Stu1smartcookie

In fact I want to thank all of you for your invaluable input. I was going to pull the trigger on a Hyperion today but I am leaning towards an Explore SCIENTIFIC 82 DEGREE but I'm still in the homework phase tonight

Stu, I certainly won't be doing that🤣.... Thank you for the advice

I really do want a nice widefield eyepiece ... But that can wait as I really would like to get a high power and mid range first. Thanks for the suggestion for the celestron. I have just seen a rather good review of it, Dean and Heather Hi, thanks for the heads up on the ES 82...I am seriously looking at one of those. It really does look like the BST have a good following.

LOL thats the idea ! i saw the words Tele Vue and shuddered .

Actually Dean has brought up a really good point about EPs that are better for longer focal length scopes and vice versa ... looks like i could be in for another night of YouTube reviews !!!! The wife is already fed up of British TV ... i'm sure she thinks Astronomy videos are the only programs we have .lol

Thats an interesting thought , Dean ... i suppose my Mak would be ok with the hyperion . Another vote for the BST's ... Wookie . To be honest though i am even more confused now than when i started the thread . lol .

Yeah that cheap zoom wasn't the best , was it , Heather ?... I am so "over " the cheap EPs ... when one thinks how important decent EPs are i should have been "over " it a long time ago . Having said that , i am sure there are less expensive ones that punch way above their weight .

Yes the BST's get a good write up... and they would be good for planetary viewing with the Mak ... good choice and half the cost of the baader hyperions . Unfortunately the Nirvana isnt in stock at the moment ( Widescreen Centre ) although i must admit they were high on my list .

yes its a serious consideration ... i only avoided it due to the fact that my only experience of a zoom EP wasnt a pleasant one. Although if i am honest it was a very cheap and not so cheerful EP !

Now thats right up my street !! Good show . ... looking forward to the pics

As i have probably the worst collection of Eyepieces imaginable i am going to , albeit slowly , build up a decent collection ... starting today !! I have a couple in mind ... a baader Hyperion 8mm or 10mm . Having NO experience with decent EPs i hope that the Hyperions will give great views from my two small scopes , a 420mm Evo 72ed and a 102 mm Mak . Any views ( no pun intended ) much appreciated on these EPs . I also like the look of Explore SCientific EPs . Before everyone points me to EPs costing 500 pounds plus please acknowlwedge i am married and i want to stay that way 🤣 Stu

would the op have to point it south ? as hes in the southern hemisphere ? or is that me over thinking it

Also , make sure you are mounting the scope on the left side of the az-gti, when using it in alt az mode

Another “me being the postman “ as I travelled past the Widescreen Centre today …I bought a nice 11/4” Williams optics dielectric diagonal ( I was going to go for the 2” but the additional weight wasn’t welcome on my small scopes

So , not the postman … but me and the wife ( I think she came just for the ride ) picked up a couple of nice little beauties from Widescreen Centre yesterday .

Hi , congratulations on choosing a wonderful scope . You’ve made a great choice as a 200mm reflector will enable you to see some wonderful things . I personally would wait before buying more eye pieces . Sure , the 25mm and 10mm (especially) are not the best quality but they are supplied for a reason . They will give you more than acceptable views and are ideal as starter EPs . I still use the 25mm that came with my scope ! Of course better EPs will be your next step along with maybe a telrad finder( this will give you a non magnified view but help you point the scope to your intended target ) , oh , and a collimation device . In fact the collimating device ( either Cheshire or laser ) and the telrad would probably be the best purchases at this stage . Other opinions may differ to mine . As for making things easy to “jump into” , you have already done that … the first thing you need is enthusiasm and maybe reality of what you will see through the EP . Download Stellarium. I believe you can simulate the views you are likely to see through the two EPs . And , try to familiarise yourselves with the night sky . You’ve picked a great time of year to start your astronomy journey . The gas giants are well placed and the moon will be a wonderful sight . And of course the winter constellations are beginning to appear . clear skies to you and your son and welcome to SGL Stu

Fascinating thread... its given me a bit of a headache though... Do i go for the Heritage 150p on the vituoso or get a gte with a smaller reflector. I know the GTE doesnt have freedom find but if im honest i have only used freedom find twice and i find that the encoders have a detrimental affect on the goto system . ( my opinion , others may disagree ) I already have a new 72ed from skywatcher which i will put on the mount . Connecting the virtuoso thing to a tripod is interesting ... not sure how that looks though . Anyone done this ? Stu

A fantastic scope that I let slip through my fingers , but I am on the lookout for another lol . The build quality is superb on the zs73 .

Thank you for the really nice report @Zermelo. I am in the market for a small frac (again) and reading your excellent nights work has enthused me even more . I really like Bresser scopes , i have in the past owned a 102/460 and used a 127L , which incidently gave me my best view of the inner planets .

To be honest , a 200mm dobsonian is not too heavy , but the size means its bulky . But its a simple two part movement and is ready to go in five minutes ( not including cooling time ) .

"A" for sure ...I like the definition .

Cant wait for the winter Constellations . It will be my first winter season with my 12" Dob , Dave ,... and your report has fuelled the enthusiasm even more .

And the telrad and finder compliment each other . I added my Telrad only the other evening and found M13 and M31 in an instant ! It brings so much more enjoyment to astronomy to be able to locate targets easily .

When i fixed mine to the tube there was enough room and i have focuser , telrad , finder ,.... i get what you are saying but for me , having the telrad the other side of the finder was a bit of a trek .

Agree with the above ... i purchased a height extension for the telrad which helps a lot regarding comfort of use .