New Scope Suggestions Needed

[Eskimo Spy]

Hello All!

I started out years ago with a Meade ETX 125, got aperture fever, sold it, got an 8" Meade, sold that, hen finally bought a 10" LX200 a few years later. It was a great scope, but I got tired of hauling it around, so I sold it a few years ago...

And now I'm looking for a new scope! Here is what I'm interested in doing:

• While I would like a well-rounded scope like a Celestron 8 SE, I am most interested in planetary viewing. The most important thing I want in a scope that will give me the best opportunity for top quality planetary views. I would like a scope that can give me the ability to view some DSO's as well.

• I am not interested in astrophotography right now.

• I am accustomed to having a goto scope (and obviously, all of my experience has been with Maks and catadioptric scopes), but given my desire to focus on planetary viewing, it's obviously not a necessity.

• My understanding is that a refractor is my best choice given my priorities, but there are so many options out there!

• I have a budget up to around $1,000. That said, I would prefer to spend around 500 to 700. I'd love to see some suggestions along the entire price point!

So, any suggestions? Thanks everyone.

[Nexus 6]

I guess as you ask quoting in dollars that a supplier across the pond would help you, this covers a few bases perhaps...SkyQuest XT10i IntelliScope Dobsonian Telescope | Orion Telescopes

[Eskimo Spy]

Yes, sorry, I forgot to mention that I am in the states. I would love to find something on Amazon, as I have a few gift cards, and then I pay no tax or shipping!

[Nexus 6]

don't know about buying scopes on Amazon but guess you'd have no trouble.

think most members here would buy via a recognized astro dealer though...maybe use the Amazon tokens on some books on astronomy of other accessory perhaps.

[Eskimo Spy]

Yes, most scopes, including your recommendation, are available through Amazon. Thanks, by the way.

[Nexus 6]

Yes, most scopes, including your recommendation, are available through Amazon. Thanks, by the way.

No probs, hope you enjoy the views with the new one... whichever you choose.

[Eskimo Spy]

If my choices were:

Celestron 6 SE

Celestron Skywatcher 8 inch Dob

SkyQuest XT8i

Which would be better for the purposes already mentioned?

[dweller25]

Of the three scopes you suggest the 8" Dobs will give the best planetary views as they have better resolution than the 6" SCT, a smaller secondary obstruction and will acclimate the fastest.

I have owned both the 10" and 8" Skywatcher Dobs, the 10" gave better planetary views than the 8" BUT it was too heavy for my bad back, for me the 8" is a good balance between weight, portability and performance.

Here is a drawing I did with my 8" Skywatcher Dob .......

[Eskimo Spy]

Of the two dobs I listed, I do like the push goto on the SkyQuest XT8i dob, but the Celestron does have good reviews and a good price...

Thanks for the input!

[Eskimo Spy]

So, I'm looking at these scopes at this point:

Orion

SkyQuest XT8 or XT8i Dob

SkyQuest XT10 or XT10i Dob

Celestron

SkyWatcher 8 inch Dob

On the Celestrons, does anyone know the difference between the Celestron branded SkyWatcher and the Skywatcher branded scopes?

Links here:

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-S11720-Sky-Watcher-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B004Q76ZCK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1325406505&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Skywatcher-Dobsonian-Crayford-Focuser-Eyepieces/dp/B00488TVF0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325406505&sr=8-1

They look identical and come with the exact same stuff, but the difference in price is pretty big...

Does one of these stand apart from the others as the best for planetary viewing?

[Eskimo Spy]

And is the constant bumping to keep objects in view on a dob a real pain in the rear?

[ismangil]

Not a SCT user, however since planetary is primary reason, wouldn't the long focal length of SCT be beneficial as it would get higher mags without too short eyepieces?

[dweller25]

So, I'm looking at these scopes at this point:

Orion

SkyQuest XT8 or XT8i Dob

SkyQuest XT10 or XT10i Dob

Celestron

SkyWatcher 8 inch Dob

On the Celestrons, does anyone know the difference between the Celestron branded SkyWatcher and the Skywatcher branded scopes?

Links here:

http://www.amazon.com/Celestron-S11720-Sky-Watcher-Dobsonian-Telescope/dp/B004Q76ZCK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1325406505&sr=8-3

http://www.amazon.com/Skywatcher-Dobsonian-Crayford-Focuser-Eyepieces/dp/B00488TVF0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325406505&sr=8-1

They look identical and come with the exact same stuff, but the difference in price is pretty big...

Does one of these stand apart from the others as the best for planetary viewing?

The Orion/Celestron/Skywatcher dobs all use identical optics from Synta. So as you say it's down to what extras you get or best value for money.

Personally I would go for the cheapest and buy a decent 7mm widefield eyepiece like this ......

First Light Optics - Celestron X-Cel LX eyepiece

A widefield eyepiece means you have to nudge much less often. I use a widefield eyepiece in my 8" Dob and have the time to draw what I see inbetween nudges.

HTH

[dweller25]

Not a SCT user, however since planetary is primary reason, wouldn't the long focal length of SCT be beneficial as it would get higher mags without too short eyepieces?

Yes thats a good point BUT SCT's need a lot of thermal management and dew up easily and are much more expensive than the Dob which has over 2" more aperture and a much smaller secondary obstruction. So IMHO the dob has many more advantages over the SCT.

[stardad]

I've not had a problem with stuff being sent this way so cant see a reason why going to you would be an issue.

Hope you can find what you want and that fits the bill for the job you want it to do.

[Eskimo Spy]

What about these?

Apertura AD8 Dobsonian

Apertura AD10 Dobsonian

Would you buy one of these over the Orion 8i or 10i?

[John]

I've not heard of the Apetura dobsonians but from a Google search they look identical to the ones sold by the German company Telescope Services and the company Zhumell in the USA. These are made by GSO in Taiwan and have the same optics and mirror cells as the Meade Lightbridge range. If I'm right about their origin they will be very similar to the Orion / Skywatcher dobsonians in terms of performance.

[rowan46]

I have to admit for mainly planetary observation I would get a c8. It takes magnification better than an 8" dob. Yes the 8" dob is the better all round scope it's not imo the best planetary scope. for that you need an sct a mak or a good long focal length refractor, sorry just reread and an 8"sct wasn't on the table. I still don't think the dob is the best planetary scope. You can pick up used c8's for a pretty decent price in the us

[ismangil]

For a reflector maybe consider planetary newtonian such as Skywatcher 150PL?

[Eskimo Spy]

Okay, so if I had to choose between these two scopes:

Celestron 8 SE

Orion XT10i

...and my primary drive was to do planetary viewing and to get the best image possible, which one would you choose?

[rowan46]

the celestron it takes magnification better the mount works fine with a webcam for planetary imaging. that's what I would go for

[John]

If my primary interest was planetary observing and I had the budget of a Celestron 8SE available I'd be thinking hard about a 180mm Maksutov-Cassegrain:

SkyView Pro 180mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope | Orion Telescopes

[Eskimo Spy]

That's $600 more than an 8 SE right now, so while I see the beauty of that scope, it's not within the budget.

Out of curiosity, how will the 8 SE do with DSO's compared with the XT10i dob?

[rowan46]

To be honest probably me too, The reason I suggested the c8 is because they can be picked up for a decent price 2nd user in the us

[rowan46]

That's $600 more than an 8 SE right now, so while I see the beauty of that scope, it's not within the budget.

Out of curiosity, how will the 8 SE do with DSO's compared with the XT10i dob?

Not nearly as well you have a better light gathering ability and a wder fov. If I wanted to observe dso's I would get the dob