doublevodka

No mention of budget so a little guesswork, but since you already are used to a reflector https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/sky-watcher-heritage-150p-flextube-dobsonian-telescope.html Packs up small, so portable and many many people love it and it's little brother the 130 Or if you want to go a little more electronic, there is also this version - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/heritage/sky-watcher-heritage-150p-flextube-virtuoso-gti.html

The out of the box AVX apparently has less accurate tracing than other similar priced mounts, but they can be improved with a bit of tuning, for example this one that is currently on Astro Buy and Sell - https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=180263 Honestly it's hard to make an accurate recommendation without a firm budget and scope in mind, but for longevity you want to be looking at EQ5 class mounts and above (EQ3-2 and smaller don't have proper bearings, unfortunately that's what I have), just sadly everything has increased in price a lot recently. Used market is worth a look, especially if you can get something that's already been belt modded or tuned, there are still some decent deals to be had. In the very short term, if he wants to start with lunar, you already have a dslr and some lenses, it's a bright target so if you already have a tripod too some shots will be possible that way, if the DSLR does video then even better as stacked images from the videos will give much better results.

Lots of things are a hot topics "over there" with strong reactions, hence why I spend all my time on SGL instead 😉 There's some useful info kicking around on there but lots of strong opinions to put it politely, SGL is much nicer 👍

Collimation is almost certainly the main contributor here, along with seeing conditions no doubt. I'd suggest having a read of this lovely thread by @Alan64 which has info on collimation but also a full overhaul on this much maligned scope, hopefully some of it helps, if not it's a great read anyway

It's a minefield out there! This page can be quite helpful though https://agenaastro.com/articles/guides/miscellaneous/astronomy-threads-explained.html The only "standard" in astronomy is that it will be cloudy when you buy new kit! 🤣

Unless I misunderstood which is totally possible, you need to step up from 5v to 12v so there are option there that would work for you and with a 2.1 amp output on the powerbank you should be good, it's just finding one with the right connector. Although may be just as easy, and less cabling mess, to sell on the 12v ones and grab something like https://www.svbony.com/dew-heater-strip-for-lens/#W9132C I believe the 480mm one would work with your 5 inch, worth checking the measurements first though

Depending on the power draw and output of the power bank of course - https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=usb+to+12v&_sacat=0 I use one like this to run a couple of Nexstar mounts successfully - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/373768829235?_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item57065bb933:g:3JwAAOSwxalhd1fS&amdata=enc%3AAQAGAAACkPYe5NmHp%2B2JMhMi7yxGiTJkPrKr5t53CooMSQt2orsSafTQYbq3L7RBVAMi0K9cwzS6pIULyJzrftutdIDbQJDF5BBRMulwgw2TDYyrmryfEGyYRe8JAD%2Fn8MTn85rvCM9OWYU4L7F3LaBw5Pq3C877yoGvVJaqAw0HRunWRHR4Bx%2BWnV2X0X%2FDh9OaEovC6Dyi1IL04fZ8%2FBJR%2Bdm0Jw9qtNIFJcmgrL%2B%2FcR0Nnx9xi6X3wZEHE2U85rucR%2Bpsrzgiz%2F4%2FOy%2BV1%2FTlypPMvCyT1Koet6hAJz8wneKcjwBCmGnu2I5WsNJYodKT94uppns52U3XCJs7Me06C%2B2m7N0B96ftcgnwuycTMGlutxufjoXdC61F70Tz7rnv%2FTb8Lg%2F0oikYBeQUjDcwsLQ9ISUb5jMgj2YlxISd5gl5F2uMFWyKu%2BuAKhOyzshnGpmSG%2F8PyeVsDZhwyKgwDsG1oBSSqyzr1AU8yDBupVlSThuhZDfSQm1bb1e4q0oAS2KbgB2Tkq5p7oBWjTuuCmxyATofRwHBiPXvTs77wzuy0T8kMoCdqNTnlXwsJ5uIlff2u%2FHsX%2Bq9PUXwaUplvv%2BKbKyrDtmIczxnqZuxMkFiTApS4v0tDixCtBJL2%2F5IAebvumI6D4a7czThaNoUMKuo%2Fj%2Fi1%2Fa6DQyLt9ENjiZ6Bie0reVShTDekUfPgdww27gwI%2Fhhmrn%2FS4j%2FzBIAD4oFAV%2BK7zQcn79yn8kbIVGzeCHdYqWdqZDyXYtX1HFdVmeVulWazsow6mYV3PXdLXhA0WS9Uf744DJyYzlBYp8tFF9LSxMieLhbUPBku%2FrhvM2EI2DRK%2FKt5Z09oVcOKGLzDEYD91zeLLeSagEamZecITuI|clp%3A2334524|tkp%3ABFBMmK-F15xf

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LQX0P8Q/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_FTXC7PEQMFRMTKYMYTND the Amazon one seems to be at a decent price currently

The 8 would be great, if the price was right and smaller car etc. And you've hit the nail on the head, it is all very personal, that's why most astronomers end up with multiple scopes 😉 (I currently have 3 and looking at them all the time 🤣) So, so many options out there, like if you have deep pockets and want collapsable https://www.obsessiontelescopes.com/

Welcome to any astronomy forum 🤣 Always more options 😉 If you really, really want to go for an 8 inch there is another option although slightly less portable - https://www.amazon.com/Sky-Watcher-8-Collapsible-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B004Q78OII?th=1 One thing I would say, check out the used market locally, there are still bargains to be had and you have some time

Very well regarded scope that one, i've been tempted by it and it's goto version Also worth some minor mods, handy video below

Since you're in the US, what about - https://shop.astronomerswithoutborders.org/collections/frontpage/products/awb-onesky-reflector-telescope ? Small, and portable enough to be carried, but a very well thought of scope. Being a science teacher I'm going to go out on a limb and say she's not going to have an issue learning collimation and already seems to like the 4 inch newt 👍 Paired with a set of 10x50 binos it will give her a solid start to the hobby

Congratulations on the purchase 👍 From what I've read the Orion stuff is always well rated so it should be a cracker! A radius block is just a curved piece to fit the shape of the tube, have to admin £450 does sound steep If the flex concerns are just around the focuser area, maybe think about some additional tube rings and a couple of dovetails / bars to site either side, should add some rigidity? Hell if the budget allows, there's always the carbon fibre tube option...

With my limited knowledge I'd say you already have enough optical kit to get you going the old C* would be a great scope for planets later down the line and the camera and lenses will get you going for now, see below for a video from @Chris giving an example of what's possible with a star tracker Budget it what will drive the next answers really, if you are happy imaging with a camera and lenses / small scopes then a tracker will be fine, but I suspect you'll be wanting some beefier kit soon enough and this is where the budget is key, get the biggest mount you can afford and move effectively, the sturdier and more accurate the mount, the better the end result will be, AVX is ok, but there are quite a few other options

Hopefully someone who lives nearby will be able to give you some local knowledge, in the meantime may be worth looking at something like this https://www.lightpollutionmap.info/#zoom=7.79&lat=52.0501&lon=-0.3992&layers=B0FFFFFFTFFFFFFFFFF, hopefully it helps a little

Picked up some nice detail there 👍 It reminded me of a video I've watched which may help with the trees situation?

https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=178931 - there are sometimes some cheaper ones kicking about and it's well regarded as a portable planetary scope Certainly worth keeping your eyes open there are still some bargains about although they are a bit more few and far between

A couple of questions might help with a recommendation, firstly what's the top end of your budget? Also do you go there to setup before guests? Thinking any collimation etc could be dealt with beforehand Would you be there on guest arrival to show them the ropes? Do you have somewhere to store it? Would it be easy to get it outside?

Have a look at http://www.stark-labs.com/craig/llcc/llcc.html for info on how to collimate the laser, it's hit and miss with the cheaper ones, sometimes they are spot on, other times, not so much... Sometime the collimation screws are "hidden", so you may need to dig out the plastic to get at the screws All the points raised above are valid though, letting the scope cool is very important, especially with larger newts, my 8 inch lives in a shed and still needs around half an hour cooling down before the views improve Star testing after collimation is also a good idea, more info here https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/how-to-star-test-a-telescope/, Polaris is probably best to use for a dob as it's easier to keep it centered

It may also be worth considering https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-telescopes/stellalyra-8-f6-dobsonian.html as an alternative to the 200p It's standard equipment such as finder etc. is a step up from the basic 200p As for collimation, I'm no expert but I got a cheap laser one from amazon, checked it was collimated itself and that's been fine for me, haven't tried other methods though

Not something I've had to do, but what about something like this for the step? https://www.argos.co.uk/product/9192407?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ixilqwmax&istBid=t Can be used just when you need it and then stored away afterwards The other nice solution for large dob I've seen if a small "toolshed" in the garden to store the dob and the guy had small railway tracks to roll it out into the garden on

The 9-27mm hyperflex looks very similar to the svbony 10-30mm zoom I recently picked up, it performs ok for the price although the narrow FOV at the 30mm is a little off putting it's a useful tool on nights where the seeing is unpredictable However, can I make a different suggestion.. Put the HR and HF eyepieces in a drawer or something, in my experience they are frustrating to use (like looking down a drinking straw) and use the two plossls and Barlow until you are used to the setup The 26mm barlow and scope will give similar magnification to around a 13mm eyepiece (not exactly how it works I know, but close enough for this) If you find after a while using some more magnification is needed, then take a look at options Zooms are ok, but you may find a dedicated eyepiece better, join your local astro club if you can, maybe they'll have a star party soon where you can try out some other eyepieces Also, grip that wallet tightly, this hobby has a habit of making money magically disappear 🤣

That's a steal at $500 if it's in working order, seen OTA's alone go for more recently I second the recommendation of https://www.nexstarsite.com/ very handy!

Excellent news! That's 45 mins more than I managed 🤦‍♂️🌧🌧🌧

So, I did some more digging, seems you can get the top off with a bit of a faff, is there any play in the top? Maybe if you could tighten slightly youd get the extra turn of thread you'd need