cajen2

Why not have the best of both worlds? The new Celestron Starsense range of dobs will give the aperture you want with a reliable and accurate push-to system https://www.firstlightoptics.com/celestron-starsense-explorer-series/cel_starsense_exp_8_dob.html

My (dob mounted) Heritage 150p has no issues at all with stability, as said, if it's on a stable stool or table. Therefore, the issue is most likely the tripod.

As said above, you'll get 100 different answers as people will tend to recommend what they own. The two most important questions are: - what sort of budget do you have in mind? - are there any areas of astronomy you're particularly interested in (planets, moon, deep-sky objects like nebulae and galaxies, etc)? The answers to these will narrow down the choice. Also, is it easy to get from where the scope will be stored to where you'll be viewing from? If the answer is yes and you want to spend your hard-earned on the scope itself rather than a mount, the recommendation for a dob is a good one. Check out the StellaLyra 8" (well built, engineered and equipped) or if you need something smaller or cheaper, the Skywatcher 130p or 150p. https://www.firstlightoptics.com/stellalyra-telescopes/stellalyra-8-f6-dobsonian.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/heritage/skywatcher-heritage-130p-flextube.html https://www.firstlightoptics.com/heritage/sky-watcher-heritage-150p-flextube-dobsonian-telescope.html Obviously, the larger the scope, the more light it'll pick up. Please don't worry about collimation - it's very simple.

Just come in after a 90-minute session with the 8" dob. I wanted to see as many targets as I could but first had to fine-tune my finder. With transparency a bit iffy (not sure mathematically!) and the seeing slightly wavery, not to mention the nearby moon, I wasn't expecting much. I got Saturn in the StellaLyra 20mil and adjusted the finder, but it looked so beautiful that I decided to stick around. Started with my Morpheus 9mil....mmmmm! Still very small, though, so on to the 6.5 Morph - even more mmmmm - and finally the Pentax XW 5 (240x). The image wasn't perfect with some thin high cloud but still beautiful. Got some banding on Saturn and what looked like three moons, which seems very unlikely. Must have been at least two field stars. For a laugh, I tried barlowing the Pentax, but of course that was way too much mag. Fired by this, I panned over to Jupiter, which looked even better (because it was higher and larger). Plenty of banding detail and the four moons gathered to the left (newt view). it was getting late so gave up on everything else but thoroughly enjoyed the gas giants again.

The same three that I have....I'm delighted with all of them!

I'm imagining the whole readership waving their hands and fingers around right now....just to check! 🤣

Er...that depends which way around you hold your hands....🤔😉

Hi, Alistair. Looking forward to seeing the HO!

You don't need a video - just slide the cap into the focuser, aim the scope at a white wall or similar, loosen the locking knobs and try to get the little circle in the centre with the adjustment knobs. The only problem is that you can't adjust the secondary mirror with it. That's why I use a laser collimator: it can be used to adjust both mirrors. As to tools, you need a screwdriver for the secondary screws and that's it. The primary mirror has the adjustment knobs. Edit: I forgot to mention that the collimation knobs are the black ones and the locking knobs are white. You'd think this would be mentioned in a little included leaflet but the manufacturer doesn't bother!

Hardly a regular: my first one was this spring! 😄 It was very enjoyable and informative. We should wear name tags so that we recognise each other - a lot of people who aren't on SGL go. We could have an SGL team in the quiz! 🤔

Like most things, the answer depends on your budget and what you want to view. As @wulfrun says, BST Starguiders are extremely good value for money, but if can go higher, something with a wider field of view is so good in a dob: you have to adjust it less often to keep a target in view and it also makes it easier to find a target. My personal favourites are the Baader Morpheus range - such involving views.

Anyone else going to this? I know one other from SGL but since I don't do FB, I don't know if any members are going.

I also have an 8" dob (StellaLyra) and can view both planets with no problems when they're high enough. For collimation, Robertl is quite right: it's very difficult to reach the adjustment knobs for the primary and use a collimation cap at the same time. I use a laser collimator https://www.firstlightoptics.com/other-collimation-tools/astro-essentials-125-laser-collimator.html and find it very easy indeed. You just need to check that the laser is perfectly centred. If you loosen the focuser knobs just enough that you can rotate it, then check the red dot by looking down the scope, if there's no movement, the collimator is fine. Honestly, it's a five-minute job for me to do both secondary and primary mirrors with it. There are no doubt umpteen YouTube videos if you need them.

Mine is very simple: a Heritage Flextube 150p tabletop dob. Easy to carry (one handed) and folds up small. If I'm by myself (star parties, etc) I'll take my StellaLyra 8".

But the SSW range had issues and only the two latter are available new.

Nice, Alan. I love all things Vixen! Do you know the FOV? That's the only problem with a lot of their EPs.

"Open the pod bay doors, Hal".....

Yes, Mike, sorry I didn't turn it round far enough. It's a 9mm.

Well, I finally received my Morpheus 6.5mm, so here it is along with its stable mates: Probably won't get any more as I'm already sorted for other Morph f/ls. Now all I need is a clear sky....🙄

Remember as EP focal lengths shorten, the effect on magnification increases. Thus, a 12mm BST gives you 62.5x mag and an 8mm one gives you 94x, while a 5mm gives you 150x. So in your shoes, I'd start with the 5mm and 12mm, filling in the other focal lengths later. You might well end up doing what I did with my 150p and start going for higher-end glass. The scope is good enough to see the difference. My three Baader Morpheus and two Pentax XWs give gorgeous views through it, as well as in my 8" dob.

I agree: cracking EP for the price.

I can't comment on that particular scope but the only structural difference between it and my 150p Flextube is that it has three supports for the head instead of two. This should make it even sturdier. My 150p is very easy to deploy: slide it out to full extension and tighten two hand knobs - 10-second job. It also holds collimation well - no worse than my solid-tube 8".

Thanks for that: one of my all-time favourite tracks.

I have a 150 Flextube dob and it's amazing for aperture v. portability. I also have a StellaLyra 200mm and it's amazing for views v. £. If it were me, the best compromise might be a Flextube 8" https://www.firstlightoptics.com/dobsonians/skywatcher-skyliner-200p-flextube-goto.html It has go-to as well. Flo doesn't quote folded sizes, so maybe check with them to see if it'll fit your car.

I got your name reference, anyway! 🤔 Philip K. Dick Welcome.