which has its fair share of light pollution so I would probably stick to targets that don't suffer too much from it (moon, planets, multiple stars and star clusters). I also would like the scope to have a nice appearance since I would keep it in my living room. Budget wise I would like to keep it reasonnable ... let's say less than 400 Eur 

My initial thoughts was to get either a 3 or 4' achro refractor or a 5' mak. Probably on Alt-Az manual mount as it's easier to use.

Can I please have your opinion/advice on what scope and what mount?

9 minutes ago, FLO said:

I don't. I don't think I ever needed to mod the Alt movement. A little grease on the black disks (fitted to the side of the OTA) perhaps? 

I was thinking during my drive into work today about a Skyliner 200p with mods vs the more expensive Bresser Messier 8", which is arguably already pre-modded. For around 12% more there is the larger Skyliner 250px... 🙂 

The choice is not mine but if it were and the budget were flexible then I would favour the larger 10" aperture, without mods, over a smaller model with mods. 

HTH, 

Steve 

Agreed! 10'' is really the sweet spot between aperture, portability and price.

33 minutes ago, FLO said:

Mine was a manual solid-tube Skyliner 250p but I think the 200p model is essentially the same design. 

The plastic washer/discs are cut 3-4" wide (milk bottle cartons aren't large enough to make them wider) and slip over the central bolt, between the two round mdf panels. As you increase the number of washers you reach a point where they 'lift' the telescope slightly, taking some weight off the existing teflon tabs. It results in a nice smooth Azimuth action. It might not be worth doing the same for the smaller/lighter 8" model but it is an easy mod and won't cost you anything to experiment, assuming you already drink milk 😁

Steve

I also use a 250p. I find the Az action pretty smooth as it is however the alt action is a bit stiff. I tried to play with the handles but I don't manage to get to the point where its just how I would like it to be. Do you ahve any advice?

You should definitely choose an 8'' Dob over a 130mm on EQ2.

Regarding your second question, I would say that the next thing to buy (before an moon filter or a barlow) would be a couple of decent eyepiece.

BST starguiders are highly regarded and are affortable 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces.html

I reckon that a 5mm and a 12mm would be great with this scope.

18 minutes ago, Gina said:

I think you mean NOT 🤣

That's right!

On 30/07/2012 at 11:47, Steve Ward said:

Don't try getting into this blind is my advice to anyone thinking of getting into astronomy , get some advice and avoid disappointment.

Agreed. I would not advise a blind person to get into astronomy 😉

19 minutes ago, merlin100 said:

I appreciate everyone's input. Whilst I enjoy the views from the old Meade 114-900, I'd like to see the moon's features with better resolution. That's why I was asking about the larger aperture Newtonians. 

I have a cheap 2x Barlow and a 9mm MA EP to call upon. I was wondering if going to a decent 4.5mm Plossl would be work better, on a bright object like the moon (as it's close in astronomical terms)? 

Actually if you plan to do lunar or planetary, refractors are often considered supperior. Big Dobs are really more suited for deep sky... I will leave advice regarding refractors to those who know what they are talking about.

Regarding eyepiece, short focal lenght plossl (ie less then 10mm) have a very short eye releif thus you would have to really jam your eye in the eyepiece to see anything. With a 114mm your maximum theoretical magnification is x228. More realistically you should look at a 5mm eyepiece as your most powerfull eyepiece (giving you x180). 

Reasonably priced eyepiece that don't suffer from short eyereleif and are all round very good (actually amazing for the price) are BST Stargiuders

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bst-starguider-eyepieces/bst-starguider-60-5mm-ed-eyepiece.html

If you re patient you can find those second hand for about £30/piece.

1 hour ago, Piero said:

Thanks John.

Anyway, my point is just that I don't consider aperture fever the purchase of a 200-300 Dobsonian. That's just a telescope that does a good job and all targets. To me aperture fever is an impulse purchase of larger telescopes without understanding why they are there for. I think SGL members are quite responsible on this actually. 

Beeing responsible is for adults! I'm just a 33 year-old kid with a big toy...and I want a bigger one!

I went from a 130mm newton on EQ2 to a 250mm Dob. Turned out to be a great move. I definitelly had a few wow moments. For exemple, seing M13 which is a blob in the 130mm but shows resolved stars and a lot of details in the 250mm.

I find dobs so much nicer to use than EQ. The 250mm is the biggest scope I would consider grab and go. Size and weight are manageable and it fits in a normal sized car. I also consider it reasonably priced (especially in second hand).

Just found this.

https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=159241

It might of interest.

9 hours ago, Dash1st said:

Hi all,

Well a decision was made, thanks to all the advice which we received from everyone in this post. I wanted a Dobsinian Heritage type & we were looking at getting the Sky-Watcher 130P Flex, but I then thought to see if there was any in v.good condition possibly on the various secondhand sites & I found something better.

I found on eBay a Sky-Watcher Skyliner 200P Dobsinian, described as only used once, & it looked in excellent condition in the photo's, but the best bit was they were asking £200 or Best offer. So I made a first offer, which was refused, so I made a second which was accepted.....I ended up buying it for £165, which I personally thought was a bargain. The only downside was that I had a 2 hour drive to go get it & 2 hours back, but the fuel cost would have been roughly £30, for the round trip, making my total cost roughly £195.

I'll pop a photo on tomorrow & I'll get my wife to join the forum, as I'm sure she'll be after advice for add-ons etc.

So thank you all for your invaluable help, I know I spent more than first planned, but I know I haven't bought some rubbish, that I might well have done.

Thank you all 👍

Yay! 200mm Dob! You got a nice bargain for a great scope. Now get out there and enjoy!

An advice that is often given to newbies it to get the biggest scope that:

1) You can move around (including by car if possible) without too much hassle

2) You will use most often (that's about setting up time vs viewing time)

3) You can afford without worrying too much

In many case that's a 200mm Dob

12 hours ago, Dash1st said:

Now you've thrown a spanner in the works. 🤔

You got me looking & I've found the same telescope as you have shown locally, but he's asking for £100, but it comes with an EQ2 motor. I looked it up online & it seems to be £195, without the motor, but is a motor any good or just a gimmick?

What do I do? 😵

I also started with a 130mm on EQ2. It's not intuitive and kind of wobbly  ... I wish I had gotten a dob straigh away

It might be a bit more expensive than what you had in mind but 200mm Dobson can go for about £200 on the second hand market.

Also keep in mind that the eyepiece you will receive with most scopes are rubbish. I would set a £100 on the side for a couple of decent eyepiece (on this forum it basically means BST starguiders)

48 minutes ago, rwilkey said:

Hi Matt, if you can, get a copy of 'Making Every Photon Count' by Steve Richards, it is the bible of AP, found here: https://www.firstlightoptics.com/books/making-every-photon-count-steve-richards.html

I hear a lot about this book. Do you think it's suitable for someone who has no experience in photography whatsoever ? (basically I know which button you re supposed to push to take a pic... that's it)

2 hours ago, PatrickO said:

 

Many thanks. I've just received a Telrad, but haven't had a chance to use it yet. Planning to use the Telrad and RACI in combination.

Well done. Telrad + 9x50 RACI is a strong combination.

As for which to buy, I would go cheap but reliable. Skywatcher or TS optics are fine. Our sponsor FLO, sells pretty much the same one under its brand "astro essentials" which is the cheapest I ve seen. 

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/finders/astro-essentials-9x50-right-angled-erecting-finderscope.html

16 minutes ago, PatrickO said:

I'm planning to get Right Angle Correct Image finderscope.

A 6x30 will give a wider view, but the 9x50 will "see" smaller/fainter objects.

Any advice on which to buy? I'm very much a beginner astronomer.

Do you use another finder on the side? If you use a Telrad or red dot finder on the side I would choose the 9x50. The Telrad/RFD should be enough to get you to the general area. Then again if you don't use another finder I wouldn't get a RACI (difficult for initial alignment)

I usually try to have a look a golf courses and miniature plane landing strips... They are often remote, with nicely maintained flat areas.

2 hours ago, Malko Marchio said:

Thank you all for the warm welcome and all the valuable information. The C9.25 sounds like the best choice. I also like what everyone was saying about the C8. My only concern is I would like to get the best option for now. I hear you when you say it won’t be the last one but it’s like if I was buying my first iPhone and money isn’t an issue I’d want to get the iPhone 11 and not the iPhone 5. Technology these days progress so quickly that I want to start with a good one so in a few years when the next best telescope comes out that will be an upgrade. The question I now have is the difference between the C8 and C9.25 with the extra expense. Will I eventually be able to see objects much closer and clearer with the C9.25?

Thank you so much for helping me choose the best one guys. I live in an area where in a good night the sky is so clear and just gazing into the heavens is amazing so now I need to just sit in my garden and explore the heavens but want to get as close as possible and have as clear an image as possible. Thank you all once again. Looking forward to starting this hobby/voyage. Best regards,

Malko

Actually, I do not beleive that the technology in this field is advancing very fast. Newtonian telescope is a 400 year design while Schmidt-Cassegrain is a 90-years old design... Obviously newer ones are better than the originals but many astronomer use telescope that are 20 or 30 years old. 

Also, you stated that you wanted to see objects as close as possible (ie. high magnification). You will quickly realise that this is not what you should be looking for. Getting the image as crisp and as detailed as possible is really the main goal.

Have you considered an 8'' or 10'' dobson? This is a very good starting point for many of us. And many keep it as it is a great balance between aperture and transportability/setting up time.

Regarding the "once off", I think you should accept that it won't happen. As you learn more about the hobby, you will want something extra.

14 hours ago, RobH2020 said:

I'm in a red zone (urban/ suburban). I'm interested in seeing more nebula - improving the Orion nebula, i saw someone said a filter helped them see the veil nebula with similar equipment to me in similar conditions. 

This should be confirmed by others who have more experience than me but I'm affraid that with a 6'' Dob in a red zone, you won't be able to see many Nebulae. Orion will probably be visible but I doubt you 'll see the Veil Nebula.

I understand that it's not easy but I highly suggest trying to get to a darker place. I almost always drive an hour to observe.