Stu1smartcookie

I've had scopes for a few years (newts and all ) but ive never fully understood collimation , a sort of , it looks ok so lets get on with it attitude .. I am really glad that i started this thread . Ricochet , i've never even heard of the barlowed laser method !

I really think this is where my problem lies

Well i was shot to pieces regarding the star test .. lol ... but , thanks Ricochet , if you dont know , you dont know - as the saying goes . Pixies , i dont have a cheshire ( i was lulled into the techie laser cos it looks cool camp )but i will invest in one. Come to think of it i did undo the secondary and it may well have been rotated , so thats a distinct possibility . Honestly , many thanks for your imput here , and thanks for the video ,Pixies . Starwatcher , the views are good but i reckon they could be better ... I am not sure how i will get on later but i will have another try .

Hi Pixies , im at work at the mo , so i cant show you a pic until later ... regarding the images above the first one matches what i see . But its almost as if i see a non circular image behind it , like an oval .

Hi I am a bit confused about what i am seeing when i check collimation of my skywatcher 200p Dob. I use a laser collimator which seems to be "on point" as i have had really nice views of Jupiter and saturn Recently and when i do an out of focus star test the inner circle seems pretty much centered . However when i look down the focuser without an EP the circle sits to one side and the actual outer "circle" is elipitical rather than round , . This is bothering me , more so the fact that i am able to focus really well on stars and planets but looking down that focuser really doesnt inspire any confidence that the mirrors are aligned properly . Its at this point that i have to bring into the conversation the "Stu" factor ... yes , i've been dabbling with an allen key and a screwdriver , so i've probably done something wrong . I've never noticed this on any other newt i've owned .. If everything was out of focus then i could understand it . Any ideas most welcome .

The selling is a chore tbh ... i tend to sell out of guilt of buying more gear . lol

I have found that i have a side effect ... i am addicted to buying and selling ( usually at a loss of course ) to get to my " sweet spot" ( which i honestly know i may never find ! As i am writing this i can see its a ridiculous condition , but , its also exciting , in an expensive sort of way .

From what ive seen on here , John , your DIY skills far outweigh anything i could do , or even contemplate..

Having owned both i would agree with you and add that the bresser has a better focusser than the SW, but the base is a little low . Optically i think they are really similar .

wishing you all the best with your new scope, Phil ..you've given me some targets to look at that i had forgotten about .

Yeah its a nice touch supplied on their packaging

Hi Mathew , I have actually returned to using a Dob as my only scope .. i bought a 200p Skywatcher Dob from Widescreen Centre in Cambs ... Just by chance they actually had stock !!! It was one of those fate moments lol . i used it for the first time last night .. OMG what a great evening of viewing . Obviously the 250mm that i used to have captured more light , but , honestly , looking at the likes of Jupiter and Saturn wasnt that different . I am sure you will be completely blown away with your scope . Clear Skies

Rob , I didnt realise how much i missed the Dob until i parted company with my last one (a 250mm bresser) I have used a fair few refractors recently , all good scopes .. but , somehow i think i've (finally) found the right one for me . Easier to store , easier to move , its a joy to use . Of course my scope resurfaces old challenges , ie finding the targets rather than using a goto. The wonders of the night sky that you mention are all firmly on the agenda . I particularly want to see M57 . Anyway , onwards and definitely upwards ... CLEAR SKIES

So , August 31st ... an update ! And , just in case everyone thinks I’m a manic depressive that does nothing but complain about the weather , I have to report that last night (ie 31st) I have literally had my best night of backyard astronomy for a very long time . The clouds cleared during the evening and when darkness fell I was on totally clear skies .Apart from setting up with my view blocked by an annoying tree (schoolboy error) and there being enough dew to water my wife’s roses for a whole year , everything settled down and I had brilliant views of both Jupiter and Saturn . Considering their lack of height in our sky I saw three bands on Jupiter and , best of all I picked out the Cassini division on Saturn. . Not too bad for my light polluted back garden . I used my 200mm dob ( my only scope now ) , staying out until about 11pm ( I have to get up at 5 ,you know ! ) . Viewing the moon was fantastic as it’s not quite “full” . It was so bright .. I just used a 25mm EP . Just one clear evening has left me gagging for more . One more point .. my scope holds collimating remarkably well .it always has to go on a maze like journey to get from my wardrobe to the garden so I am really surprised that I haven’t had to collimate it . Bit of a positive bonus In my book . Anyway , I hope everyone had good clear skies last night , and I wish you all many many more .

Yes I suppose too much of a good thing makes one want less . Good point

Hi Marvin , the problem is as Britain is an island we suffer more . And we can’t even quell our disappointment by sitting in the garden with a glass or two of white wine as it’s probably going to be the coldest August bank holiday on record today ! Europe being a large land mass has a better chance of clear skies .. lol of course you are quite welcome to swap with me lol ... now , where’s my bottle opener 😂

Pros and cons for both setups of course .. I was speaking from experience of where I have to store my stuff .. upstairs in a wardrobe .. actually 5 trips upstairs to bring everything down .. I was actually getting to the point where I was “trying to break my record for setting up” lol . Last week was the final straw . Sunshine all day then clouds rolled in at 10pm zzz There are alternatives .. a star tracker for a light weight set up , and extremely portable . Omg ... I’m spending again !!!

So, you choose what you think is going to be your path in this wonderful journey . You buy , or at least order , your equipment . At that point the nice supplier informs you of a 6 week wait for your precious scope to arrive . You finally receive the scope , but whilst waiting you have read countless reviews and opinions and you are even more confused and think you maybe need another scope as well ! But ,you have your scope .. so with trepidation and excitement you set up , it’s still light.Its taken you a long time to get things perfectly balanced and level but , you are there . You polar align when you see the first view of Polaris .Everything is going well .. you wait for darkness to descend , you keep looking at the sky and you notice that great lump of cloud in the west approaching . Surely not ! Yep ! That’s the night ruined as the clouds roll in . Repeat to fade . At this point you wish you had bought a dobsonian that can be set up (and dismantled ) in 5 minutes . Even worse , it’s summer time , so there is precious little darkness to be had ! I’m sure I’m not alone in my frustration . I know we can’t do anything about our weather but I must admit I get “clear sky envy “ when I see those You Tube vlogs from the USA and mainland Europe who seem to have endless nights of clear viewing . One positive that I’ve gleaned from this is that U.K. observers and photographers must be the most patient bunch in the world when it comes to astronomy. By the way , I’ve just got myself another Dob . Now , even if there is only a half hour window of clear sky , I’m going to use it !! Ah , frustration eased . Thanks for reading . PS I wrote this looking out through my window at cloudy skies on a Windy so called summer day in August ! +15 degrees !

Great Idea and extremely informative , as always , Chris .

Hi , And welcome to SGL I too am dreaming of a Nexstar 8 SE ... but , like others have said on here its quite Niche where photography is concerned . A scope i once had was a skywatcher 130pds . I took my first DSO on that scope , mounted on an a Synscan eq3 of all things ,...it still remains my best photo . As for the Nexstar , be aware that this scope will need a certain amount of cool down time , which can be frustrating when the weather is unpredictable . I haven't had my gear out for 2 weeks due to the set up time and variable cloud etc. How i wish i still had a Dob!

Having recently owned a 10" Bresser dob i agrree with Rob . Apart from the fact that there are naturally shall we say , a bit clumsy , they are by far the most satisfying scopes to look through ... and hey ! , thats what most of want to do , isn't it ?. (accept for the astro photographers out there who walk a different path ) Also if you are a bit stuck for space , a collapsible 10" is an option ( very easy to transport too ) .

Seems the OP has opened up an interesting thread ... Mathew , I hope all the above are seen as relevant to you . You will decide whats best for you , of course . I wish you good luck and Clear Skies .

I have had a couple of those mounts and actually preferred using it in its original configuration ... mainly because its difficult to accurately polar align when using it in EQ mode ( it was for me , anyway ) .. I certainly agree with the issues of overloading this mount . I had a zs61 and to be honest when a camera and the extras are added the weight shoots up .

Certainly agree with the noise issue ... its surprising how loud those motors are in the "dead of night" . Also i find that the setting up of such mounts become tiresome , having to force yourself outside to set up a GOTO mount .. especially when its partially cloudy , freezing cold and you are not sure how long you can observe for . Astronomy for most is primarily about looking at the night sky , using optical aids ... thats why a simple set up can be so rewarding . ( I'm actually convincing myself to change my own set up )