Matt01

I've been wondering about the telrad tape and what happens when you remove it... Does it leave a sticky residue?

Ohhh boy...

Hello Louis I am lucky enough to still have 20 20 vision So unless they do correctors for perfect eyesight...

Thanks ALL for the helpful replies. On the topic of whether to go with something cheaper. I'm afraid I have let myself fall too deep into the 'set you heart on something expensive' trap. TeleVue have really hit the spot as far as the desirability of their brand goes. I will now commence the daily slog of checking the classifieds for someone selling one of these beauties. I will also put out a wanted post in the hope that someone is already thinking of selling up. The general consensus seems to be to go with a 22 Nagler, a 13 Ethos/14 Delos and an 8/6 Delos/Ethos. Based on the regularity that these have been sold on here, I estimate that it will take a rather long time to get there. Here's to hoping someone is randomly just about to sell just what I want... Any tips from those with experience buying TV's second hand? Thanks again Matt

Hello SGL, I am soon to take delivery of my 10" f5 dob. It comes with a basic 25mm plossl and I have bought another very basic 10mm plossl to help me get off the ground. However in the long term, I would ideally like to have a small collection of green and black beauties. (By small I mean 4 or 5) Themain reason for this is that I have got used to very good optics with my EL 42's. As I am new to the equipment side of visual astronomy, I really am not sure which focal lengths and which lines to choose from. My initial thoughts were a mixture of DeLite, Delos and Plossl. My budget is £1000 spread over the course of the next 6-8 months. If anyone thinks I could bump my budget up slightly to be able to include anything better then feel free to say. To add, my targets of choice are pretty much anything in the sky that isn't the sun. (I'm not limited to planets or dso's.) Another point is that I hope to observe mars at opposition so a shorter focal length eyepiece is first on my list. Many thanks in advance Matt

You are in the right place

sorry, the conversion of the 250pds... (I am hilariously impractical when it comes to woodwork so home built would most likely not end well)

@johninderby Would you consider it to be worth it?

Hello SGL, I am currently looking for a 10" Dob. I have noticed a SW 250PDS for sale and I am wondering whether is a good idea (or even possible), to mount it on a Dobsonian Base. I was considering Orion UK's mount (https://www.orionoptics.co.uk/MOUNTS/dobsonianmount.html), as I gather they are good scopes. Is this purely down to the optics? (would this even be compatible?) Overall it would cost around £486 but with the Skyliner 250P being £440 Brand new, is it a good idea? Another question, How would an Explorer 250PDS compare optics wise to the Sky-Watcher Skyliner 250P and/or the Bresser Messier 10" Dob? Thanks in advance Matt

I have exactly the same problem...🤨 At this point I prepare to a certain extent every night in anticipation of the forecast being up the creek (as it usually is)

Rang him... Apparently it's sold now

Thanks to everyone for their helpful replies, 10" seems like the best bet then. Whilst I was thinking over buying new, I will definitely be snooping the classifieds for any good deals... seems like I just missed the boat on a 10" Bresser but I'm sure something will become available. The majority of my stargazing is at dark(er) sites, however I have a land rover discovery which means that space isn't an issue at all... (practically a van) I also have no issues with lifting larger objects... I am also considering paying a visit to rother valley optics (when they open), to see 10" Dobs in person. its hard to get a sense of scale from the pictures. You also can't get a 'feel' for the quality.

Hello SGL, For a while now I have been stargazing with a pair of SWAROVSKI EL 42 Binoculars. Since purchasing a copy of "Turn left at Orion" I am keen to buy a telescope and have identified an 8" Dob as a good place to start. (either a Sky-Watcher SKYLINER-200P or a Bresser Messier 8" Dobsonian) I've been reading posts for a while but seem to still be confused about one thing. A number of posts warned against an 8" Dob if you suffer from 'bad' light pollution. None of them, however, defined what 'bad' light pollution is... I live in a rural/suburb area to the west of hull. www.lightpollutionmap.info reveals that my back garden has a value of 2.89... (I don't know what unit this is) however a there is a spot 13 minutes drive away with a value of 0.38. Will this be too much? (To clarify I am hoping to observe DSO's) Many thanks in advance Matt