Pixies

Don't forget there's the option of a Bresser Messier dob, too. A little more expensive but with better bearings and a much better focuser. Still a long waiting list for them too, though.

No. The Cheshire will act as a collimation cap.

Hi. It looks quite similar to me. Did you manage to check how central the secondary holder is to the tube? Those vanes still look a wee bit wonky. I use a plastic set-square from one of the kids maths sets to check the distance from the centre screwhead to the tube inside edge where the vanes connect. How are you checking the alignment of the secondary under the focuser? Are you using a sight-tube/cheshire?

A few conservatory storers here

It's a bit pricier, but what about an AZ5 mount and tripod (£199) https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/sky-watcher-az5-deluxe-alt-azimuth-mount.html plus the 102 (£172): https://www.firstlightoptics.com/maksutov/skywatcher-skymax-102-ota.html So £371 in total - which is expensive. But for that price you could get one on an AZ-GTi (£365): https://www.firstlightoptics.com/maksutov/sky-watcher-skymax-102-az-gti.html So you can use it in manual mode, or switch to GoTo when you are feeling like it.

I think it's a good idea to get going with the scope and then see what you want. Otherwise you'll end up with a lot of stuff you never needed. Also, if you take your time, you can keep an eye on the secondhand market. Here and Astro Buy&Sell, ebay, etc. I have bought very little new since I got the Bresser Messier 8" in April. What I have bought secondhand though, is: Telrad 10x60 RACI finder 2 Ortho EPS 2 BST Starguiders 1 Aero ED SWA 2" EP Baader Neodymium filter Baader Hyperion zoom and matching barlow Flight Case Long and short Cheshire collimator Lots of books I reckon I've saved over £200 - well, that's what I tell the missus. What I've bought new: Collimation cap Turn Left at Orion book Headtorch

FLO are aware:

I got a Starguider laser collimator off of ebay (Skys the Limit) for £20. It can be collimated - but didn't need to be. My collimating tool is quite basic: The laser image at 10m: I find it fits OK in the Bresser focuser without any obvious movement when I rotate it or tighten it. I wouldn't use it for adjusting the secondary, but it's very useful for adjusting the primary - so you can adjust in the dark and watch the progress as you work. I do double-check with the Cheshire afterwards, and it is spot on most of the time. Takes about 1 minute. I tried the barlowed laser method but my cheap x2 Barlow had such a high level of reflectino back from the lens, that I couldn't use it. I now have a Baader Hyperion zoom barlow, so I'll have to try again. So in all, I find it useful. Mind you, if I had to give up the laser collimator, I wouldn't be lost without it.

When I mention the offset, I was talking about the apparent rotation of the secondary. It's the shape of the offset that indicates the rotation. To my eyes, the offset appears to be in the direction of the blue arrow below: The crosses show the intersection of the secondary image and the reticle circle. The offset should be directly inline with the focuser and when it is, the secondary will be directly aligned with the eye. I'd say you need to turn the secondary about 5-10 degrees. Again - it's not much in the grand scheme of things.

Here it is with Mire de Collimation: Hard to be certain, as one can't see the edge of the drawtube in focus. But the secondary and primary appear to be well aligned. 2 things I notice: 1) The secondary doesn't appear to be exactly rotated towards the focuser. The offset (on the right) appears to be a bit high. 2) Have you double-checked that the secondary holder is exactly centered in the tube? The vanes in the image aren't parallel with the Mire de Collimation reticle.

Hi, I started my telescope experience back in April of this year. An 8" Bresser dob. So I've been experiencing warm spring and summer nights, although a bit less warm recently! Dew has never been an issue, so far. To be fair, I'm only a few 100 metres from the sea, so less prone to it anyway. I'm also on the East coast of Scotland, so the air is a little dryer too. But I'm sure it's just a matter of time until I suffer from it. I see lots about dew-bands and power supplies, dew shields, Telrad heaters, hair-dryers, etc. I know that SCT/Maks suffer more, as do some refractors. With a large-ish dob, would I be OK with just a big dew shield and perhaps something for the finders? I'm going to get hit sooner rather than later and I don't really mind playing catch-up and trying to sort things afterwards. But really, I'd like to be prepared to some extent. Cheers

And bear in mind the mounts you mention are AZ, not EQ, so not good for DSO long exposure.

I'll give it a shot as a relative newbie. 1) Turn Left at Orion. Explains the basics of star-hopping as well as example of many different targets and how to find them. Includes diagrams of the various finder and scope views that might be involved. Also basic newbie info too. An essential really. 2) Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas - for star charts. Always recommended but currently hard to find without paying an exorbitant amount. Keep your eyes open for normally priced copies. 3) Illustrated Guide to Astronomical Wonders (Thompson & Thompson). I picked this up second hand from Astro Buy & Sell. Only to find it recommended here. It's like Turn Left at Orion on steroids. A chapter per major constellation, with charts covering what targets are contained and how to find them.

Get some chickens and a cockerel!

They also have the 203/1000 and 203/800 OTAs. The dob is the 203/1200 - well actually 203/1213 to be precise.

This is Telescope House (Bresser UK)? Give them a shout and ask. Here's the link to the same OTA on their site: https://www.telescopehouse.com/telescopes/telescopes-by-price/telescopes-200-500/bresser-messier-nt-203-1200l-ota-optical-tube-assembly.html Looks the same as my 203 Dob - but it has a 8x50 finder instead of the rubbish plastic 8x30 that comes with the dob and is the one thing that lets it down. I'm not sure if the 8x50 is still a cheap plastic one, though.

@johninderby has a rather neat and portable-looking setup with a mak on a photo tripod. I'm sure he'll be back on this thread later. He does appear to have owned every telescope that had ever been sold. 😉

There are bound to be lots of other combinations that would be suitably portable. I'm sure others will be able to come up with better options. But I thought a small Mak would be good, as its collimation is very stable.

I am assuming you have good physical ability from what you say above, so how about, if funds allow... A portable system, like: Sky-Watcher SkyMax-102 AZ Pronto mount Portable photographic tripod with 3/8" bolt for above mount Large Backpack Bike You have some of the best skies in the UK nearby, I imagine. Even a the views with good pair of bins would be rewarding.

Who's doing David Essex's part?

For some reason, our kitchen kettle illuminates blue when on, so a good Thermos flask to keep the tea hot for several hours. Plus hip flask with appropriate contents. A comfy and adjustable seat. There are specialist observing seats, but I play the drums and a drum stool is perfect. Specs lanyard, if you observe with specs off, but need them on for the Telrad. Camping table - for binoculars, EPs, charts, and all the other bits and bobs.

Anyone? (feeling ignored )

Second the planisphere. I remember the first time I saw the stars under a dark sky. Total bafflement! Took a while to even find Orion!

If it's a dob, spanners for the nuts and bolts of the base. Good quality hex wrenches (allen keys) Philips or pozidriv screwdriver (depending on what screws you have) - the difference matters!

Welcome to the dob club, Iota Orionis