shiladazz

Hi All,

I have a 8 inch Dob and I use mostly a 8-24mm SVBony zoom EP and a Telrad. I am relatively new comer and just started to fill out my Messier checklist. I live in a mid size town and the 'Clear Outside' App tells me it is a Bortel 6. I can see mag 3 stars with naked eyes but not beyond. 

My tube is fairly collimated I suppose as I can see the stars as sharp points and can find the globular and open clusters. 

However, I have been trying for many days in vain to look at the galaxies. I follow the star atlas and 'Turn left at Orion' star hopping steps. But when I point at the spot where I am suppose to see the galaxy I see nothing. Not a smudge, no fuzzy glow, nothing. 

Obviously I am doing something wrong. Would you kind people tell me what are the obvious things to check as it is driving me crazy. 

Thank you 

I am relatively new to the hobby. I have the SVbony 8-24mm zoom eyepiece. I found the price very attractive compared to Baader (no surprise). I have another 32mm Omegon EP which I like the most but the idea of not having to change EP is very appealing. The FoV is slightly cramped at 24mm though and it is an irritant especially when I am star hopping at the lowest power and need to max FoV. At 8mm the FoV opens up further (I am feeling lazy to look up the exact FoV at 24mm and 8mm but 8mm is wider). 

So these days I hardly even switch the SVBony out simply because of the convenience and the quality which is very good. 

Hi,
 

I see a lot of debate on the use of filters and whether they are effective on cutting out some of the light pollution wavelengths. But all of that discussion is for astrophotography. My question is for visual observations only.

I observe most of the nights from my home which is inside a town and I can see upto magnitude 3 stars with naked eye. 
 

I have an 8 inch Dob. Do you think any type of filter can improve the viewing? For example if I want to see the M13 in Hercules, will a Filter help? 
 

best regards

Update: I spoke with Astroshop but there is no easy solution. They do not have an adapter plate that can take the 80mm diameter focuser and fit it into 70x73mm hole distances on the OTA. Their option is to drill, either self or send it back to them to be drilled. I am not, naturally, too enthusiastic about sending it back for drilling. I am equally unenthusiastic to drill myself, though a simple procedure, due to the risk of scratching the secondary or leave debris damage the primary. 

After much thought, I decided to downgrade the focuser to a more std. dual speed, 1:10 Crawford focuser from TS which can take payload upto 2.5Kilograms. This focuser comes without a base, but the diameter description matches the 78mm diameter on the original connector on my Omegon OTA. I am waiting for delivery and will add in a note if there are fitting-problems. 

My main aim this year is visual only and I do not plan to load my DSLR on the focuser. My EPs should not exceed the weight threshold. But will share if focus-creep becomes a problem. TS description promises that the locking mechanism prevents this, so I am hopeful though. 

Thank you for your advice and sharing your knowledge & wisdom, as always.  

Best regards

Hi,

I ordered an Omegon 8inch Dob from Astroshop but the std focuser is out of stock. So I had to order an Omegon 2 inch Crawford hybrid dual Speed focuser. I was also advised  to buy an adapter to connect this focuser to the OTA. I think the OTA is GSO which is resold as Omegon. 

Now the problem is the holes are 73x70mm apart but the adapter I got is 80x83mm.
I am not very keen to drill and make new holes unless it is the absolute last option. 

Is there any other option available or any third party adapters that can solve my problem? 

Hi,

I am a beginner and planning to buy my first telescope. After much research I decided to go for an 8 inch Dobsonian and since I am in Germany I chose Skywatcher 8 inch classic which seems to be the favorite. 
However, Astroshop.de pushed out the delivery date to July and others like Teleskop  Spezialisten have refused to take any preorder before he has cleared his backlog. Astro shop has already postponed delivery by two month and there is no guarantee they won’t do it again. 
 

They have a earlier  delivery date on GSO 8 inch Dob with the deluxe version with  1:10 micro reduction and better EP - 2” 30 mm vs 1.25” 25 mm on SW. The GSO is 50 Eur more expensive but at this point I am beyond caring for EUR 50 to be honest. 
 

Finally, they also have an Omegon 8 inch option which Stefan Taube as an expert has commented as the same GSO OTA essentially with a better rockerbox. This unit is available for immediate delivery. 
https://www.astroshop.eu/telescopes/omegon-dobson-telescope-prodob-n-203-1200-radiant/p,62920

Does anyone have experience with Omegon and GSO and would care to share with me if this is a prudent choice given the circumstances? Are they indeed the same? 
I do not want to wait a year for the device but also would not want to jump in without checking with you experts.

cheers, 

shiladazz

1 hour ago, johninderby said:

An 8” dob is quite easy to carry for most as you can carry the base first then the OTA seperately. The dob is a better all rounder that will give better views than the 127 mak. Pity the Bresser 8” dob is backoredered but it is a better specce£ scope than the Skywatcher with a great focuser.

https://www.firstlightoptics.com/bresser-telescopes/bresser-messier-8-dobsonian-telescope.html

The 127mak on a manual alt az mount is a very popular very portable setup.

How I wish that I could go to a star party to lift the 8" Dob to feel it or visit a fellow enthusiast in Germany, where I live, and take a look at their devices before I make up my mind. But these are strange times and who knows when we can do that again. Might have to blindly bet I guess. But it is reassuring to hear from you that it is not a task only for Hercules.  

I am leaning towards the Dob to be honest and swear to god, if my dealer wasn't out of stock I would placed the DoB order yesterday. 

7 minutes ago, cloudsweeper said:

I had the 127 Mak and standard GoTo mount and tripod, and found it all perfectly satisfactory.  It's a great all-round set-up, and very portable.  GoTo and tracking are very good aids in this pastime, and the GoTo doesn't drain a jump-starter or power tank excessively.  Batteries? - a non-starter.

It would certainly show you lots of things dimmer than the Pleiades and the Orion Nebula - plenty of other clusters, double stars.  Planets and Moon - no problem.  Depending on the sky, you could probably also see a few of the brighter galaxies.  

If you want to enjoy more fuzzies, a bigger Dob would be required, but the 127 Mak will show you a great deal.  Wish I hadn't sold mine!

Doug.

Thank you Doug. Its reassuring to hear that it is perfectly good for more DSOs and not just the very brightest. Thank you for sharing. 

44 minutes ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

You do not have to buy a Maksutov with the entry level tripod, and Goto. Other options are available (subject to delivery problems), if you buy the items separately.

As for "the inability to find DSOs fainter than Orion and Pleiades cluster", this sounds lile some urban reviewers' hyperbole. If you take it to a dark skies site you will see plenty of DSOs.

You could just buy both scopes, as the smaller and handier scope will complement the heavier light-bucket.

Thankyou.  I did not think about decoupling and buy it piecemeal. Maybe a good idea to go with EQ5 or higher and the Mak OTA alongwith. 

Hi Everyone,

Off the bat, I understand this comparison is probably unfair on the Maksutov from a visual range and performance perspective. 

A little bit on the context of this question:

My current circumstances will mean that I will do a lot of window gazing as I do not have a backyard. I plan to take the telescope and mount out often to a darker place out in the open in my car so ability to transport it without hurting my back or worry about damage to the equipment is important. So even though the Dobsonian is probably going to outperform on ability to show not so bright DSOs, usability is important for me. 

The price points of these two devices are similar. 

However, I am not willing to accept a far inferior visual experience just because I can carry a piece of OTA. Might as then not buy it at all. So, I asking for your help to enlighten me with your experience and whether am I trying to solve something unsolvable.

PS: I am a beginner and this is my first telescope. I have read the reviews of the Celestron Maksutov which clearly highlights the average quality of the tripod, battery draining GoTo and the inability to find DSOs fainter than Orion and Pleiades cluster. I presume the 8 inch Dobsonian would be better at viewing DSOs. But it keeping coming back to the darn 28kg setup vs. more nimble 8kg Maksutov..

PSS: I am not worried about astrophotography yet. I will get there when I get there. I want to enjoy the views and fall in love first. 

Best regards,