doublevodka

This is my thinking currently, although I'm about 6 scopes into the "next scope", the astronomers curse 😂

Lots of good answers and opinions in here but @Stu probably has raised the most on on-point questions so I'll answer them as it may help someone else with a similar dilemma in the future. I store all my current scopes in the shed (so cooling time is very minimal), so whatever is added would join them. I previously owned an 8 inch on a eq3-2 and could lift that fully assembled at a push (with the counterweights) so I don't think a dob would be an issue. It went in the end because the mount was not up to the task and was frustrating to use but I did enjoy the views when I could get it on target. Targets - like a bit of everything really. Skies - Bortle 4. Eyes - ok, only need reading glasses, not needed for observing. Sessions are a mixture from 30 mins to a couple of hours. Having just picked up a RACI for a bargain price I have to admit I'm leaning towards your idea of dob and ST80 although picking up the latter used seems fairly difficult (so people must like them), will need to sell some bits first to keep the wife on side, but I'm pretty sure I know what I'm going to get rid of. The StarSense idea raised above by @Peter Drew has also got me thinking. Having previously owned a Nexstar 4SE I know I like their way with software, yeah it was a bit clunky, but "Tonight's Best" was really useful to me, easier to access that the Synscan version and gave better info. Having looked at StarSense Explorer more I really like the look of it, seems right up my street so I may have to DIY it in future. Thanks to everyone who's contributed so far, really appreciate the effort 👍

Have to admit this one would be top of my list, very well spec'd for the price, quite possibly the best mass market one out there

Indeed it would, sadly my equipment ambitions far outweigh my current budget 🤣

Have to admit I do like the idea of StarSense, just not the price of Celestron's own dobs..

I find myself going round in circles so looking for some opinions from people who've had both if possible? First the background, I'm a visual observer and likely to stay that way, I usually have limited time so quick setup and go is important to me. I love the az-gti for this, up and running in minutes, but I find myself hankering for a wider field of view than the skymax 127. The az-gti is also a plus for finding objects quickly. I have been nearly there with the apo decision, a skywatcher 80ed specifically as generally comes with a 2 inch diagonal and eyepiece and a nice field of view, but then I've seen a well priced 8 inch gso dob locally and I'm a bit torn, many of the YouTube channels I like heavily recommend a dob, so should I just bite the bullet and go manual with a larger scope? I have had a couple of long fl refractors and do like the contrast they provide. My budget would be max £400 which would get me a used 80ed or a dob and change, any opinions gratefully received 👍

I have the NexYZ and it works well with my Pixel 6. But prewarning, you will likely get weird purple artifacts in your pictures from the laser autofocus module, I've yet to try covering this up on my non-pro version There is this new to the market which looks well put together, but I've not seen any reviews yet - https://www.moveshootmove.com/collections/move-shoot-move-rotator/products/msm-xyz-phone-mount-for-telescope

Looks interesting https://www.benro.com/en/campaign/theta.html specifically the Theta Max with a 20KG payload, could be useful for portable rigs and I know quite a few people on here already love Benro tripods TBH I'm amazed none of the astro mount makers came up with auto leveling first

Sounds like a turbulent time, to say the least. For my 2p worth with the amount you've already sunk into it get it to an expert like Es Reid, I've only ever read good things to be fair. You may find that even if fixed you won't trust the scope anymore, but at least you'll be in a position to sell on, safe in the knowledge that all is good. In the meantime, take it back to basics, get out there with the visual kit you have, relax and enjoy the views, sounds like you need it 👍

Not an idiot by any stretch, huge amount of info and options out there. I spend many an hour pondering options for every purchase and I'm sure other do too. For ease of use AZ-GTi gets my vote, providing your not using a bit heavy DSLR it should be fine and for planetary DSLR isn't ideal anyway. Some good options above too, thinking of longer term in the hobby you may want to get an eq mount, this is fairly new on the market - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/skywatcher-mounts/sky-watcher-star-adventurer-gti.html which would work with your 127 and small refractors, so another to throw into the mix

https://www.moveshootmove.com/collections/move-shoot-move-rotator/products/msm-xyz-phone-mount-for-telescope Looks interesting and maybe a challenger to the Celestron NeXYZ, not available until early Feb though

@gamermole while you are deciding and looking at options etc, there is a really extensive thread on the forum in regards to the AZ-GTi mount Personally, I love this little mount, the fact that I can pick it up fully assembled with one hand, carry it out into the garden and be up and observing in a matter of minutes really helps. It seems to last for ages on AA batteries too which is a bonus 👍 The skymax 127 bundle is great, picked mine up for about £300 barely used. The 127 is also a well-loved scope and fairly versatile, however not the best for wide-field views. That said if you get the bug like the rest of us, it won't be your last scope and would be complimented well by a fast refractor such as a shortube 80 as mentioned above or even a small APO such as the ED80 if budget allows and both could be used on the AZ-GTi

You don't have to buy new, for example - https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=194554 always worth a look on the second hand market if you are on a budget

Welcome @flip, also in south wales and also cursing the clouds on a regular basis 😂 fingers crossed we get some clear skies in 2023!

No side-by-side comparison, maybe worth a little look at things like this if no-one has used both? http://astronomy.tools/calculators/field_of_view/?fov[]=1828||266||1|1|0&fov[]=70||266||1|1|0&solar_system=jupiter

Have a look at Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries, appear more resilient than lead acid and normal Lithium and as I understand it can go for long periods without charging. Most of the commercially made powertanks now use these, and as a bonus they are much lighter than lead acid I think you win the prize for the biggest astro powertank 😂

It does not need to be hot, the theory is around .5 to 1 degree warmer than the ambient air temp is the ideal. Making it too warm can cause it's own issues as you could get thermal currents around the objective. Personally, I only use a shield, but my sessions are quite short visual ones so that's fine for me

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Musou-Black-Water-based-Acrylic-Paint/dp/B08QSFNKYG is allegedly supposed to be good although I've not used it Because I do everything on a budget I've used this stuff for "flocking" https://www.amazon.co.uk/BENECREAT-Adhesive-Self-Adhesive-Resistant-Multi-purpose/dp/B07BGZ82XH?pd_rd_w=P3GYq&content-id=amzn1.sym.e9c30756-181a-4068-ac3a-74afd7f110a2&pf_rd_p=e9c30756-181a-4068-ac3a-74afd7f110a2&pf_rd_r=FE419QEVEJC7JBKSE887&pd_rd_wg=TAqKe&pd_rd_r=1f96cefe-6995-44ce-9269-e04ba776fe7f&pd_rd_i=B07BGZ82XH&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_21_t whilst it's not as good as proper astro flocking material it does a better job than the paint that's been in my scopes FLO have a couple of options too - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/telescope-flocking-material.html - Protostar is supposed to be very good

It's definitely been a frustrating year, normally love planet season but this past year has not been great, fingers firmly crossed for a better 2023!

What is this "clear" you speak of? 😂 Jokes aside I'm not as disciplined and don't keep a log, but 2022 has certainly seemed like a terrible year for observing, lots of cloud and rain and even on the clearer nights seeing has not been great. Previous years I had a Nexstar 4SE and managed to spot the Cassini division on a few occasions, 2022 with a larger Skymax 127 not seen it clearly once, same with details on Jupiter, vague this past year which is frustrating

As I understand it from a previous post I read some time ago FLO has gone for two brand names to separate the more budget conscious and more premium products, Ursa Major being the more budget-friendly and price competitive with the likes of Sky-Watcher, and then Stellar Lyra for the more premium - https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-telescopes/stellalyra-8-f6-dobsonian.html When you consider the Ursa is only £349, the Sky-Watcher is £379 with a lesser spec and the Stellar Lyra is £459, I'm really surprised anyone is still buying new Sky-Watcher 200P's... For £80 more you get a nice dual speed crayford, cooling fan and battery pack, proper bearings, RACI and a chunky 30mm 2" 68 degree widefield eyepiece, no brainer really.. And no I'm not on commission from FLO 😂

Congratulations on the new scope @Mdennis the planets are a great place to start 👍 it all went a bit south for a minute there but don't let that put you off, it's usually really friendly in here, other forums may vary I'd certainly look at a 32mm plossl to start with, wide field and will give good results

Hard to say as I've not used those eyepieces but I think @vlaiv has made some good points there in regards to the sweet spot, certainly worth a go. My personal favourite in my small collection is an eyepiece salvaged from a broken pair of 10x50 binos, it's the least fussy and has worked fine in all of my scopes, took the idea from here - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1484777181687589/

Not just you, I'm not a fan of the tighter eye relief on shorter focal length eyepieces, I mostly prefer to barlow where possible, so instead of a 10 I'll use a 20mm and a 2x barlow, just find it suits me better. I bought an 8mm BST because they are highly rated on here, but prefer a barlow and a basic 20mm plossl, although the seeing has been rubbish for months where I am so jury is still out a little as it's slightly more magnification

Definitely join your local Astro club, lots can be found on Facebook, that's how I got back into astronomy and purchased my first got from a club member. Bargains can be had from Facebook marketplace, but it certainly can be like the wild west too. There is a for sale section on this forum, but it won't appear until you've made enough posts on here (25 I think) or sites like https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/index.php where everyone is generally an astronomer and helpful Goto does add to costs, absolutely and to an extent anything electronic will devalue, but if you are buying used then someone else has already taken the initial hit. Smartphone apps like Astrohopper will get you in the general area As for tabletop dobs in the garden, if you have an Ikea nearby - https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/kyrre-stool-birch-60416925/ 3 legged stools like this give decent stability like a tripod even on uneven surfaces, I use 2 with my starblast, on to sit on and one for the dob to sit on Given an example of used - https://www.astrobuysell.com/uk/propview.php?view=193136 Skywatcher 130 Dob, pretty much half retail price and an honest ad with plenty of pics, it's really worth a look Also worth updating your location on your profile, there may even be someone here on the forum nearby willing to help if you do end up looking at used equipment, on a tight budget it really helps you get more for your money 👍